Entrepreneur first can mean joining a structured program or raising directly from investors. We at AI Perks looked at Entrepreneur First and chose to submit our startup on Round Funded, where we raised our round using investor research and outreach tools.
Entrepreneur First describes a full-time, in-person program with investment available to qualifying teams. Round Funded helps founders find investors, send pitches and track replies. We chose the direct route because we wanted to manage outreach ourselves with a searchable investor database, AI-written emails and a shared workspace.
Here is what Entrepreneur First publishes about its program and terms, how the options differ, and what founders may want to consider.
What is Entrepreneur First, and how does its program work?
Entrepreneur First describes programs in hub cities across North America, Europe and Asia. Its process includes two stages, FORM and LAUNCH, each described as a 12-week sprint.
FORM runs on a rolling three-month basis in San Francisco, New York, London, Paris and Bangalore. Founders must complete FORM before LAUNCH, which Entrepreneur First says typically involves relocating to San Francisco.
The program is full-time and in person, according to its published information. Applicants do not need a cofounder, but Entrepreneur First says they should apply to just one program in one hub city at a time.
This setup combines a cohort with the possibility of investment for teams that progress. Founders can weigh the location and time commitment alongside the published terms, particularly if they already have a team and traction.
What does Entrepreneur First offer, and what are its terms?
Entrepreneur First’s published investment details vary by location. Its London and Bangalore FAQs describe different grant amounts, while its London FAQ sets out terms for the investment route.
- Talent Investment: Entrepreneur First describes an equity-free grant to help cover living costs. Its London FAQ lists £6,000, while its Bangalore FAQ lists INR 360,000. The grant does not need to be repaid.
- Investment for teams entering LAUNCH: Teams that pass the Investment Committee and move to San Francisco for LAUNCH can receive up to $250,000, according to Entrepreneur First.
- Investment structure: Its London FAQ says $125,000 comes from Entrepreneur First through a post-money SAFE for 8% of the company. A further optional $125,000 is available through an uncapped MFN SAFE from Entrepreneur First and its partner Transpose Platform, if the team relocates to San Francisco and incorporates as a Delaware C-corp.
- If a company is not formed: The London FAQ says Entrepreneur First takes no equity and the founder owes nothing.
- Credits and partnerships: Entrepreneur First advertises more than $600,000 worth of free credits or exclusive partnerships, naming AWS, Stripe, Vercel, OpenAI, GCP, HSBC and Hubspot.
These are Entrepreneur First’s published terms, not an account of using its program. Founders can consider whether the structure and potential capital fit their needs, given the equity terms and in-person commitment.
Entrepreneur First or direct fundraising: what should founders compare?
The two options take different approaches. Entrepreneur First offers a program and a potential investment route for teams that meet its conditions. Direct fundraising means taking pitches to investors yourself. Round Funded supports that process with investor discovery, outreach and pipeline tracking.
| Consideration | Entrepreneur First | Round Funded |
|---|---|---|
| Approach | Full-time, in-person program with FORM and LAUNCH | Find investors, send pitches and track replies |
| Investment or cost | Published terms vary by location and stage | Round+ is $99 monthly, Round Pro is $249 monthly, Lifetime is $899 one-time |
| Founder commitment | Full-time and in person | The product works in 12 languages |
| Outreach | Entrepreneur First says it prepares founders to raise a Seed round | Outreach goes from the founder’s own Gmail |
Round+ and Round Pro include a three-day free trial for first-time accounts. There is no free tier. Round+ includes a pipeline of up to 2,500 investors, emails to up to 2,000 investors per month and 2,500 AI credits per month. Round Pro includes a pipeline of up to 5,000 investors, emails to up to 10,000 investors per month, up to six connected inboxes and 5,000 AI credits per month. Lifetime includes everything in Round Pro for a one-time payment.
A program may fit founders seeking a structured, in-person process and willing to consider its terms. Founders who want to conduct outreach directly may prefer a platform organized around finding investors and managing a raise. We at AI Perks chose Round Funded for the tools we wanted for our fundraising.
Why did we at AI Perks choose Round Funded?
We raised our round through Round Funded. These features shaped our choice:
- A searchable investor database: It covers 60,000+ active VCs, angels, family offices and accelerators. Founders can search by stage, industry, geography and check size, and investor emails are verified.
- AI-written outreach: The AI drafts a personalized email and follow-ups for each investor.
- One pipeline: The fundraising CRM keeps investors, stages and next steps together.
- A shared workspace: We could invite teammates into the startup’s workspace.
- A Data Room: Deck, traction, team and ask can be built into one link and shared for free on every plan.
- Tracked links: Per-investor links and engagement analytics, including views, deck opens and meeting clicks, come with Round+.
Outreach goes from the founder’s own Gmail, so replies arrive in the founder’s inbox and the thread belongs to the founder. Building and sharing a Data Room is free on every plan; per-investor tracking links and engagement analytics come with Round+. Founders can review the plans and get matched with active investors when they are ready to pursue a direct raise.
Can founders apply to a program and raise directly?
Applying to a program and preparing to fundraise directly are not necessarily mutually exclusive. Entrepreneur First says applicants should apply to one program in one hub city at a time; that guidance concerns its application process.
Round Funded also lists accelerators, including YC, Techstars, Antler, 500 and 100+ regional programs, matched by stage, industry and region. Founders can submit their startup on Round Funded to get matched with investors.
How Round Funded helps founders raise directly
- Submit your startup to get matched with investors by stage, industry, geography and check size.
- Search the investor database and organize prospects in the fundraising pipeline.
- Build a Data Room link with your deck, traction, team and ask.
- Use the AI to draft personalized emails and follow-ups for each investor, then submit your startup and get matched with investors.
- Send outreach from your own Gmail and invite teammates into the workspace.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Entrepreneur First?
Entrepreneur First describes a program in hub cities across North America, Europe and Asia. Its two stages are FORM and LAUNCH, each described as a 12-week sprint.
How much investment does Entrepreneur First offer?
Entrepreneur First says eligible teams that pass its Investment Committee and move to San Francisco for LAUNCH can receive up to $250,000. Its published terms vary by location.
Does Entrepreneur First take equity?
Its London FAQ says $125,000 comes through a post-money SAFE for 8% of the company. It also describes an optional additional $125,000 through an uncapped MFN SAFE, subject to conditions.
Do founders need a cofounder to apply to Entrepreneur First?
No. Entrepreneur First says applicants do not need a cofounder to apply. It also advises applying to one program in one hub city at a time.
What does Round Funded cost?
Round+ costs $99 per month, Round Pro costs $249 per month and Lifetime costs $899 one-time. Round+ and Round Pro include a three-day free trial for first-time accounts, and there is no free tier.
Can Round Funded help founders find accelerators?
Yes. Its listings include YC, Techstars, Antler, 500 and 100+ regional programs, matched by stage, industry and region.