Founders Inc2027 deadline, funding, equity and how to apply
San Francisco campus and first-check fund at Fort Mason. Its Blueprint II program invests $150K upfront in each of 30 frontier-tech teams, with $1M+ in credits and hardware lab access.
- Up to $250K
- Funding
- Not published
- Equity
- About 3 months in San Francisco
- Program length
- Dates TBA
- Applications
About Founders Inc
Founders, Inc. is a San Francisco startup campus and first-check fund. It runs a 42,000 square foot campus at Fort Mason, where founders work, build and meet investors. It focuses on frontier tech, with an emphasis on AI, AR and VR, hardware and robotics. Third-party profiles list Furqan Rydhan as founder and general partner.
The firm writes first checks of $100K to $250K. Its main structured program right now is Blueprint, built for founders working on physical and frontier technology. Blueprint II invests $150K in every team, paid upfront, and gives access to more than $1 million in credits. The cohort has 30 teams. After about three months in San Francisco, teams can keep building from Founders, Inc.'s hardware facility for up to a year.
Blueprint II focus areas are robotics, drones, space, advanced manufacturing, energy, new materials, biosciences, frontier AI models, chips, and software that makes machines smarter. Applications closed on September 14, 2026, decisions came on September 21, and the program runs from September 30 to December 11, 2026. The page said late submissions would still be reviewed.
The firm lists portfolio companies including LiveKit, thirdweb, Paraform and Sync Labs. Equity terms for Blueprint are not published on the official page. For general funding requests, Founders, Inc. says it replies within a month.
What Founders Inc looks for
Founders, Inc. backs founders building at the physical and technological frontier. For Blueprint II, that meant robotics, drones, space, advanced manufacturing, energy, new materials, biosciences, frontier AI models, chips and software that makes machines smarter. Hardware teams that need lab access and prototyping equipment fit the program well, since the hardware facility is a large part of the offer. Teams must be ready to work in person in San Francisco for about three months. The firm does not publish revenue or team-size requirements.
How the Founders Inc program works
Blueprint II runs in two phases. Phase one is about three months in San Francisco, from September 30 to December 11, 2026. Teams work from the Fort Mason campus and, according to the program announcement, get support on product, go-to-market, hiring and fundraising.
's hardware facility for up to a year, with equipped prototyping labs. Every team receives $150K upfront and access to over $1 million in partner credits. The cohort is capped at 30 teams.
makes standalone first checks of $100K to $250K through its Apply for funding form, hosts events on campus and runs a job board for people who want to join portfolio startups.
How to apply to Founders Inc
- 1Go to f.inc and choose Apply for funding, which opens the campus.f.inc form.
- 2Describe what you are building and how it fits frontier tech, such as robotics, energy, chips or AI.
- 3For Blueprint, watch f.inc/blueprint for the next cohort, since Blueprint II applications closed on September 14, 2026.
- 4Expect a reply within about a month, per the Founders, Inc. site.
- 5Confirm equity terms in writing before accepting the $150K check.
Startup perks after acceptance
Accelerator startups qualify for most startup credit programs. These are the ones founders claim first.
Notable Founders Inc alumni
Companies that went through or were backed by Founders Inc.
Founders Inc vs similar accelerators
| Program | Funding | Equity | Location | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Founders Inc | Up to $250K | Not published | San Francisco | Next deadline not announced yet |
| PearX | Up to $2M | ~7% | San Francisco Bay Area | Rolling admissions |
| a16z speedrun | Up to $1M | 10% | San Francisco, CA | November 1, 2026 (5 days left) |
| Village Global | Up to $1M | Not published | San Francisco, CA | Rolling admissions |
| Sequoia Arc | Up to $1M | Negotiated per company | In person | Next deadline not announced yet |
| South Park Commons Founder Fellowship | $1M | 7% | San Francisco, New York City or Bangalore | Next deadline not announced yet |
Founders Inc FAQ
When is the Founders Inc application deadline?+
Founders Inc has not announced its next deadline yet (Blueprint II runs September 30 to December 11, 2026 (applications closed September 14). Next cohort not announced.). We check the official site every month and update this page when dates are published.
How much does Founders, Inc. invest?+
Blueprint II invests $150K in every team, paid upfront, plus access to more than $1 million in credits. Outside Blueprint, the firm writes first checks of $100K to $250K. The official Blueprint page does not state equity terms. One third-party listing mentions 5% for the $150K, but that figure is unconfirmed.
Where is Founders, Inc. located?+
The campus is a 42,000 square foot space at Fort Mason in San Francisco. Blueprint teams spend about three months there, then can keep building from the firm's hardware facility for up to a year. Founders, Inc. also hosts events at the campus for the wider founder community.
Is Founders, Inc. Blueprint open right now?+
No. Blueprint II applications closed on September 14, 2026, with decisions on September 21. The cohort runs from September 30 to December 11, 2026. The page said late submissions would still be reviewed. A Blueprint III date has not been announced, so check f.inc/blueprint for updates.
What kind of startups does Founders, Inc. fund?+
It focuses on frontier tech. Blueprint II targeted robotics, drones, space, advanced manufacturing, energy, new materials, biosciences, frontier AI models and chips. The broader fund also backs software companies. LiveKit, Paraform and thirdweb appear on its portfolio list on the official site.
Sources: f.inc, f.inc, f4.fund, ae.linkedin.com