FFC Berkeley Gateway Accelerator
Bridging Innovation from Beyond the Bay Area with Berkeley’s Deep Tech Ecosystem
Get a full-time U.S. team from day one
Turn your founding team into a global force with dedicated Entrepreneurship Fellows driving daily U.S. execution
Startups get instant U.S. market execution capability without having to hire
A dedicated Silicon Valley Team
Full-time Entrepreneurship Fellows who become an extension of your founding team, providing daily hands-on execution support
Technical, Market, IP/Regulatory support for validating and positioning your innovation in the U.S. market
Active customer discovery and partner outreach
5 months to U.S. market validation
Combines strategic market analysis, customer discovery, & introductions to targeted customers & investors
Accelerated path to revenue and partnerships in the U.S. market
Immersive Silicon Valley Experience
Premium office space in Berkeley, CA - offering direct access to UC Berkeley's talent pool and Silicon Valley's technology ecosystem
Hands-on mentorship from UC Berkeley faculty, mentors, & entrepreneurs
Direct connection to the Bay Area's technology ecosystem
Tap into Silicon Valley's premier ecosystem
Premium Berkeley headquarters steps from UC Berkeley, with direct access to top engineering & business talent
Instant credibility and connections in the world's leading innovation ecosystem
5-Month Immersion in Silicon Valley's Innovation Hub
Based in Berkeley, California—steps from UC Berkeley and Silicon Valley—the FFC Berkeley Gateway Accelerator Program empowers international startups to capture the U.S. market opportunity and scale globally.
Strategic Market Entry Support
Comprehensive U.S. market analysis and entry strategy development
Customer discovery campaigns targeting introductions to potential customers, strategic partners, & industry players
Technology and IP positioning within the U.S. landscape
What We Look For
We partner with international startups that demonstrate:
Full-time founding teams with deep domain expertise who are willing to relocate to the Bay Area and incorporate in the US
Large addressable markets (>$1B TAM) with validated pain points, sensible unit economics, and clear regulatory pathways
Strong intellectual property position with defensible moats, clear competitive advantages, and owned/licensed technology
Capital-efficient growth path with 12-18 month roadmaps, achievable milestones, and realistic funding requirements
Mission-driven focus on addressing significant societal challenges while maintaining commercial viability
Your Gateway to U.S. Success
The FFC Gateway Program provides the foundation to:
Establish and scale your U.S. market presence
Secure strategic partnerships and enterprise customers
Access Silicon Valley capital networks
Build your U.S.-based team and advisory board