Founders Inc (f.inc)
4–7% equity · San Francisco · Rolling
Founders Inc is a long-term, in-person company-building campus in San Francisco rather than a fixed three-month accelerator. It invests up to $250,000 for 4–7% equity, routes applicants through a one- or two-week Lab before a final decision, and operates a 42,000-square-foot campus with hardware facilities.
Tier 2 · ranked #10rollinghardwaresf
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Program intake
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis according to the program's authoritative source.
What the source says“We review applications on a rolling basis.”
Key facts
| Check size | Up to $250k |
| Terms | 4–7% equity |
| Stage | pre-seed |
| Applications | Rolling |
| Program dates | Ongoing campus; applicants first complete a 1–2 week Lab |
| Location | San Francisco |
| Remote friendly | No |
| Warm intro needed | No — open application |
| Sectors | hardware, generalist |
| Status | rolling |
Always confirm on the official page before applying — dates and terms change.
Background
Founders Inc combines an investment program with a physical maker campus for founders building ambitious software and hardware companies. Its official portfolio highlights companies including LiveKit, Rork, and Paraform, while the current application path emphasizes founder ability and speed of building.
How the application really works
Apply free online; expect a response within about a month. Selected applicants join a one- or two-week Lab, after which Founders Inc decides on investment and longer-term campus admission.
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
- Up to $250k for 4–7% equity; exact amount and ownership are company-specific.
- Applications are free. Applicants usually receive a response within a month; selected founders complete a one- or two-week Lab before the long-term campus decision.
Track record
- Official portfolio includes LiveKit, Rork, and Paraform.
Application, Lab, and final admission form a multi-stage funnel; no acceptance rate is published.
Frequently asked questions
- Is this program currently accepting applications?
- Apply free online; expect a response within about a month. Selected applicants join a one- or two-week Lab, after which Founders Inc decides on investment and longer-term campus admission.
- What are the current economics?
- Up to $250k for 4–7% equity; exact amount and ownership are company-specific.
- How large and long is the program?
- 42,000 sq ft campus; Founders Inc says it runs four structured programs per year plus ongoing campus activity. Short evaluation Lab followed by a long-term San Francisco campus residency.
- Can founders participate remotely?
- In-person San Francisco campus; no fully remote track is promised.
- What happens after the program?
- Long-term campus, operator, recruiting, and investor support; no standardized follow-on commitment published.
Related accelerators
Sources
- f.inc/about — Current investment range, ownership, campus, format, and portfolio (checked 2026-08-10)
- f.inc/apply — Current free application, response timing, and Lab process (checked 2026-08-10)
- f.inc/campus — Campus facilities and in-person model (checked 2026-08-10)