Residency Squads explained: a founder peer group FAQ for Dubai and MENA

A Founder Connects Residency Squad is a group of 8 to 10 vetted founders at a similar stage who meet on one 90-minute call a month. Squads are virtual, grouped by stage (Idea, Pre-seed, Seed, Series A+) and rotate every 3 months. The Residency takes no equity.

This FAQ covers how Squads are put together, how often they meet, who they suit, how they differ from an accelerator and how to apply. The application and current prices are on the Founder Connects Residency page.

What is a Founder Connects Residency Squad?

A Residency Squad is the peer group at the centre of the Founder Connects Residency. It brings together 8 to 10 vetted founders at a similar stage for a 90-minute Squad call once a month.

Everything happens online, so there is no travel, and Founder Connects takes no equity in your company. The Residency is the paid membership that places you in a Squad, and it costs $582 for 6 months or $984 for a year.

A Squad is a small, fixed group. You see the same founders on each call until the group rotates, which gives you time to explain your company properly and to hear from founders at your stage. If you want the wider case for this kind of group, read how founders benefit from peer groups.

How Squads are matched and how often they meet

Squads are matched by stage, not by sector. Founder Connects uses four stage bands, Idea, Pre-seed, Seed and Series A+, so the other founders on your call are at a similar point in building their company.

Each Squad meets once a month on a 90-minute call. That call is the only fixed commitment, and because it is virtual you can join from wherever you are based.

Groups rotate every 3 months. You keep the same Squad for that stretch, then move into a new group of founders at a similar stage.

Every applicant is reviewed before joining a Squad. That review is why Founder Connects describes Squad members as vetted founders.

Who a Residency Squad suits

A Squad suits founders in Dubai and MENA who want a small, regular peer group without travel and without giving up equity. It works best when you want to hear from founders at the same stage as you, once a month.

It is a weaker fit if you need sector specialists on every call, support every day, or a programme that invests in your company. Squads are grouped by stage rather than sector, they meet monthly, and the Residency takes no equity.

If you are comparing the Residency with established peer networks, see how the Residency compares with YPO and EO.

How a Squad differs from an accelerator

The Residency is not an accelerator. It is a virtual peer programme built around one monthly Squad call, and Founder Connects takes no equity.

Because the two are different things, you can do both, joining a Squad during an accelerator or after one. For a fuller comparison, read founder residency vs accelerator.

FAQ: joining and fit

How do startup founders join a targeted peer group?

Choose a group defined by something that shapes your decisions, such as your stage, and check the time commitment before you apply. For a Residency Squad, you apply on the Residency page, every applicant is reviewed, and Squads are grouped by stage.

What peer groups are best for fintech founders?

Founder Connects does not run fintech-only Squads. Squads are matched by stage, not by sector, so a fintech founder joins a Squad with founders at a similar stage from other sectors.

That suits a fintech founder who wants peers working through the same stage of building a company. It will not replace specialist regulatory or legal advice, so plan for that separately.

Why do successful entrepreneurs join peer groups?

A common reason is perspective from outside the company: people who are not on your team, face similar decisions and can question your thinking. A Squad offers that on a fixed rhythm, with one 90-minute call a month among founders at a similar stage.

What peer groups support bootstrapped entrepreneurs?

Look for a group that takes no equity and does not depend on outside funding to join. The Residency takes no equity, and Squads are grouped by stage, so a bootstrapped founder sits with founders at a similar stage.

The cost is the Residency fee, $582 for 6 months or $984 for a year, with nothing taken from your cap table.

Do I need to live in Dubai?

No. Squads are virtual, so there is no travel and you can take part from wherever you are based.

Can I join a Squad while I am in an accelerator?

Yes. The Residency is not an accelerator and takes no equity, so you can do both.

FAQ: how the Residency works

How big is a Squad?

A Squad has 8 to 10 founders, all at a similar stage.

How often does a Squad meet?

Once a month, on a 90-minute Squad call held online.

Do Squads change?

Yes. Groups rotate every 3 months, and you move into a new Squad of founders at a similar stage.

What stages are there?

There are four stage bands: Idea, Pre-seed, Seed and Series A+.

What does the Residency cost?

$582 for 6 months or $984 for a year. Current prices are on the Residency page.

Does Founder Connects take equity?

No. The Residency is a paid membership, not an investment, and Founder Connects takes no equity.

How long does the application take?

About 60 seconds. Every applicant is reviewed, and you hear back within 24 hours.

How to apply

Apply on the Founder Connects Residency page. The application takes about 60 seconds, every applicant is reviewed, and you hear back within 24 hours.

Before you apply, write down the one decision you would bring to your first Squad call. It helps you judge whether a stage-matched peer group is what you need right now.

If you would like to meet other founders in person first, Founder Connects Meetups are a lighter way to start.

See if you qualify for a Residency Squad.