EMpower Founders Residency
3 Weeks. 10–15 Founders. Zero Distractions.
Validate your traction, refine your pitch, and walk away investor-ready. You cover flights. We cover everything else.
Powered by Lisk Ventures and sqrDAO · Built on Ethereum · Designed for Founders
Built by founders, for founders.
We've seen what happens when great founders get 3 weeks with the right people in the room: they ship faster, pitch sharper, and raise sooner. This residency brings together 10–15 high-potential founders for three weeks of deep collaboration, execution, and measurable progress — combining focused time, hands-on mentorship, and direct access to networks and capital.
“Deep work is not a solo sport. It's a collective state of mind.”
Program Outcomes
Pitch to Real Investors
Present to 200+ investors, VCs, and ecosystem partners at DAVAS and the Web3 Builders' Summit.
Warm Investor Intros
Direct introductions to active VCs and angels through Lisk Ventures' network.
Launch-Ready Media
Demo video, founder headshots, and weekly content — all with dedicated production support.
Go-to-Market Validated
Test your positioning, channels, and growth loops. Leave with a validated GTM strategy.
Ecosystem Access
Tap into Lisk Ventures and sqrDAO's networks, globally and across Southeast Asia.
Fundraise-Ready Materials
Walk away with a GTM playbook, investor data room, and pitch deck ready to send.
Program Timeline
Prep & Setup
Founder onboarding, goal-setting, and cohort introductions. Remote kickoff.
Validate
Problem validation sprint, GTM experiments, storytelling workshop, and media prep.
Build & Prove
Product proof sprint, user validation, legal/compliance clinic, and demo video.
Pitch & Launch
Pitch refinement, investor roundtable, and Showcase Day at DAVAS & Web3 Builders' Summit.
May 25 – Web3 Builders' Summit & Showcase Day
May 26–27 – DAVAS: Da Nang Venture & Angel Summit
You focus on your startup.
We handle everything else.
Coliving
A spacious 2,000m² villa hosting 20+ people with pool, garden, billiards, and full amenities — river views included.
Co-Working Hub
Da Nang Blockchain Hub: meeting rooms, podcast studio, and dedicated co-working space.
Mentorship
Operators and specialists working alongside you — not just advising. From narrative to fundraise, every blind spot gets a dedicated expert.
Perks
Visa support, content production, marketing credits, professional headshots, and more — everything taken care of so you can ship.
Living
✓Daily breakfast
✓Optional homecooked lunch
✓Private chef available
Logistics
✓Visa support
✓SIM card
✓Bike rental
Content
✓Videographer & editor
✓Professional headshots
✓Weekly content videos
Tools
✓Marketing credits
✓Programming discounts
✓Data platform API access
Meet the startups.
Six projects selected from hundreds of applicants across Southeast Asia and beyond — each building something real, each leaving venture-ready.
The people behind the projects.
Fay Nguyen
Gaian Network
Matt Sim
Uplift
Gian Alarcon
PolyPay
Ike Orizu
Jamit
Kelvin Truong
Gaian Network
Nguyen Bui
Gaian Network
Thi Nguyen
Fystack
Arpit Kumar
KOKI'O
Tanmay Goel
KOKI'O
Manul Singh Parihar
KOKI'O
The team behind your team.
Operators and specialists working alongside you — not just advising. From narrative to fundraise, every blind spot gets a dedicated expert.
Faros Do
sqrDAO
Justin Nguyen
Lisk
Vinh The Nguyen
ex-Tech Lead, 1 Matrix
Christine Erispe
Founder, ETH Philippines
BreeAnne Yek Yu Jie
Founder, The Verdant Room
Harry Bui
Analyst, Spartan Group
Gun Clawvuthinan
Founder, APE X · ex-Thailand Lead, Uniswap
Tookta Chatchalitwaphong
Head of Legal, LightNet
Cindy Clarissa Adriaan
Commercial Director, Info-Tech · ex-BD Director, Gartner SEA
Cris D. Tran
Core Contributor, Open Campus
Dennis
Founder, BlockDev
Jakub Rusiecki
Investor, 1kx Network
Why Da Nang?
The location isn't random. It's a strategic advantage.
Young, tech-savvy population with a pro-innovation government policy
8.4M tourists and 110K students — a real-world sandbox to test and validate products
Fastest-rising tech hub in Vietnam with direct flights from Singapore, Bangkok, and HCMC
Timed with DAVAS and the Web3 Builders' Summit for direct investor access
#1
Fastest-rising tech hub in Vietnam
8.4M
Annual tourists
110K
Students in Da Nang
200+
Investors at the summit
Organizers
EMpower Founders Residency builds on Lisk Ventures and sqrDAO's early builder-driven programs, designed to turn high-potential teams into venture-ready startups.
Venture Partner
Lisk Ventures
The venture arm of Lisk, established to support Web3 startups in emerging markets across Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia through the EMpower Fund.
Learn More →
Program Operator
sqrDAO
A builder-driven community powering Web3 programs across Vietnam and Southeast Asia. sqrDAO runs hackathons, accelerators, and on-the-ground ops — including the sqrBUIDL program that inspired this residency.
Explore sqrDAO →
Questions about the Residency?
Applications Are Closed
The May 2026 cohort has concluded. Chat with us on Telegram for questions, or visit the full program website for more details.