Apply to the London Program | Fall 2026 |Entrepreneurs First

Entrepreneur First (EF) London is a prestigious "talent-first" investment platform that specializes in founding startups from the pre-idea stage. Unlike traditional accelerators that require a formed company, EF invests in individuals before they have a team or even a specific business concept. The London Fall 2026 cohort offers a strategic opportunity for technical experts, researchers, and domain specialists to find a world-class co-founder and build a deep-tech or venture-scale business in one of the world's leading financial and technology hubs.

Program details

The EF model is divided into two distinct phases designed to move individuals from "talent" to "investable company."

Form (Phase 1): Focuses on co-founder matching. You spend the first several weeks "breaking up" and "pairing up" with other high-potential individuals to find a co-founder with a complementary "spike" (a world-class skill in a specific area).
Launch (Phase 2): Once a team and idea are solidified, EF provides intensive coaching on product-market fit, customer development, and investor readiness.
Focus Areas: While industry-agnostic, the London site has a strong history in AI, Fintech, Biotech, Quantum Computing, and Enterprise Software.

Eligibility

EF is highly selective, focusing on individuals with "Edge"—a unique advantage that allows them to build a specific company better than anyone else.

Technical Track: Aimed at PhDs, researchers, and engineers with deep technical expertise.
Business/Product Track: Aimed at experienced operators, former founders, or domain experts with deep industry insights.
Location: Participants must be able to work full-time in London for the duration of the Form phase.
Stage: Most applicants are individuals, though EF occasionally accepts very early-stage "incomplete" teams (e.g., two technical co-founders who need a business lead).

Structure and timeline (Fall 2026)

The program is a full-time, intensive commitment.

Application Deadline: Typically rolling, but applications for the Fall cohort usually peak in June/July 2026.
Program Start: Late September or early October 2026.
Phase 1 (Form): Lasts roughly 12 weeks.
Investment Committee (IC): At the end of Form, teams pitch to EF's investment committee for seed funding.
Phase 2 (Launch): If funded, the team enters a 12-week intensive launch phase.
Demo Day: The program concludes with a Demo Day where teams pitch to the world's top venture capital firms.

Benefits

EF provides a "founder's toolkit" that covers both financial and intellectual capital.

Co-founder Matching: Access to a curated pool of the top 1% of technical and business talent.
Expert Coaching: Dedicated Venture Partners (often successful former founders) who provide 1:1 mentorship.
Global Network: Access to an alumni network of over 3,000 founders and a massive database of previous "founder experiments."
Prestige: Being an EF founder acts as a powerful signal to the European and Global VC ecosystem.

Funding or investment terms

EF provides one of the most standardized and founder-friendly investment structures in the world.

Stipend: During the "Form" phase, EF provides an individual stipend (typically around £2,000 per month) to allow participants to focus full-time on the program without financial stress.
Seed Investment: Teams that pass the Investment Committee typically receive an investment of £80,000 for a 10% equity stake (terms may vary slightly by year/economic climate).
Follow-on Funding: EF has a significant fund to participate in subsequent Series A and B rounds of its most successful graduates.

Application and selection process

The process is designed to identify "anomalous" talent.

Online Application: Focuses on your "Edge"—what you know or can do that others cannot.
Admissions Interview: A conversation with the admissions team focusing on your motivations and history of "getting things done."
Technical/Commercial Interview: A deep dive with a Venture Partner to stress-test your expertise and entrepreneurial potential.
Final Offer: Successful candidates are invited to join the cohort and receive the stipend from day one.