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Entrepreneurs First
Entrepreneurs First Spring '26 Program
Amount
Varies
Deadline
May 3, 2026
Odds
Not published
Effort
1 to 2 hrs
Can you get this?
✓For exceptional individuals, not existing teams
✓Must have track record of building products or orgs
✓Must have outperformed peers consistently
✓Must aim to build a company in the U.S.
✓Up to $250K investment once company is formed
Your real odds
EF runs two cohorts per year globally and selects a small number of individuals from a large international pool, so the odds are genuinely steep.
EF screens cofounders for skills and behavior before matching them, and portfolio companies have raised at $1 to $7M post-Demo Day, which tells you something about the bar you need to clear to get the most out of it.
What it takes
Submit individual application online1 to 2 hrs
Complete screening and interview1 to 3 weeks
Attend residential retreat and onboarding1 weekend
Complete 9-month program across three cities9 months
Worth knowing
The equity-free grant during ideation and the follow-on investment of up to $250K once you form a company arrive at two separate stages, so if you are weighing the risk of joining pre-idea, the structure gives you a financial runway before you are asked to commit equity.
What else do you qualify for?
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