Founded: 2022 | Cohort size: ~10 companies, twice a year | Total backed: Not disclosed
Terms are company-specific. Getting in means Sequoia is already in your corner before you've raised a round. One of the most powerful stamps of approval in the startup ecosystem.
🔗 sequoiacap.com/arc
Founded: 2017 | Cohort size: 12–15 startups | Total backed: 100+
$750K on an uncapped SAFE (equity shrinks as your valuation grows, at $100M, Neo's stake drops under 1%). Backed Cursor and Kalshi before anyone else. The signal it sends to Series A investors is exceptional.
🔗 neo.com
Founded: SPC 2015, Fellowship ~2020 | Cohort size: Small (1 partner per 2 companies), twice a year
$400K for 7% upfront + $600K guaranteed in your next round ($1M total). No idea required. No demo days. No fixed deadlines. Alumni include the founders of Anthropic and Render. The most intellectually serious pre-seed environment anywhere.
🔗 southparkcommons.com/founder-fellowship
Founded: 2023 | Cohort size: Small, twice a year | Total backed: ~32
$1M on an uncapped SAFE for 5%. Live-in 12-week residency in SF, meals, laundry, and life handled so you can build at maximum intensity. Repeat technical founders only. ~1–2% acceptance rate.
🔗 hf0.com
Founded: 2023 | Cohort size: Highly selective, small cohorts
$250K on an uncapped MFN SAFE + $700K+ in compute credits. Run by Sarah Guo — former Greylock GP who backed Harvey, Mistral, and HeyGen. The most curated AI-native accelerator running right now.
🔗 embed.conviction.com