Entrepreneur First

What is Entrepreneur First?

Entrepreneur First (EF) is an investment firm which functions both as an incubator and accelerator to support technology-driven companies across various industries. They operate with a distinct approach, investing in individuals' potential even before they have a team or a concrete idea. Their core belief is to invest in exceptional talent, empowering them to form remarkable teams and build outstanding companies that can significantly influence the future of technology and humanity.

EF has a diverse investment portfolio that includes Software, Education, BioTech, Business Solutions, Retail and E-Commerce, Cosmetics and Fashion, IoT and Wearables, CleanTech, AI and Big Data, HealthTech and Fitness, Blockchain and Cryptos, Autonomous vehicles and Cars, Food and Beverage, Logistics and Distribution, DeepTech, Healthcare and Wellness, Online Social sectors, and Consumer-related startups.

With assets under management of $115 million, EF supports early-stage startups, offering investments typically ranging from $100,000 to $5,000,000, with a sweet spot of around $1,500,000.

They are proficient in Seed, Early Stage VC, Angel investing, Series A, and Series B funding rounds.

Demonstrating an investment thesis of 'found, don't follow,' EF encourages founders to build startups from scratch, standing by them from pre-seed stages through an 18-month hands-on support period after their demo days.

EF's philosophy revolves around shaping the future by investing in individuals with insatiable curiosity and a desire for impact. Companies born from their programme are now collectively valued at over $11 billion, reflecting EF's substantial influence on the global tech startup ecosystem.

Above all, EF prides themselves on assembling a top-tier network of investors which grants early-stage access to companies developing under their guidance.

What they say:

We are an early stage venture capital fund and accelerator that supports emerging founders from idea to first revenue. Join at the pre-cofounder stage, launch in 24 weeks, and pitch top investors like Sequoia and Index at demo day.

What we look for: We turn exceptional individuals into funded founders. We build unicorn cofounding teams from scratch.

How we help: We coach founders through two stages: FORM and LAUNCH. At FORM, accepted founders get an equity-free grant plus individualized coaching to develop their idea into a revenue-generating business. With $125k secured, they move to San Francisco for LAUNCH, scaling the business and preparing to raise from top funds like Khosla, Index, and Benchmark.