Last verified
On Deck / ODF (On Deck Fellowship) vs YPO
On Deck / ODF (On Deck Fellowship) is a hybrid community platform with staff-convened. YPO is a hybrid peer-led forum with peer-led. This page compares cost, requirements, format, and stage fit using verified public data. On Deck / ODF (On Deck Fellowship): Pre-seed builders committing to start a company who want an SF onboarding week plus lifetime fellow network without giving equity. YPO: Chief executives who clear a high revenue and headcount bar and want a large global leadership community with local chapters.
Side-by-side
| Field | On Deck / ODF (On Deck Fellowship) | YPO |
|---|---|---|
| Format | hybrid | hybrid |
| Structure | community platform | peer-led forum |
| Facilitation | staff-convened | peer-led |
| Group size | Onboarding week: 80–100; community platform: 3,000+ | Chapter forums (exact size varies; not a single published number) |
| Stage fit | Pre-seed and seed | Growth, Late stage |
| Revenue / capital floor | Not published / none stated | USD 16M+ sales (or agency USD 13M / financial institution USD 330M AUM / enterprise value USD 27M), plus 50 FTEs or 15+ FTEs with USD 2.75M payroll. |
| Annual cost | Pay-what-you-can; suggested contribution $1,000 USD | USD 4,790 one-time initiation + USD 4,790 annual global dues; local chapter dues extra and unpublished |
| Application model | application | application |
| Venture-specific | Yes | No |
| Other requirements | Great fit: track record of shipping; committed (or soon) to starting a company. Not a fit: past pre-seed/PMF, already have a full team, primary customers outside US. Must attend full SF sprint. Non-dilutive. | Under age 45 at join (exceptions on apply form for women to 54 and Black CEOs); top operational leader with full P&L and hire/fire authority. |
| Time commitment | Required: five business days in San Francisco; ongoing community optional | Chapter forum and events; global events (EDGE, GBS) optional |
| Geography | Onboarding in San Francisco; applicants worldwide | Global chapters |
| Best for | Pre-seed builders committing to start a company who want an SF onboarding week plus lifetime fellow network without giving equity. | Chief executives who clear a high revenue and headcount bar and want a large global leadership community with local chapters. |
| Not for | Founders past pre-seed/PMF, or builders whose primary market will stay outside the US. | Early-stage or Series A founders below the revenue/headcount bar, or founders who age out of the primary membership path. |
| Last verified | 2026-09-15 | 2026-09-14 |
Verdict by stage
Pre-seed and seed
At Pre-seed and seed, On Deck / ODF (On Deck Fellowship) lists this stage. YPO does not. The fit is On Deck / ODF (On Deck Fellowship) for this stage band.
Series A
At Series A, neither group lists this stage as a primary fit. On Deck / ODF (On Deck Fellowship) targets Pre-seed and seed. YPO targets Growth, Late stage.
Growth
At Growth, YPO lists this stage. On Deck / ODF (On Deck Fellowship) does not. The fit is YPO for this stage band.
Late stage
At Late stage, YPO lists this stage. On Deck / ODF (On Deck Fellowship) does not. The fit is YPO for this stage band.
FAQ
- How much do On Deck / ODF (On Deck Fellowship) and YPO cost?
- On Deck / ODF (On Deck Fellowship): Pay-what-you-can; suggested contribution $1,000 USD (verified 2026-09-15). YPO: USD 4,790 one-time initiation + USD 4,790 annual global dues; local chapter dues extra and unpublished (verified 2026-09-14). Prices are shown verbatim from public sources; nothing is estimated.
- What are the requirements for On Deck / ODF (On Deck Fellowship) vs YPO?
- On Deck / ODF (On Deck Fellowship): Not published / none stated Great fit: track record of shipping; committed (or soon) to starting a company. Not a fit: past pre-seed/PMF, already have a full team, primary customers outside US. Must attend full SF sprint. Non-dilutive. YPO: USD 16M+ sales (or agency USD 13M / financial institution USD 330M AUM / enterprise value USD 27M), plus 50 FTEs or 15+ FTEs with USD 2.75M payroll. Under age 45 at join (exceptions on apply form for women to 54 and Black CEOs); top operational leader with full P&L and hire/fire authority.
- Which is better for venture-backed founders?
- On Deck / ODF (On Deck Fellowship) is venture-specific. YPO is not. The fit is On Deck / ODF (On Deck Fellowship) when you want a venture-scale room.
Sources
Primary public pages used for the fields above.
- admissions.joinodf.comRetrieved 2026-09-15 · On Deck / ODF (On Deck Fellowship)
- joinodf.comRetrieved 2026-09-15 · On Deck / ODF (On Deck Fellowship)
- beondeck.comRetrieved 2026-09-15 · On Deck / ODF (On Deck Fellowship)
- ypo.orgRetrieved 2026-09-14 · YPO
- ypo.org/membership-requirementsRetrieved 2026-09-14 · YPO
- ypo.org/become-a-memberRetrieved 2026-09-14 · YPO