Somewhere between a founder’s first idea and their first investor pitch, magic or mayhem happens. The right space, the right people, the right time. This is where YZi Labs steps in with its boldest move yet: EASY Residency.
The Idea Factory Begins
Silicon Valley, June 2, 2025. Ten to twenty of the world’s most ambitious early-stage teams will gather, not for a competition, but for a creation sprint. Their destination? The inaugural EASY Residency a 10-week, in-person incubation program crafted by YZi Labs.
The formula is simple, yet radical: strip away distractions, supercharge support, and put promising founders in a pressure-cooked environment built for boldness. Web3 disruptors, AI innovators, and healthcare visionaries all under one roof eating, building, failing, and refining together.
Enter Cathy Dou, The Architect
Every great program needs a guiding force. For EASY Residency, that force is Cathy Dou entrepreneur, investor, and now Incubation Operations Lead at YZi Labs. With a resume that spans robotics floors at ABB, boardrooms in Europe, and startups across Asia and the U.S., Cathy is more than qualified. But it’s not just her credentials it’s her instinct for unlocking potential.
Ella Zhang, Head of YZi Labs, saw it instantly. “She reminded me of Emily Liu from HF0 the ultimate operator. The kind that doesn’t just organize founders, but believes in them.”
Dou’s mission? To transform EASY Residency into more than a program. Into a zone. A zone where founders aren’t just taught to scale, but empowered to invent.
A Residency Built Like No Other
Think of EASY Residency as startup school meets deep retreat. Here’s what each selected team receives:
Initial funding to spark execution
All-inclusive living: housing and meals fully covered
World-class mentorship from seasoned founders and VCs
Co-working spaces optimized for focus and feedback
A final Demo Day, where products meet capital and futures are decided
And it’s just the beginning. After its Silicon Valley launch, EASY Residency will travel Singapore, Dubai, and beyond. Each new city, a node in a growing global network of doers, dreamers, and builders.
Beyond the Application
Applications are open. The clock ticks toward May 21, 2025, 11:59 PM (GMT-7). But EASY Residency isn’t for everyone it’s for the 1% with execution in their DNA and vision in their bloodstream.
Those selected won’t just join a program they’ll become part of a movement.
The YZi Philosophy
Behind it all is YZi Labs, a global investment firm managing over $10 billion in assets. With a portfolio spanning 300+ projects across 25+ countries, YZi isn’t chasing trends. It’s betting on fundamentals on founders who build with clarity, discipline, and purpose.
To date, over 65 companies have graduated from YZi Labs’ incubation tracks. EASY Residency is the next evolution: immersive, global, and deeply founder-focused.
Curtain Call
Cathy Dou says it best:
“We designed this to give early-stage teams what they actually need time, space, and real support. EASY Residency is not just about making startups better. It’s about helping founders become who they were meant to be.”
In a noisy world of pitch decks and promises, YZi Labs is tuning into something quieter, yet more powerful focus. And in that focus, great things are born.