Entrepreneurs First (EF)

Entrepreneurs First is a talent investing platform founded in 2011 by Matt Clifford and Alice Bentinck in London. EF pioneered the concept of talent investing, where the firm identifies and backs exceptional individuals before they have a co-founder or even a startup idea. The company operates cohorts in London, Paris, Bangalore, New York, and San Francisco, helping participants find co-founders, develop ideas, and build companies from the ground up.

Role in the Startup Ecosystem

EF occupies a unique position in the startup ecosystem by operating at the earliest possible stage, before a company even exists. Traditional accelerators and investors require at least an idea or a team. EF starts with the individual, using a combination of ML-driven pattern recognition and intensive interviews to identify people with exceptional founder potential. This approach expands the pipeline of high-quality startups by unlocking entrepreneurial talent that might otherwise never start a company.

Programs and Initiatives

EF's Bangalore program is an intensive, in-person experience where selected individuals receive an equity-free grant during the ideation phase. Participants get a dedicated advisor, nine months of Bangalore office space, expert co-founder matching guidance, and access to EF's global alumni network. Upon company formation, EF invests up to $250,000, with potential for up to $5 million in follow-on funding through Series B. Participants also unlock over $600,000 in partner credits including $350,000 in Microsoft Azure credits and $250,000+ from OpenAI, Anthropic, GitHub, PostHog, Datadog, and ElevenLabs. The program culminates in a San Francisco Demo Day where founders pitch to 200+ VC partners, with typical raises of $1 to $7 million within weeks.

Notable Alumni

Globally, EF has helped create more than 600 companies with a combined value exceeding $11 billion as of 2025. EF alumni have raised from Sequoia, Lightspeed, and Andreessen Horowitz across AI, deep tech, fintech, and enterprise software sectors.

Who Benefits

Exceptional individuals with technical or domain expertise who want to start a company but lack a co-founder or idea benefit most. EF specifically looks for people with strong track records in engineering, science, product, or business who have not yet taken the leap into entrepreneurship. No prior startup experience, co-founder, or existing idea is required.

Strategic Impact

EF's Bangalore cohort directly increases the supply of high-quality deep-tech and AI startups in India by converting technical talent into founders. The program's global network gives Indian-origin companies immediate access to international investors and markets, while the co-founder matching process creates teams with complementary skills that are more likely to succeed long-term.