Airtree is writing US$250k ($350k AUD) SAFE notes to ANZ founders building businesses in San Francisco. The expansion of its Frontier residency program follows the firm opening a US office led by partner Sid Kasbekar.
The deal: uncapped SAFE note plus cloud and AI credits. No requirement to have a fully formed idea. Airtree is backing solo founders looking for cofounders, tech company employees ready to start something, and academics exploring commercialisation.
"We are targeting Aussies and Kiwis based in the US who have the ambition to build something big," Kasbekar said. The residency helps founders find early customers, build teams, and develop initial product concepts.
The Sydney version of Frontier is running now with repeat founders and former employees from Eucalyptus, SafetyCulture, Airwallex, and Atlassian. Airtree operates similarly to Antler and Startmate in the pre-idea and idea validation space.
Why this matters for sales hiring
Frontier startups typically hire their first revenue hire 6 to 12 months after formation. For SDRs and AEs tracking early-stage opportunities, this is pipeline. Airtree has backed 250 portfolio companies across ANZ, and a San Francisco cohort means more startups will be hiring remote or US-based sales roles in 2025.
The firm manages US$2bn and recently closed a US$650m Fund V split between seed (US$250m) and growth (US$400m). That structure matters: Airtree is not just writing seed checks and walking away. They follow companies through scaling rounds, which typically means sales team expansion.
ANZ founders going offshore
Kasbekar's move to San Francisco follows a pattern of ANZ founders using Silicon Valley for go-to-market and later-stage fundraising. That creates opportunities for sales professionals willing to work remote or relocate. Entry-level SDR roles at ANZ-founded startups in the US often pay $60k to $80k base with OTE around $100k to $120k, lower than pure Silicon Valley startups but competitive for remote ANZ talent.
Applications for the San Francisco Frontier residency are open now through Airtree's website.