BNB Chain Launches Season 11 of MVB as Residency Program

BNB Chain launched Season 11 of its Most Valuable Builder (MVB) program, now redesigned as a ten-week global residency for Web3 founders. Previously a four-week accelerator, the new format emphasizes longer support, greater funding opportunities, and worldwide visibility. Applications close on September 6, 2025.

Expanding MVB Into a Global Residency

The MVB program, originally an accelerator for early-stage Web3 startups, is now structured as a ten-week residency that provides funding, mentorship, and access to BNB Chain’s growing ecosystem. The shift is co-operated with YZi Labs and CMC Labs, with selected projects eligible for investments of up to $500,000.

The program will run from October 6 to December 5, 2025, culminating in a Demo Day at Binance Blockchain Week in Dubai, one of the industry’s largest gatherings.

Key features of MVB 11 include:

• Capital Support: Up to $500,000 per selected startup, structured as $150,000 for 5% equity via a SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity), with an optional $350,000 on an uncapped SAFE.
• Residency Format: 10 weeks of focused building, mentorship, and practical go-to-market support.
• Global Reach: Access to “Builder Bunkers” in Dubai, San Francisco, Singapore, and New York, allowing founders to connect across major Web3 hubs.
• Visibility: Stage time at Binance Blockchain Week for exposure to investors, developers, and the wider crypto community.

BNB Chain described the change as a deliberate move to “put founders at the center” of its incubation strategy.

Lessons from Season 10

Season 10 attracted more than 500 applications, with 15 projects ultimately incubated. The cohort spanned AI, decentralized finance (DeFi), decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePIN), decentralized science (DeSci), payments, and real-world assets (RWAs).

The season included a two-day event in New York focused on go-to-market strategies, user growth, and product-market fit. It concluded with a Demo Day hosted at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

During the event:

• NYSE Head of International Capital Markets Cassandra Seier welcomed founders.
• Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) congratulated participants, reinforcing BNB Chain’s continued support.
• Startups pitched live to investors and took part in “VC speed dating” with venture capital firms.

MVB 10 demonstrated strong demand for Web3 incubation programs and showed how founders could benefit from structured mentorship, capital access, and global exposure.

What’s New in Season 11

MVB 11 builds directly on the lessons of Season 10 but expands scope and structure.

Residency Format

Instead of a short accelerator sprint, founders will now spend 10 weeks fully immersed in their projects, supported by YZi Labs’ operational guidance and BNB Chain’s ecosystem.

Global Network

BNB Chain is opening Builder Bunkers in multiple cities, giving founders physical hubs in Dubai, San Francisco, Singapore, and New York. This global residency design reflects the cross-border nature of Web3 startups and ensures more consistent engagement.

Capital Opportunities

The investment structure has been made explicit:

• $150,000 for 5% equity via a SAFE.
• Additional $350,000 uncapped SAFE, available for selected projects.

This clarity provides founders with a transparent funding model that balances equity with optional runway expansion.

Industry Visibility

The program will conclude with Demo Day at Binance Blockchain Week Dubai, positioning projects in front of investors, developers, and corporate partners.

Why Founders Join MVB

Over 200 projects have come through MVB across past seasons, including Aspecta, AltLayer, and KiloEx. Season 11 extends that track record with a global footprint and longer timeline.

Founders selected for MVB 11 gain:

• Capital runway: Up to $500,000 per project.
• Mentorship: Access to top operators, investors, and Web3 founders.
• Ecosystem access: Direct integration opportunities across BNB Chain’s infrastructure.
• Practical support: Go-to-market guidance and technical resources.
• Visibility: Stage presence at one of the industry’s largest events.

Applications remain open until September 6, 2025, with a rolling review process. Founders who applied previously do not need to reapply.

Key Dates for MVB 11

• Application Deadline: September 6, 2025
• Residency Program: October 6 – December 5, 2025
• Demo Day: Binance Blockchain Week, Dubai

BNB’s Market Context

The launch of MVB 11 comes as BNB has reached an all-time high of $882, driven by institutional demand and ecosystem growth.

The rally accelerated after BNB Network Company (Nasdaq: BNC) disclosed purchases of 325,000 tokens worth $283 million, following an earlier acquisition of 200,000 BNB for $160 million. BNC is now the largest corporate holder of BNB globally.

The acquisitions were funded through a $500 million private placement led by 10X Capital and YZi Labs, with a warrant structure that could expand total funding to $1.25 billion. Unlike speculative trading strategies, BNC has stated this is part of a long-term treasury allocation strategy, making it one of the largest corporate commitments to a non-Bitcoin or Ethereum asset.

Conclusion

BNB Chain’s Most Valuable Builder program has been one of the most consistent sources of Web3 incubation. With Season 11, the shift from a short accelerator to a global 10-week residency signals a more structured, resource-heavy approach to supporting founders.

For startups, the combination of capital access, mentorship, and stage presence at Binance Blockchain Week provides a clear pathway to growth within the BNB Chain ecosystem. For the wider industry, the program reflects how incubation in crypto is evolving toward longer, more global models.

Resources:

1. BNB Chain’s announcement of 15 early stage projects for MVB Season 10: https://www.bnbchain.org/en/blog/meet-the-most-valuable-builder-mvb-season-10-cohort

2. BNB Chain’s announcement of MVB Season 11: https://www.bnbchain.org/en/blog/mvb-11-where-founders-break-through

3. BNB Network Company’s announcement about $160M BNB purchase: https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/08/11/3130588/0/en/BNC-Makes-160M-BNB-Bet-Becomes-Largest-BNB-Treasury-Globally.html