Founding Fellowship
A 12-week pilot program for African developers who want to understand Bitcoin and build open-source tools. This is our first cohort — we're learning too.
What This Is
The Founding Fellowship is a structured, project-based program where developers learn Bitcoin development by building real tools. Not video courses. Not passive learning. You write code, get it reviewed, and ship something.
This is a pilot. We're testing the format, curriculum, and mentorship model. If it works, we'll iterate and run more cohorts. If parts don't work, we'll fix them.
Why We're Running This
- Gap in practical Bitcoin education — Most Bitcoin learning resources are either too theoretical or focused on trading. We want developers who can build infrastructure.
- African developers are underrepresented — In Bitcoin open-source contribution, African voices and builders are rare. We want to change that.
- Learning by building works — We believe the best way to understand Bitcoin is to build something with it, break it, fix it, and ship it.
What You'll Actually Do
By the end of the program, you will have:
- Built at least one working Bitcoin tool or library
- Made contributions to an existing open-source Bitcoin project
- Written technical documentation for your work
- Participated in code reviews (giving and receiving)
- Presented your project to the cohort
Note: We can't guarantee job placement, funding, or any specific outcome beyond the learning experience and what you build.
Proposed Structure
This structure is provisional and may change based on pilot learnings.
Duration
12 weeks
Format
Remote, asynchronous with weekly sync calls
Time Commitment
10-15 hours per week (estimated)
Cohort Size
8-12 fellows (pilot)
Weekly Rhythm
- Async: Reading, coding, PR submissions
- Weekly call: 1-2 hours for code review, Q&A, and demos
- Office hours: Optional drop-in sessions with mentors
Draft Syllabus
This is a draft outline. Topics may shift based on cohort pace and feedback.
Weeks 1-3: Foundations
- How Bitcoin actually works (transactions, blocks, consensus)
- Keys, addresses, and wallet structures
- Reading and understanding Bitcoin Core code
- Setting up a development environment
Weeks 4-6: Building Blocks
- Working with Bitcoin libraries (rust-bitcoin, python-bitcoinlib, etc.)
- Transaction construction and signing
- Script basics and common patterns
- First project kickoff
Weeks 7-9: Deeper Dive
- SPV, light clients, and trust models
- Introduction to Lightning (optional track)
- Privacy considerations in Bitcoin applications
- Project development continues
Weeks 10-12: Ship It
- Code cleanup and documentation
- Open-source contribution workflow
- Project presentations
- Retrospective and feedback
Mentorship & Code Review Philosophy
We're not here to lecture. Mentorship in this program means:
- Code review, not code writing — We'll review your PRs, suggest improvements, and help you debug. We won't write your code for you.
- Questions over answers — We'll often respond to questions with more questions. The goal is understanding, not copy-paste solutions.
- Honest feedback — If your code has issues, we'll tell you. If your approach won't work, we'll explain why.
- Async-first — Most mentorship happens through GitHub comments, Discord threads, and written feedback. Sync time is for discussions that need it.
Our mentors are working engineers, not full-time teachers. Response times may vary. We ask for patience and good-faith engagement.
Who This Is For
This might be for you if:
- You can write working code in at least one language
- You're comfortable with Git and GitHub workflows
- You can commit 10-15 hours per week for 12 weeks
- You're interested in Bitcoin as technology, not just price
- You're based in Africa or the African diaspora
- You're okay with ambiguity — this is a pilot
This probably isn't for you if:
- You're looking for a get-rich-quick crypto course
- You've never written code before
- You can't commit consistent weekly time
- You expect a polished, perfect curriculum
- You want job placement guarantees
How to Get Involved
Register Interest
We're collecting interest for the pilot cohort. No commitment yet — just let us know you're interested and we'll reach out when applications open.
Register InterestFollow Development
Curriculum materials, project templates, and program updates will be developed in the open.
GitHub