Apply

Apply to the Pillar Residency.

Pillar Africa discovers exceptional African builders and prepares them for meaningful contributions to freedom technologies, beginning with Bitcoin.

If you're already building technology and want to deepen your technical skills, collaborate with exceptional peers, and connect with the global freedom technology ecosystem, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply for the Next Residency
Who should apply?

We look for builders already creating meaningful technology.

Whether you're building payment systems, developer tools, infrastructure, startups, or open source software, we're interested in builders with the curiosity and technical ability to create lasting impact.

Software Engineers

Backend, Frontend, Mobile, DevOps, Security, systems engineers, and protocol developers.

Startup Founders

Entrepreneurs building permissionless products or decentralized services in Africa.

Product Builders

Product managers and designers building interfaces for complex financial systems.

Open Source Contributors

Developers passionate about building public goods and contributing to shared protocols.

Technical Professionals

Professionals from other technical backgrounds building or supporting technology products.

You don't need prior Bitcoin experience. Curiosity, technical excellence, and a willingness to learn matter more.

Your Journey

The pathway from application to ecosystem.

01 Apply
02 Selection
03 4 Week Online Prep
04 5 Day Residency
05 Demo Day
06 Builder Network
07 Partner Intros

Every selected builder completes this journey. The residency is only the beginning.

What we look for

We care less about titles and more about potential.

Beyond the Residency
The Builder Residency is only the beginning.

Every participant joins the Pillar Builder Network, where they continue learning, collaborating, contributing to open source, and connecting with opportunities across the freedom technology ecosystem.

Program Format

How the residency is structured.

Applications

Builders apply from across Africa.

Selection

Applicants are evaluated based on technical ability, curiosity, and potential.

Online Preparation

Four weeks of guided learning and technical preparation.

Builder Residency

Five immersive days of collaboration, mentorship, and building.

Builder Network

Long term mentorship, community, and ecosystem opportunities after the residency.

What to Expect

  • Four weeks of structured online preparation.
  • An invitation to a five day in person Builder Residency.
  • Technical mentorship.
  • Hands on project work.
  • Demo Day.
  • Ongoing membership in the Pillar Builder Network.
  • Introductions to ecosystem opportunities.

Selection Process

  1. 1 Submit your application.
  2. 2 Applications are reviewed by the Pillar team.
  3. 3 Selected applicants complete a short interview.
  4. 4 Successful applicants join the four week online preparation.
  5. 5 Builders who complete the preparation attend the Pillar Residency.
Ready to apply?

We're looking for exceptional builders who want to contribute to freedom technologies, beginning with Bitcoin.

Tell us about yourself, your experience, and what you're building.

01

Personal Information

02

Professional Background

03

What Have You Built?

Have you contributed to open source?
04

Why Pillar?

What interests you most?
05

Technical Experience

Which technologies do you use regularly?
06

Final Questions

We review every application carefully. Selection is based on potential, curiosity, and technical ability, not credentials alone.