Supporting Innovation at Every Level
Sky9 Capital supports the global technology ecosystem beyond direct investment. We engage with founders, builders, and researchers at multiple points in their journey—helping advance ideas, talent, and infrastructure that shape the next generation of global companies.
Our Commitment
Our commitment extends beyond our portfolio. We actively support the broader innovation ecosystem by investing in talent development, open technology, and academic collaboration—strengthening the foundations that enable long-term technological progress worldwide.
Fellows Program
Sky9 Fellows
Identifying Tomorrow’s Founders Today
The Sky9 Fellows program is designed to identify and support exceptional technical talent early. We work closely with emerging founders and builders, providing mentorship, resources, and access to a global network as they develop ideas with the potential to scale into category-defining companies.
Program Highlights
- Close mentorship from Sky9 partners and operators
- Exposure to global founder and investor networks
- Access to technical resources and early-stage capital
- Long-term engagement beyond the program itself
Open Source Grants
Advancing Open Technology
Supporting the Builders Behind the Infrastructure
We support open-source and foundational technologies that underpin the modern software ecosystem. By backing core infrastructure projects, we help ensure the long-term sustainability of tools relied on by developers and companies globally.
Focus Areas
- Core infrastructure and developer tooling
- AI, data, and security frameworks
- Open-source projects with global adoption
University Partnerships
Academic Collaboration
Bridging Research and Industry
We work closely with leading academic institutions to support research, entrepreneurship, and the translation of breakthrough ideas into real-world applications. By connecting researchers, students, and founders with industry partners and global markets, we help accelerate the path from discovery to impact.
Our Support Includes
- Entrepreneurship and innovation program sponsorship
- Research grants across AI and emerging technologies
- Student hackathons, competitions, and applied research initiatives
- Guest lectures, mentorship, and long-term institutional partnerships
San Francisco Pre-Accelerator
Founder Development
Supporting Founders at the Earliest Stages
In addition to our core investment strategies, we support early technical founders through structured programs designed to accelerate learning, iteration, and early market engagement. These initiatives provide hands-on support from experienced operators and access to global talent, customers, and capital networks.
What Founders Can Expect
- Intensive, hands-on engagement with experienced operators
- Early capital and structured support at the idea and prototype stage
- Access to global customers, talent pools, and strategic partners
- Ongoing relationships that extend well beyond any single program
Why This Matters
Enduring companies emerge from strong ecosystems. By supporting education, open technology, academic research, and early founder development, we invest in the long-term foundations that make breakthrough innovation possible. This long-term perspective—focused on talent, opportunity, and global collaboration—guides how we operate as investors and partners.