Entrepreneurs First (EF) presents its Bangalore Fall 26 cohort, an intensive, in-person program designed for ambitious individuals seeking to build world-class deep tech and AI companies from the ground up. As a global talent investor, EF specializes in identifying exceptional individuals, even those without a co-founder or a specific business concept, and providing them with a structured environment to find a co-founder, develop breakthrough ideas, and form a company. The program is built on the philosophy that the potential of the founder is the most critical component for success, offering a unique pathway from ideation to a funded startup.
Program Structure and Support
• Co-founder Matching: Participants gain access to a curated pool of exceptional co-founders and receive expert advice on pairing and testing potential partnerships through a unique matching process.
• Immersive Experience: The program kicks off with a weekend residential retreat and includes community talent events like Build Retreats and Hackathons in partnership with organizations such as Hugging Face, Lovable, and Mistral.
• Dedicated Guidance: Each team receives a dedicated advisor for idea development and a San Francisco-based partner to assist with entering the U.S. market.
• Workspace: Participants are provided with nine months of office space in Bangalore and three months in central San Francisco.
• Global Network: The program offers access to EF's global alumni network and intimate, off-the-record fireside chats with prominent founders and advisors.
Funding and Investment Details
• Total Incubation: Offers up to ₹2.25 Cr.
• Ideation Phase Grant: An equity-free grant is provided to support individuals during the initial ideation and co-founder search phase.
• Initial Investment: Upon company formation, teams are eligible for up to $250,000 in investment.
• Follow-on Funding: EF provides continued support with the potential for up to $5 million in follow-on funding through Series B.
• Investor Network: The program is backed by elite Silicon Valley founders and investors, including Founders Fund, Greylock, and the founders of Stripe, LinkedIn, and Google DeepMind.
Benefits and Resources
• Partner Credits: Participants unlock over $600,000 in credits, including $350,000 from Microsoft Azure and over $250,000 from OpenAI, Anthropic, GitHub, PostHog, Datadog, and ElevenLabs.
• U.S. Market Entry: Support includes workshops on U.S. customer development, Delaware C Corp incorporation guidance, and relocation assistance.
• Fundraising Support: The program provides hands-on assistance in preparing fundraising materials, including pitches and decks, for Demo Day.
• Demo Day: The program culminates in a San Francisco Demo Day, where founders pitch to over 200 partners from leading venture capital firms. Companies typically raise between $1 million and $7 million within weeks of this event.
Eligibility Requirements
• Target Audience: The program is for ambitious individuals who have consistently outperformed their peers and have a drive to build a world-class company.
• Pre-requisites: No co-founder or pre-existing idea is required to apply. Applicants must provide a LinkedIn profile or a personal website.
• Commitment: A full-time, in-person commitment in Bangalore is mandatory for the entire program duration.
• Application Type: Only individual founders are eligible. Applications from pre-existing companies or established entities will not be accepted.
Application Process and Timeline
• Application Portal: Applications can be submitted at https://apply.joinef.com/app/bangalore-fall/.
• Deadlines: The early application deadline is May 1, 2026. There will be three selection rounds in total.
• Process: After submitting initial details, candidates will receive a verification email to access the remaining application questions. EF reviews applications and selects founders for in-person interviews.
• Program Start Date: The Fall 26 cohort begins in August 2026 in Bangalore.
This program offers a comprehensive platform for aspiring entrepreneurs to transition from an individual with high potential to a funded founder leading a globally competitive company. By providing the necessary resources, network, and funding structure, Entrepreneurs First facilitates the creation of new ventures within the technology ecosystem, with a track record of alumni companies backed by investors like Sequoia, Lightspeed, and Andreessen Horowitz.