Get in Touch

Z1 Forge is a 12-week startup bootcamp where teams of 4 build, ship, and launch a live product. Each team follows the 4H framework — Hacker (builds), Hustler (sells), Hipster (brands), and Hound (researches). Every week has a ship target, a scored challenge, and mentor feedback. By Week 12, you present at Demo Day with a production-deployed product, real users, and a pitch deck.

You can apply as an individual — no team required. We match solo applicants into teams of 4 based on your preferred role (Hacker, Hustler, Hipster, or Hound) and complementary skills. If you already have a partial or full team, you can note that in your application and we'll keep you together.

Cohort 1 is completely free. We want to prove the model with the first batch of builders before introducing any pricing. You get access to the full 12-week curriculum, on-demand mentors, weekly challenges, community events, and Demo Day — all at no cost.

Expect to dedicate 20–25 hours per week. The weekly rhythm is structured: Monday sprint kickoff, Tuesday–Thursday build time, Wednesday mid-week challenge, Friday ship review, and Saturday retrospective. The program is remote-first, so you can work from anywhere.

A live production-deployed product with 50+ signups and 10+ active users, 2+ third-party integrations, payment billing with free and paid tiers, an investor-ready pitch deck, a 90-day product roadmap, brand identity and social presence, and your first revenue or validated pricing. Your Demo Day pitch is published on our Pitch platform and presented to investors worldwide — not just a room of a handful of local investors.

AI is a co-pilot, not a replacement. It pair-programs with your Hacker, drafts copy for your Hustler, generates design variations for your Hipster, and synthesizes research for your Hound. Your team makes every strategic decision — AI handles the heavy lifting so you can ship faster.

Forge (z1.sbv.one) handles intake, team matching, and progress tracking. Mentor (mentor.sbv.one) connects you with expert mentors on demand. Pitch (pitch.sbv.one) manages pitch deck submissions and investor visibility. InSpace (inspace.sbv.one) hosts community events — monthly Grit Chronicles founder firesides, Breakpoints.live challenge streams, and Demo Day.

The program is remote-first and open globally. Our base is in Makati, Philippines, and we partner with Incub8space for optional coworking. Weekly ship reviews and community events happen online, so you can participate from anywhere in the world.