A $10,000 first check
Early capital to start testing, shipping, and learning. Plan your runway around what your company actually needs.
A first check for marketplaces and network-effect businesses
Cold Start.
A little capital to get
the engine running.
You see a better way for people to connect, buy, sell, or work. Let’s bring the first users in.
Rolling admission
01 / Who it’s for
Early is the point.
Solo founders and teams building marketplaces or businesses that get stronger as more people use them. You might have an idea, a prototype, or your earliest customers. What matters is knowing your users and being ready to build, test, and learn.
01
You understand your users.You know who needs the product, what makes their experience difficult today, and why bringing people together makes it better.
02
You can reach the first users.You have a credible way to bring people into the product, even if the work starts manually.
03
You move when you learn.You can ship quickly, talk to users, and change direction when the evidence calls for it.
No age restriction. Founder insight and execution drive selection.
The work
Find the first users.
Make the first connections.
Give them a reason to come back.
02 / The program
Get your business
moving.
Cold Start pairs a starter investment with focused support for marketplaces and network-effect businesses. We work on getting the first users engaged, then turn what you learn into a plan for what comes next.
Help with network effects
Who to start with. How to bring people together. What builds trust. Why each new participant makes the product more useful. Practical support for the problems in front of you.
A stronger next step
Make sense of your customer evidence, sharpen your story, and prepare for a raise when the business is ready.
03 / Support
Help for the work ahead.
We focus on what your business needs next: finding early users, building engagement, making the network more useful, and preparing for your next milestone.
A 6-week jump start
Weekly meetings for six weeks to work through the decisions in front of you. Bring what you’ve learned, what you’re building, and where you’re stuck.
Access to the Yonder mentor network
Operator experience and specialist perspectives to help you think through the questions that matter to your company.
$15,000+ in partner perks
Subject to partner eligibility, approval, and terms. Credits, tools, and startup benefits through Yonder; realized value depends on what you qualify for and use.
Build with Colin Gardiner
Someone who has
built a marketplace.
I built Yonder to give founders the early capital, honest advice, and practical help I wish I’d had as an operator.
Cold Start brings that approach to marketplaces and network-effect businesses at the earliest stage: bringing the right people into the product, understanding why they use it, and figuring out what makes them come back.
More about Colin and Yonder04 / Straight answers
A few things to know.
Do I need a product or revenue?
No. Cold Start is for founders building marketplaces or network-effect businesses at the idea, prototype, or earliest-customer stage. Share what you understand about your users, what you have tried, and what you want to learn next.
Is there a fixed cohort or start date?
Admission is rolling, with your start date and format discussed during selection.
How does the process work?
Send a short introduction to what you’re building and what you want to learn next. You’re guaranteed a response within two weeks. If there’s interest, we’ll contact you to arrange a virtual meeting.
How does the $10,000 work?
It is an investment from Yonder. Investment terms are discussed during selection and documented before you accept.
What does participation involve?
Cold Start is a 6-week jump start with weekly meetings for six weeks. The format and timing are agreed during selection. Bring a concise progress update and the question or blocker you most want to work through.
Will I be ready to raise at the end?
That depends on your progress and your company’s needs. We can help prepare your story and materials, but some companies will need more customer evidence before raising. There is no guaranteed financing outcome.
Does Cold Start guarantee further investment from Yonder?
No. Participation does not guarantee any further investment from Yonder. Any follow-on investment is a separate decision.
Are partner perks included?
$15,000+ in partner perks, subject to partner eligibility, approval, and terms. These include credits, tools, and startup benefits. Realized value depends on what you qualify for and use. Specific offers are shared privately with selected companies.
It starts with you
What are you
ready to build?
Tell us about the people you’re building for, how the network creates value, and the next milestone you want to reach.
Apply to Cold Start
A short introduction.
Specific answers welcome.
Founder background, your business, what you’ve learned, and what comes next.
Start your applicationRolling admission. A response within two weeks.