How to Apply to Entrepreneurs First (EF) Without a Co-Founder or Idea

Entrepreneurs First (EF) works differently from almost every other program in our directory. It doesn't invest in startups — it invests in people, usually before they have a co-founder or an idea. You join as an individual, spend the first part of the program finding a co-founder and an idea, and only then pitch for investment. So the EF application is almost entirely about you.

You can see EF's terms and details on our Entrepreneurs First program page.

How EF works

EF runs cohorts in several cities. A typical path looks like this:

1. Apply as an individual. No team or idea needed.
2. Form a team. In the first phase of the program you meet other members of the cohort, test ideas and try out co-founder pairings. EF supports you with a stipend during this period.
3. Pitch for investment. Teams that form pitch EF's investment committee. If they're backed, they receive investment and continue through the program to fundraising.

Because of this structure, EF is one of the best options for strong individuals who don't yet have a co-founder — something most accelerators, including Y Combinator, see as a risk.

What EF looks for

EF selects for two things: an unusual edge and real ambition.

Your edge

An edge is a deep, uncommon advantage. EF typically thinks about two kinds:

• Technical edge — deep expertise in a technology: machine learning research, robotics, chip design, biotech, distributed systems.
• Domain or commercial edge — deep experience in an industry or function: years selling into hospitals, running logistics operations, building a sales team from scratch.

The best applications make the edge concrete. Not "I'm passionate about AI", but "I published three papers on model compression and shipped the on-device model used by a large consumer app."

Ambition

EF wants people who will build big, global companies. The best evidence of ambition is past behaviour: moments when you went far beyond what was expected of you, started something without permission, or took a real risk.

How to answer the application

Lead with your proudest achievement

Pick the single most impressive thing you've done and describe it with specifics: what you did, how hard it was, what the result was. Numbers help — users, revenue, rankings, impact.

Show your edge with evidence

Link to work: papers, repositories, products, talks, portfolios. Explain in a sentence why it's unusual.

Be open about ideas

You don't need an idea. If you have a direction you're excited about, explain why you're well placed to pursue it — but show you're open to working on something else with the right co-founder.

Think about who complements you

The first phase of EF is about finding a co-founder. Knowing what you need — a technical partner if you're commercial, or the reverse — shows self-awareness.

Pick a city you can commit to

The program is in person. Choose the location you can genuinely spend the program in.

Example: describing your edge (fictional)

Weak:

I'm a software engineer with strong technical skills and a passion for AI. I'm a fast learner and love solving hard problems.

Strong:

I spent four years on the ranking team at a large marketplace, where I built the model that decides which listings 30 million users see first; it raised conversion by 6%. Before that I published two papers on recommendation systems during my master's. I want to apply this to B2B procurement, where buyers still search catalogues by keyword.

The strong version names a specific skill, proves it with outcomes, and points at a direction — without being locked into one idea.

Common mistakes on EF applications

• Selling an idea instead of yourself. EF backs people. A great idea with no evidence of your edge won't get you in.
• Generic ambition. "I want to build a unicorn" says nothing. Past behaviour — what you've already built, led or risked — is the evidence.
• Hedging on commitment. EF expects you to go full-time. If you're still deciding whether to leave your job, that comes through.
• Ignoring the co-founder question. If you can't describe the kind of co-founder who would complement you, it's harder for EF to see how you'll form a team.

What to prepare before applying

1. A one-paragraph summary of your edge, with links to proof.
2. Two or three achievements, each with a number attached.
3. A view on the problems you'd like to work on — loosely held.
4. A clear answer on timing: when you can start full-time and in which city.

EF vs Antler

Antler is EF's closest equivalent: also a "day zero" program that invests in individuals and forms teams inside the program. The two differ in locations, cohort structure and terms, so compare the program pages and read our accelerator vs incubator vs angel guide if you're still deciding which kind of program fits.

Who should apply

EF is a strong fit if you:

• have deep expertise but no co-founder yet,
• are ready to leave your job to start a company,
• want to build something ambitious and global.

If you already have a co-founder and a product with users, a classic accelerator like Y Combinator, Techstars or Seedcamp may suit you better — and you can apply to several at once with Applyseed.