
soonami Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) Program
A 12-15 week program for Web3 and AI founders, offering up to 150,000 SNI in rewards and a chance to pitch for $125,000 in funding. The program includes a 10-day sprint, mentorship, and a Demo Day.

The soonami Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) Program is a prestigious 12-15 week accelerator program designed for Web3 and AI founders seeking to build breakthrough applications while receiving comprehensive support from Berlin-based venture builder soonami.io GmbH. Founded in 2021, soonami operates on a remote-first model, fostering global inclusiveness and leveraging cutting-edge Web3 and AI solutions to propel startups to unprecedented heights.
Program Structure & Unique Features:
- Two-Stage Selection Process: Initial application followed by a competitive 10-day Venturethon sprint starting September 15, 2025
- Cohort 8 Expansion: 8 EIR spots available (increased from usual 2), accommodating growing demand
- Team Requirements: Mandatory 2-person founding teams (co-founder matching assistance available)
- Flexible Commitment: Part-time participation allowed initially, with full-time transition post-funding
Comprehensive Compensation & Reward System: Soonami employs a sophisticated founder ranking system (Ranks 1-7) determining reward structures:
- Standard Teams: 9,000 SNI tokens over 3 months + 6,000 locked SNI rewards (total: 15,000 SNI per team)
- Rank 5+ Teams: 18,000 SNI over 3 months + 12,000 staked SNI (total: 30,000 SNI per team)
- SNI Token Value: 1 SNI = $0.40 USD (convertible via Uniswap)
- Total Reward Pool: Up to 150,000 SNI tokens across all 8 teams
- Monthly Stipend: $1,000/month per member during 3-month program
Founder Ranking System: Rank 5: Ivy League/Elite university PhDs, C-Level executives in Top 1000 companies, Big Tech (Magnificent 7) experience Rank 6: Olympic champions, regatta winners, Corporate C-Level positions, Big Tech leadership Rank 7: Past exits worth significant valuations
Investment Pathway & Demo Day:
- Funding Opportunity: Up to $125,000 from soonami's Investment Committee
- Investment Terms: Various structures including $125K for 9% equity or $100K for 6% in tranches
- Success Stories: Alumni include AuditOne (successfully exited soonami ecosystem, raised €800K)
- External Investment Option: If third-party invests $25K+, soonami gets option to co-invest at most favored nation terms
Program Focus Areas & Target Profile: Specifically targets AI (machine learning, NLP, agents, LLMs, AI infrastructure/tools) and Web3 technologies. Ideal candidates have proven shipping experience, deep interest in Web3/SocialFi, creativity, speed, and obsession with product-market fit. The program welcomes both new ideas and existing early-stage ventures looking to add features or scale.
Platform Integration & Ecosystem: Built on Foundance, soonami's proprietary venture bootstrapping platform featuring smart contract-based co-founder agreements. The ecosystem provides AI-powered personalized mentorship, market analysis, strategic decision-making tools, and governance participation through token incentives. The platform facilitates global founder connections and collaborative venture building.
Comprehensive Support Network: Beyond funding, participants receive mentorship from industry experts, technical guidance, networking opportunities, workshops, keynote speakers from leading tech companies, and post-program support for scaling and additional fundraising. The program reflects soonami's mission to eliminate technical and economic barriers limiting blockchain's mainstream appeal while building the first decentralized venture building ecosystem.
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