Exceptional founders, small cohorts, completely free.
For more than 30 years, Foundation Capital has backed founders at inception—before product, before revenue, before the world caught on. FC Build extends that tradition. It's for founders at the very beginning: when you have a sharp insight and the ambition to build something important, but still need the right support to get from 0 to 1.
An early bet on founders we believe in.
We launched FC Build with Cal and IIT founders, offering small cohorts and hands-on support with no equity taken. The model worked: alumni raised hundreds of millions after starting with us.
Open to the best technical founders in the world.
We’ve opened FC Build to top technical and entrepreneurial communities globally: MIT, Stanford, Harvard, CMU, Waterloo, and more—plus exceptional founders beyond neat categories.
We don’t believe in charging
equity for access.
FC Build costs you nothing to join. Our business is finding and backing exceptional founders. FC Build is how we meet them early.
We actively recruit from:
An unfair advantage during the loneliest part of company building
We accept ~8-12 founders per cohort and work closely with them at the earliest stages. FC Build is designed to give exceptional early founders access to the FC team, network, and community.
Hands-on support from FC
Office hours, pitch practice, and ongoing feedback directly from the Foundation Capital team.
A high-signal founder community
Ambitious peers at the same stage who create accountability and raise the bar.
$1M+ in startup credits
AWS, Azure, OpenAI, Anthropic, and dozens more. Move faster from day one.
Fundraising support
We're in the deck with you helping with narrative, and have 200 investors in our network that we can introduce you to.
Access to FC investment
Access to our investment team for your fundraise. No obligation on either side.
FC Build by the numbers
$100s of Millions
Raised by FC Build founders
8-12
Founders per cohort. Intentionally small, keeping the quality high.
4 of 5
of the time, historically we are the company's first investor.
The deadline to apply for the next cohort is May 15th 2026.
If you have questions about the program, please email fcbuild@foundationcap.com
Requirements to Join
We will expand this program over time. Stay tuned for details. It’s free to join! We’re not investing and you’re not giving up equity. We want to help you build!
Sharp insight into a problem
You see something others don't. You don't need the full answer — just a conviction worth building toward.
Exceptional pace of execution
You move faster week to week than almost anyone else. Ship, learn, iterate.
B2B company
We primarily invest in B2B enterprise and fintech, but it’s a preference, not a rule.
Bay Area presence during cohort
Build is in-person in San Francisco during the 16-week program.
Program FAQ
Who is eligible for Build?
What kinds of companies are you looking for?
How long does the program last and what’s the time commitment?
Am I too early to apply?
Do I have to be working full-time to be eligible?
I've already raised money. Am I too late?
Does the program include a demo day?
Do I need to be based in the Bay Area?
Can my co-founders participate?
Is it really free? What's the catch?
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