Early riders, a Bitcoin-focused venture fund, have launched stacks, an accelerator program in Texas Hill Country to support Bitcoin-Start-Ups around the world. The program offers 2-5 BTC in financing, a four-week residence and access to Bitcoin developers and operators targeting start-ups with market-ready solutions in financial services and technology.
Michael Tanguma, founder of Early Riders and Onramp, a Bitcoin Financial Services Company, told Bitcoin Magazine, “We focus on consumer investments that have commercial viability today – things that people want and will pay for today.” The Stables accelerator is targeted at start-ups that meet immediate market needs, especially in Bitcoin Financial Services, which utilizes custody with several institutions of loans, bit bonds and real estate debt facilities. It focuses on regions such as Latin America, the Middle East and the Asia-Stockhavet, where Fiat-to-Bitcoin On-Ramps is critical of the adoption. It seeks consumer-focused solutions such as safe custody, heritage planning and trouble-free Fiat-to-BTC conversions that address challenges where users struggle to get into safely and possess Bitcoin.
“Historical examples are lightning and payments. People don’t really use them. We want them to be used, and on the margins they are, but people still have problems new AI programs – we know it will make sense for economic activity in a digital world, especially with AI, using satoshis instead because it has a better design surface and more programmability.”
The stacks immediately accept submissions and select five top candidates for a demo day with early riders’ limited partners and advisers. The winner receives between 2 and 5 BTC, based on Bitcoin’s price and project needs, plus a four-week stay in Texas. The facility provides childcare, wellness facilities and a rural area to promote focus. The program runs annually with the initial cohort planned for the summer of 2026.
Early riders emphasize Bitcoin-driven efficiency: “When you have a capital cost that is Bitcoin … grows on an annual basis everywhere between 30 and 50% a year … you just get really effective with how to hire, the kind of tools you are using,” Tanguma told Bitcoin Magazine. This approach, he said, helps Bitcoin-start-ups prioritize the Sound Second Economics rather than Fiat-driven growth.
The program is global with early riders investments around the world. “This is a global opportunity. We have a global footprint with investments in the Middle East, Asia-Stophavet and Latin America. We will encourage Bitcoin investors and rationalists who do not want their money to be distributed to be excited, learn more and reach out to see how we can join them,” Tanguma told Bitcoin Magazine. The accelerator offers a follow -up financing path with access to over 50 investors.
Tanguma’s experience at Unchained and with clients with high net worth in Ten31 forms focus on custody with several institutions, which he described as offering “10x the security of self -insurance, but in one tenth of friction or time.” The stacks aim to support start-ups that drives Bitcoin resolution through practical solutions.