EF

Entrepreneurs First (EF) is a venture capital firm that invests in individuals *before* they have a company or even a fully formed idea. Their core thesis revolves around identifying exceptionally talented individuals, often from academic institutions and tech communities, and providing them with the resources, network, and support necessary to find a co-founder, develop a viable business idea, and ultimately build a globally ambitious company. EF aims to liberate talented individuals from traditional career paths by reframing what’s possible and enabling them to make an impact sooner rather than later. They believe that *who* starts companies is just as important as *which* companies get started. EF's approach involves building cohorts of exceptional peers and providing access to expert advisors and a specialized network, which would otherwise be difficult to obtain. They offer a unique matching process to help individuals find optimal co-founders, weekend residential retreats to kickstart the founding journey, and hands-on support to shape ideas and navigate the US market. EF actively facilitates transformative cofounding relationships, not merely productive ones. The firm's program includes workshops on customer development for the US market, office space in San Francisco, and Demo Days attended by top-tier VCs. EF acts as a bridge connecting global talent to the Silicon Valley ecosystem, offering support in areas such as visa acquisition and access to venture capital. Their support extends from the initial coffee meeting to the company's exit, with talent investors playing a crucial role in identifying, advising, and fundraising for founders. They help founders grow and scale to become significant venture-backed startups. EF seeks individuals who are intellectually curious, innately driven, strong network builders, discerning judges of people, and excited by the role of technology. EF's investment strategy also includes providing dedicated advisors on the ground to help shape ideas and San Francisco-based partners to help crack the U.S. market. By Demo Day, EF expects top performing founders to be generating hundreds of thousands of revenue. The firm aims to accelerate the path to building a world-class company for the founders they back. EF distinguishes itself by investing in talent before it is obvious to others, and nurturing that talent to build impactful companies.

AI, B2B, Consumer, Deeptech, Automotive & Mobility, Financial Services, Enterprise Services, Privacy & Cybersecurity, web3, Healthcare, Biotechnology, Retail & Commerce, Telecoms & Media, Marketing & Advertising

Core thematic spaces, technologies, and target market segments of interest.