Character Labs
$200k for 5%; no program fee · Global applicants; US incorporation required · Open now
Character Labs Group 7 is a five-week product-market-fit sprint starting October 27, 2026, with applications due September 23. Up to fifteen companies receive $200,000 for 5% with no program fee; week one is in San Francisco and the rest is remote, and accepted companies must use a US entity.
Tier 2 · ranked #20equitypmf
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Program intake
Applications are currently open according to the program's authoritative source.
What the source says“Apply for Character Labs”
Key facts
| Check size | $200k |
| Terms | $200k for 5%; no program fee |
| Stage | pre-seed |
| Applications | Open now |
| Program dates | 2026-10-27 start; 5 weeks hybrid |
| Location | Global applicants; US incorporation required |
| Remote friendly | Yes |
| Warm intro needed | No — open application |
| Sectors | generalist, ai |
| Status | open |
Always confirm on the official page before applying — dates and terms change.
Background
Character combines the product-development methods of Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky with early-stage investing led by Eli Blee-Goldman. The program is intentionally small and ends with investor preparation and Demo Day.
How the application really works
Apply by 2026-09-23. Character prefers two- or three-person teams but permits solo founders; selected companies complete a US incorporation and attend week one in San Francisco.
Tips
- Read the cited current official page before applying because program dates and terms are volatile.
- State fit with the documented stage, geography, and attendance model; do not rely on an aggregator's old terms.
- Ask for the complete investment, fee, and follow-on documents when the public page does not publish them.
Watch out for
- $200k for 5%, no program fee, plus guaranteed pro-rata access in the next financing round.
- Group 7 deadline is 2026-09-23 and starts 2026-10-27. Solo founders may apply, though teams of two or three are preferred.
Track record
- Official program materials emphasize repeated PMF sprint cohorts and investor Demo Day; realized alumni outcome counts are not published on the checked page.
Capped at 15 companies; application volume and acceptance rate are not published.
Frequently asked questions
- Is this program currently accepting applications?
- Apply by 2026-09-23. Character prefers two- or three-person teams but permits solo founders; selected companies complete a US incorporation and attend week one in San Francisco.
- What are the current economics?
- $200k for 5%, no program fee, plus guaranteed pro-rata access in the next financing round.
- How large and long is the program?
- Maximum 15 companies; five-week program. Five-week PMF sprint: first week in San Francisco, four weeks remote, then Demo Day.
- Can founders participate remotely?
- Hybrid: week one in San Francisco, remainder remote.
- What happens after the program?
- Demo Day and guaranteed pro-rata participation right in the next round; no automatic follow-on amount.
Related accelerators
Sources
- www.character.vc/labs — Canonical Labs cohort page with current group deadline, dates, terms, and cohort rules. (checked 2026-08-21)
- contact.character.vc/labs — Operator-hosted direct application surface; useful for open/closed state changes. (checked 2026-08-21)