About this programme
Entrepreneur First (EF) is a "talent investor": it funds individuals before they have a co-founder, an idea, or a company, then helps them find a co-founder and build a startup from scratch. It runs cohort-based programmes in hub cities including London, San Francisco, and Bangalore, and structures its process around the belief that the strongest predictor of startup success is the quality of the people, not the idea they arrive with.
The London programme (FORM) is one of EF's flagship cohorts. Founders selected into FORM relocate to London for a full-time, in-person 12-week programme built around co-founder matching, idea development, and company formation. Teams that pass EF's Investment Committee at the end of FORM can progress to LAUNCH, a further programme (around three months) in San Francisco.
EF's portfolio spans companies it says are collectively valued at over $16 billion, including Aztec, Cleo, Magdrive, and Neptune Robotics. Because EF invests in people before there is a company, its process runs in two stages: an equity-free grant to support founders through FORM, followed by a conditional equity investment once a company is formed and clears the Investment Committee.
How it works
FORM runs 12 weeks, full-time and in-person in London, beginning with a residential Kick Off Summit. During FORM, EF says roughly 80% of participants find a co-founder within the first eight weeks, supported by a systematic co-founder matching process and a dedicated Talent Investor mentor.
On accepting an offer, founders receive a Talent Investment: an equity-free grant designed to cover living costs during FORM. If a founder does not go on to form a company, or EF decides not to invest further, nothing is owed back.
At the end of FORM, EF's Investment Committee decides whether to invest in the company that has formed. Where it invests, EF states it can put in up to $250,000 of equity investment for teams that pass the Investment Committee.
Teams that clear the Investment Committee move to LAUNCH: a further programme (around three months) in San Francisco, with continued mentoring aimed at Demo Day. EF states it can provide follow-on support with up to $5M in further funding through to Series B.
Founders also get access to over $600,000 in partner credits (including Azure, OpenAI, Anthropic, GitHub, PostHog, Datadog and ElevenLabs) and shared office space in London, Bangalore, and San Francisco across the programme.
Who can apply
EF assesses individuals, not ideas or teams: no co-founder and no business idea is required to apply. It looks for people who have consistently outperformed their peer group, typically early in their careers, and who show what it calls "extreme bias to action" and ambition to build a technology company.
A technical background is preferred but not mandatory — EF says it will consider non-technical candidates who can demonstrate a solid technical understanding.
Prior small investment, grants, or previous startup attempts do not disqualify an applicant, but must be disclosed during the process.
FORM is full-time and in-person, so applicants need to be able to relocate to London for the duration of the programme (and, if a company forms and is funded, to San Francisco for LAUNCH).
How to apply
- Apply online at apply.joinef.com, selecting the relevant hub and cohort (for example, the London programme).
- Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis; every applicant is notified of the outcome by email regardless of result.
- Candidates who progress are invited to meet EF's Talent Investing team as part of the assessment process.
- Accepted founders attend a residential Kick Off Summit before FORM begins, then relocate to London for the 12-week programme.
- At the end of FORM, companies that have formed go in front of EF's Investment Committee, which decides whether to invest and progress the team to LAUNCH in San Francisco.
Frequently asked
Do I need a co-founder or an idea to apply to Entrepreneur First?
No. EF states explicitly that you do not need a co-founder to apply, and assesses individuals before they have a business, co-founder, or idea. Co-founder matching happens during the FORM programme itself.
How much does Entrepreneur First invest, and on what terms?
Founders first receive an equity-free Talent Investment (grant) designed to cover living costs during FORM. If a company forms and clears EF's Investment Committee, EF states it can invest up to $250,000 of equity investment.
What happens if I don't form a company or EF decides not to invest?
You owe nothing. The Talent Investment is equity-free, and EF takes no equity from individuals who do not progress beyond FORM or whose company EF chooses not to fund.
Is the London programme remote or in person?
In person and full-time. FORM runs 12 weeks in London starting with a residential Kick Off Summit, and founders who progress to LAUNCH relocate to San Francisco for a further programme of around three months.
Does Entrepreneur First help with visas?
EF says it helps founders with the practicalities of relocating, including visa assistance, as part of its support for the London and San Francisco programmes.
Reviewed 2026-08-16. Programmes change — confirm current eligibility, amounts and deadlines on the official page before you apply. CapEasy is a private consultancy and is not affiliated with any government authority.