Your best co-founder

What is Catalyst?

Catalyst is for founders who take co-founder selection seriously.

Catalyst 1 is 8 structured weeks in SF with founders who have all built something substantial before: half technical, half non-technical, all intentional about who they start a company with. You work from the same office, get to know each other, and decide if you want to found a company together. If you do, Outcast is positioned to write your first check.

The program includes unstructured time working alongside other talented founders in Catalyst, including dinners, office hours, and sessions with impressive speakers who have navigated their own founding team journey. Our goal is to expand access to people you wouldn’t otherwise meet.

How is Catalyst different from an accelerator?

Accelerators start after the team is formed. Catalyst is where the team forms.

You come in as an individual. You’re in a room with a handpicked group of founders, not a batch of 200. You’re deciding who to found a company with, on your own timeline.

The economics also reflect an early stage fund model, not an accelerator playbook.

Is Catalyst a co-founder matching program?

No, there’s no matchmaking. You’ll be in a room with multiple repeat founders who have built or sold their companies for $1B+ and staff or founding engineers.

You decide who to found with. That choice is yours.

Do I need to leave my current job to participate in Catalyst?

Yes. Full-time focus, no side projects or consulting. Catalyst only works if everyone in the room is all in.

When does Catalyst 1 run?

April 13, 2026 to June 5, 2026 in San Francisco.

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Who It’s For

Who should apply?

Catalyst is for founders who already know co-founder selection is a high-stakes decision. You’re not looking for help. You’re looking for access to people you wouldn’t otherwise meet.

Strong applicants have typically:

• Built something substantial before (a company, a product, a team that went on to be materially successful)
• Left or are leaving a role to start a company
• Are specific about what they want to build or the kind of person they want to build with

What sectors do you focus on?

No sector restrictions. What matters is the founder, not the category. Each Catalyst is composed so there’s real density around shared sector interests —if you’re thinking enterprise, consumer, or hardtech, others in the room will be too.

How selective is Catalyst?

Very. The quality depends entirely on who’s in the room. If the bar drops, Catalyst doesn’t work. Every admitted founder goes through extensive referencing.

What makes a strong application?

Specificity. Why now? What have you done? What kind of co-founder and why?

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Logistics

What is the application process?

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Spots are limited, so apply early to hear back sooner. You will hear from us by March 29, 2026 at the latest.

If your application is a fit you’ll be invited to a 30-minute in-person interview in SF or Zoom call if you’re unable to join in-person.

I’m not in the Bay Area. Can I still apply?

You need to be in San Francisco for the full 8 weeks. The relationships that form depend on it and most founders will likely start their companies in the Bay Area upon completion of Catalyst.

What is the time commitment?

10-15 hours a week for structured work and events at Outcast’s SF office (South Park, walkable from Caltrain/MUNI). The rest of your time is yours and you are encouraged to work from the Outcast office.

I’ve already raised some money. Am I too late to apply?

Depends. Raised and still looking for a co-founder? Apply. Raised a seed round with a formed team? Catalyst isn’t the right fit but we still invest in formed teams raising a round.

Do I need to have an idea?

No. Some come with a specific idea. Others know the problem but not the approach. Both work.

What matters is that you’re ready to commit once you find the right person.

Can I apply if I’m exploring multiple ideas?

Yes. Most founders are.

I already have a co-founder. Can we apply to find a third co-founder?

Yes. Catalyst founders are non-technical and technical. If you believe this is a fit, apply.

What happens after I apply?
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Spots are limited, so apply early to hear back sooner. You will hear from us by March 29, 2026 at the latest.

If your application is a fit you’ll be invited to a 30-minute in-person interview in SF or Zoom call if you’re unable to join in-person.

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Investment

What is the investment structure?

There is no equity or financial commitment required to participate in Catalyst.

If two or more founders meet through Catalyst and incorporate a company together:

• Each founder grants Outcast a 1% equity stake at incorporation
• Outcast is positioned to write your first check. Our standard first check is $500,000, structured as:
  • $250,000 for 5% equity, issued at incorporation
  • $250,000 on an uncapped MFN SAFE

What if I’m in Catalyst but form a company with someone I meet outside Catalyst?

Talk to us anyway. Catalyst is one path, not the only one.

Outcast regularly invests $500K to $1M in formed founding teams, even if the co-founder relationship didn’t originate in Catalyst. If it’s a strong team and a fit for us, we’d love to explore a potential partnership.

You’ll also continue to have access to the same talent network that powers Catalyst, including help recruiting founding engineers and early hires.

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After Catalyst

What happens after Catalyst ends?

Your relationships carry forward. You stay part of the Outcast network with access to future events, introductions, and opportunities.

What if I don’t find a co-founder during Catalyst?

Not everyone finds the right partner on the first attempt. You keep the relationships, stay in the network, and can participate in future Catalyst events.

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About Outcast

Who are the people behind Catalyst?

Outcast Ventures’ co-founders and Managing Partners, Andy Chen and Amy Lin. Learn more here.