Antler
Global day-zero accelerator with cohorts across Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific
Pre-seed investment plus day-zero residency and global alumni network access
- Best for
- Idea, Pre-seed
- Available in
- Global
- Program type
- Accelerator
- Last verified
- Apr 21, 2026
About this program
Antler is the accelerator most founders apply to when they want to start a company but are too early for Y Combinator or Techstars. The model is specifically day-zero: you can apply solo, without a co-founder, without a finalized idea, and without existing traction. The first phase of the program is a residency where participants match into co-founder pairs, test ideas, and compress what would otherwise be months of wandering into a focused few weeks.
For founders, the practical decision is whether the day-zero framing fits your situation. If you already have a co-founder and a validated product, YC or Techstars usually offers more leverage per week of time committed. If you are at the point of wanting to build something but the team and idea are still forming, Antler is one of the few programs designed specifically for that moment. The residency exists to filter through co-founder combinations and ideas quickly; the investment phase exists to back the teams that emerge.
Antler's program structure is global but city-specific. Each cohort city (London, Berlin, Amsterdam, Stockholm, New York, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney, and others) operates its own fund with its own investment terms, cohort cadence, and thematic focus. That means the specific deal an Antler alum in one city describes may not match the offer a founder sees in another. Verify current terms on the cohort city page before applying; the numbers move.
What you get
- Pre-seed investment plus day-zero residency and global alumni network access
- 3-month window to apply benefits
- Offer type: Accelerator · Mentorship
Eligibility
Founders who want to start a company but are at day zero, including those without a co-founder, a finalized idea, or significant traction. Antler accepts solo applicants and small teams and evaluates on founder quality, domain expertise, and fit with the specific cohort city or vertical focus.
- Stage
- Idea, Pre-seed
- Region
- Global
- Incorporation required
- Not required
- Funding status
- Bootstrapped only
How to apply
- Visit antler.co to find the cohort city and application window that fits your geography and timing.
- Apply through the city-specific portal; most programs accept founders solo or as small teams.
- Shortlisted applicants go through interviews and, in some cities, a residency-adjacent assessment.
- Accepted founders attend the residency phase in person at the host city; selected teams advance to the Investment phase and receive Antler's pre-seed funding.
Frequently asked questions
Who should apply to Antler?
Founders at the earliest stage, especially those who want to commit to starting a company but don't yet have a co-founder or a final idea. Antler's value proposition is specifically the residency phase, which covers co-founder matching and idea sprinting before investment is on the table. Founders who already have a team and a validated product often get more from a later-stage program.
How does Antler compare to Y Combinator and Techstars?
Y Combinator is the canonical pre-seed accelerator with the strongest single global founder network, and admits teams that already have some combination of co-founders and traction. Techstars runs many concurrent city and vertical programs with deep domain mentorship per cohort. Antler is unique in admitting founders without co-founders and running an explicit co-founder matching phase. Founders typically pick based on where they are when they apply: Antler for day-zero, YC for validated ideas, Techstars for specific vertical expertise.
Does every cohort participant receive funding?
No. Antler's structure splits the program into two phases. The first (residency) covers co-founder matching, idea sprinting, and peer feedback; the second (investment) funds only the subset of teams the Antler investment committee decides to back. This design is deliberate and is why solo applicants are welcome: most teams form inside the cohort, not before.
What are the investment terms?
Specific investment amounts and equity terms vary by geography and year; Antler operates city-specific funds with their own local economics. The canonical historical structure has been a modest pre-seed check for an equity stake, with additional follow-on capacity at later rounds. Verify current terms on the cohort city page before applying; the numbers move.
Do I have to relocate to the cohort city?
The residency phase is in-person in the host city. Some founders relocate for the duration; some already live in the city. Remote participation is generally not the model for the residency itself, though alumni network access after the program is global. Check the specific cohort page for in-person expectations.
What happens after the program ends?
Teams that advance to investment become Antler portfolio companies with access to Antler's global alumni network, follow-on capital, and partner introductions. Teams that don't advance still typically leave with a co-founder, a validated idea, and the network from the residency cohort, which is the part of the program that is the same for everyone who attends.
You'll be redirected to Antler to apply. FounderDeals never handles applications.
Alternatives to Antler
Other accelerators & grants programs founders weigh against Antler. Each links out to the provider's official page.