Brickyard

High-Level Overview

Brickyard is an early-stage venture firm and startup residency program based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, focused on helping pre-seed founders achieve product-market fit (PMF) and scale to $1 million in revenue. Unlike traditional accelerators, Brickyard operates as a "zero-distraction, max-urgency black site" where founders relocate to work full-time in a highly focused, in-person community environment. It provides capital (typically $300K-$500K checks), operational support, accountability, and a collaborative founder ecosystem rather than structured programming or cohorts. Brickyard invests broadly across technology sectors including SaaS, marketplaces, crypto, AI, fintech, healthtech, and edtech, supporting startups primarily in the U.S. but also attracting international founders. Its impact lies in creating a founder-driven ecosystem that fosters deep focus and community, helping startups cross the challenging "trough of sorrow" to reach sustainable growth[1][3][5][6].

Origin Story

Brickyard was founded by Matt Patterson and Cam Doody, serial entrepreneurs who previously co-founded Bellhop, a tech-driven moving logistics company that scaled significantly and raised substantial venture capital. After their success with Bellhop, they sought to create a new kind of venture firm that breaks the traditional accelerator mold by emphasizing radical founder focus and operational support. They launched Brickyard with a $17 million investment fund and a residency program designed to attract and retain early-stage founders in Chattanooga. The founders’ background in scaling a marketplace and logistics startup informs Brickyard’s hands-on, founder-centric approach. Since inception, Brickyard has hosted 24 founding teams from 19 cities, including international founders from Europe, Canada, and South America, who relocate to Chattanooga to join the community and benefit from the intense focus environment[1][4][5].

Core Differentiators

• Unique Investment Model: Brickyard invests $300K-$500K in pre-seed startups, requiring founders to relocate and work full-time in residence until they reach $1 million in revenue or decide to shut down. No cohorts, programming, or demo days—just relentless focus on PMF.
• Founder Community: A radically in-person, collaborative environment where all founders share the same lifestyle and urgency, fostering peer accountability and creativity.
• Operational Support: Beyond capital, Brickyard provides hands-on operational help and accountability, leveraging the founders’ own experience scaling startups.
• Selective Residency: Only about 20 portfolio companies are in residence at a time, maintaining an intense, distraction-free atmosphere.
• International Appeal: Attracts founders globally, creating a diverse and vibrant startup ecosystem in Chattanooga.
• Market Focus: Broad technology focus including SaaS, marketplaces, crypto, AI, fintech, healthtech, and edtech[1][3][4][5][6].

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Brickyard rides the trend of founder-centric, operationally supportive venture models that emphasize deep focus on product-market fit rather than rapid scaling or demo-day hype. Its timing is significant as early-stage startups increasingly struggle with distractions and lack of community, especially outside major tech hubs. By creating a dedicated physical space with capital and operational support, Brickyard leverages market forces favoring remote and regional innovation hubs, while fostering a new kind of startup ecosystem in Chattanooga. This model challenges traditional accelerator and VC approaches by prioritizing founder resilience and product validation over rapid fundraising cycles, influencing how early-stage venture support can evolve in the U.S. and beyond[1][4][5].

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Brickyard’s future likely involves scaling its residency model and investment fund to support more pre-seed founders aiming to break through the PMF barrier. As startup ecosystems decentralize and founders seek more focused, community-driven support, Brickyard’s approach may gain wider adoption or inspire similar models elsewhere. Trends such as increased remote work, founder mental health awareness, and the need for operationally savvy venture partners will shape its journey. Its influence may grow as a proving ground for founder-first venture capital, potentially expanding its sector focus and geographic reach while maintaining its core philosophy of "burning the ships" to force commitment and focus. This positions Brickyard as a pioneering force redefining early-stage startup support beyond traditional accelerators and VC firms[1][4][5][6].