SBV × Z1 Forge · Cohort 1 · 2026
Dev-to-Founder Edition.
Architecture-first. Business-ready. Ship every week.
14 weeks to transform a developer into a fundable founder.
Cohort 1 Profile
Who We're Building With
Five software developers with strong technical foundations who need business framing, investment narrative, and architectural discipline to become fundable founders.
What They Have
- Technical depth & coding ability
- Experience shipping functional software
- Product instincts rooted in engineering
- Passion for building real solutions
What They Need
- Convert ideas into business problem statements
- Frame value for non-technical stakeholders
- Solution architecture to attract investment
- A pitch story — not just a product demo
The Challenge
Devs Who Build for Themselves,
Not for the Market
Our program directly addresses each of these gaps — in the right sequence.
Feature-First Thinking
Builders default to describing what they built, not what problem they solve. Investors fund solutions, not code.
No Architecture Story
Without a solution architecture, there is no credible path from MVP to full product — and no fundable roadmap.
Missing the Business Case
A great demo without a business model, market sizing, and value proposition cannot close investment conversations.
Our Approach
Three Phases,
One Clear Journey
Startup Grind Foundation
- Startup mindset and anti-perfection principles
- 4H role alignment per participant
- Business model basics for devs
- The idea to pitch mental model
Architecture Sprint
- Problem statement to stakeholder map
- Context, logical and data flow diagrams
- Principles, patterns and component choices
- MVP scope + full product roadmap (ADRs)
Go/No-Go Review gates entry into Phase 3
Ship Every Week
- Structured weekly shipping rhythm
- 10 weeks of real product delivery
- Mid-program InSpace Pitch (Week 9)
- Demo Day + Investor Pitch (Week 14)
Weekly Rhythm
The Heartbeat of Phase 3
A consistent weekly rhythm that removes the guesswork and keeps you shipping.
MON
01Sprint Kickoff
Set goals, assign tasks, align the team. Architecture review if needed.
TUE–THU
02Build, Ship, Collaborate
Heads-down building. Code, design, and ship features daily across 4H pairs.
WED
03Mid-Week Challenge
Cross-team challenge. Breakpoints.live broadcast. Skill-building exercises.
FRI
04Ship, Share, Learn
Demo progress to the group. Collect real user feedback. Iterate.
SAT
05Weekly Retro
Reflect on wins. Fix what broke. Update the architecture log. Plan next sprint.
Pair-programs, drafts copy, generates designs
Strategy, architecture decisions, everything that ships
Phase 3 · Weeks 5–14
Ship Every Week
Without Exception
10 consecutive shipping weeks. Real product. Real users. Real feedback.
Go Live
Landing page + waitlist
First Experience
Sign-up + dashboard
Core Feature
#1 user problem solved
Deepen Product
Feature 2 + analytics
InSpace Pitch
Real panel, live audience, investor feedback
Expand & Retain
Integrations + notifications
Launch-Ready
Onboarding + payments
Public Launch
50+ signups, 10 users
Grow & Monetize
Revenue + pitch prep
Demo Day
Graduate from Z1 Forge Dev-to-Founder
Go Live
Landing page + waitlist
First Experience
Sign-up + dashboard
Core Feature
#1 user problem solved
Deepen Product
Feature 2 + analytics
InSpace Pitch
Real panel, live audience, investor feedback
Expand & Retain
Integrations + notifications
Launch-Ready
Onboarding + payments
Public Launch
50+ signups, 10 users
Grow & Monetize
Revenue + pitch prep
Demo Day
Graduate from Z1 Forge Dev-to-Founder
Expected Outcomes
What Week 14 Delivers
The program produces builder-founders who can pitch, ship, and attract capital.
For Each Participant
- Validated MVP live in production
- Real users and initial traction data
- Investor-ready pitch deck + architecture
- Full product roadmap (post-funding plan)
- Personal clarity on 4H role + startup fit
For Starting Block Ventures
- 5 fundable, architecturally sound startups
- Demonstrated Dev-to-Founder methodology
- Alumni for the SBV ecosystem and community
- Deal flow pipeline from cohort companies
- Repeatable program for future dev cohorts
For the Investor Network
- Pre-screened founders with real products
- Solution architecture — not just demos
- Credible delivery plan backed by ADRs
- Evidence of team capability and discipline
- Post-Demo Day pipeline ready for diligence
InSpace
Where the Community Comes Alive
Founder firesides, live pitch nights, and streamed challenges that turn a 14-week build sprint into a shared experience.
Grit Chronicles
Intimate fireside chats with successful founders sharing their raw, unfiltered journeys — the struggles, pivots, and breakthroughs that shaped their companies.
Breakpoints.live
Broadcast layer for challenges and community moments — mid-week challenges livestreamed so the broader SBV community watches, engages, and participates.
InSpace Pitch
Powers the Week 14 Demo Day and the Week 9 mid-program review — real panel, real feedback, real pressure from a live audience.