Neo Accelerator (Neo Residency)2027 deadline, funding, equity and how to apply
Ali Partovi's San Francisco accelerator. Invests $750K on an uncapped SAFE, so Neo's stake ranges from about 5% to 0.75% depending on the next round.
- $750K
- Funding
- ~5%
- Equity
- 3 months plus a 2-week bootcamp
- Program length
- Dates TBA
- Applications
About Neo Accelerator (Neo Residency)
Neo is a San Francisco venture firm founded in 2017 by Ali Partovi, who also co-founded Code.org. The firm is known for early bets on technical founders, including Cursor, Kalshi, and Cognition, and for Neo Scholars, a program that gives college students grants and mentorship. The Neo Accelerator, now called Neo Residency, is its program for early startups.
The terms are what set it apart. Neo invests $750,000 on an uncapped SAFE. Because there is no valuation cap, Neo's ownership is set by the price of the startup's next round. TechCrunch reported in February 2026 that this works out to 5% at a $15 million valuation and 0.75% at a $100 million valuation. Earlier, the 2025 program offered $600,000 on an uncapped SAFE with a $10 million floor valuation.
Founders spend three months working from Neo's office in San Francisco's Jackson Square, plus a two-week bootcamp in the Oregon mountains. Neo runs two cohorts a year, each capped at 20 teams mixing startups and student projects. The summer 2026 cohort had 12 to 15 startups.
A student track gives five to eight college students a $40,000 no-strings grant to take a semester off and build. Mentors include about 30 operators, such as Cognition president Russell Kaplan and Notion CTO Fuzzy Khosrowshahi. Earlier cohorts produced Anterior, a healthcare AI startup backed by NEA and Sequoia, and Moment, a fintech that has raised $56 million.
What Neo Accelerator (Neo Residency) looks for
Neo's application call targets technical founders or teams with a bold vision. Ali Partovi has a record of backing young, highly technical builders, often first-time founders, and Neo's portfolio leans toward AI and developer products such as Cursor and Cognition. The program was shaped by conversations with first-time founders and young technical leaders. The student track is open to current college students who want to take a semester off to build a project.
How the Neo Accelerator (Neo Residency) program works
The Residency starts with an all-expenses-paid bootcamp of about two weeks in the Oregon mountains. Founders then spend three months working from Neo's office in San Francisco's Jackson Square district. Office space is free for the program.
Each cohort has up to 20 teams, mixing startups and student projects. Mentorship comes from Ali Partovi and around 30 experienced operators, including leaders from Cognition and Notion. Neo has partnered with OpenAI and Microsoft since 2023 on an AI startup track, and founders get credits, discounts, and support from both.
Neo runs two cohorts a year. Startups receive $750,000 on an uncapped SAFE, so Neo owns nothing until the next priced round. Student participants on the separate track receive a $40,000 grant instead of an investment.
How to apply to Neo Accelerator (Neo Residency)
- 1Check the current Residency or Accelerator page on neo.com for the open cycle. Neo does not publish a standing deadline.
- 2Decide on your track. Startup teams apply to the Residency, and college students apply through the Neo Scholars or student track.
- 3Show a technical founder or team with a bold product vision, which Neo's own call for applications emphasizes.
- 4Plan to relocate to San Francisco for three months and attend the bootcamp in Oregon.
- 5Review the uncapped SAFE terms so you understand how Neo's ownership depends on your next round's valuation.
Startup perks after acceptance
Accelerator startups qualify for most startup credit programs. These are the ones founders claim first.
Notable Neo Accelerator (Neo Residency) alumni
Companies that went through or were backed by Neo Accelerator (Neo Residency).
Neo Accelerator (Neo Residency) vs similar accelerators
| Program | Funding | Equity | Location | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neo Accelerator (Neo Residency) | $750K | ~5% | San Francisco, CA | 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 |
Neo Accelerator (Neo Residency) FAQ
When is the Neo Accelerator (Neo Residency) application deadline?+
Neo Accelerator (Neo Residency) has not announced its next deadline yet (Two cohorts a year; 2026 summer cohort started in San Francisco). We check the official site every month and update this page when dates are published.
How much equity does Neo take?+
Neo invests $750,000 on an uncapped SAFE, so it takes no fixed percentage up front. Its stake is set by your next priced round. TechCrunch reported that this equals 5% at a $15 million valuation and 0.75% at a $100 million valuation. Higher valuations mean less dilution.
Where does the Neo Residency take place?+
Founders spend three months at Neo's offices in San Francisco's Jackson Square district, plus a two-week bootcamp in the Oregon mountains. Office space is provided free, and the bootcamp is all-expenses paid. It is an in-person program, not remote, so founders should plan to relocate for the full three months.
Does Neo accept students?+
Yes, through a separate track. Neo selects five to eight current college students per cohort and gives each a $40,000 no-strings grant to take a semester off and work on a project. Neo Scholars, a separate program, has given students $20,000 grants and access to Neo's mentor network.
Sources: techcrunch.com, en.wikipedia.org, neo.substack.com, hub.causo.ai