SciFounders Fellowship
By SciFounders
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Quick Answer
Up to US$1 million for technical founders building hard-science companies — open worldwide, no deadline, no application form.
- Funding amount
- Varies
- Funding type
- Equity
- Provider
- SciFounders
- Application deadline
- Rolling
- Location
- International
About this funding program
SciFounders backs technical founders starting hard-science companies, writing cheques of up to US$1 million. There is no deadline, no application form and no business plan to write — you email them.
It is run by three people who started these companies themselves: Matt Krisiloff (CEO of Conception, previously director of Y Combinator Research and a founding team member of OpenAI), Lucas Harrington (co-founder of Mammoth Biosciences, PhD from Jennifer Doudna's lab at UC Berkeley) and Alexander Schubert (PhD in Molecular Biology at Cambridge, previously Research & Early Development at Genentech).
Can you apply from India?
Yes. Asked directly whether they only invest in US companies, SciFounders say: "Both are OK. The only thing important to us is that you have the support you need wherever you are based."
One caveat, in their words: it is "ideal if you have incorporated in the US or are planning to do so." So an Indian founder is squarely in scope, but you should expect the US-entity question early. You do not need to relocate — the only place relocation comes up is lab space (below).
What they are looking for
Their stated goal is to get more technical teams running their own companies. Three things matter:
- At least one founder full-time. Not necessarily on day one, but once the company has launched. They are explicit that this is a requirement, not a preference.
- Technical founders on the full-time team. Not everyone has to be technical, but if you aren't, you should be "technically literate" — able to understand the science intimately and talk to the technical team.
- The founders, more than the idea. They say they "care most about the quality of the founders and try to be agnostic about ideas", because less-fashionable ideas can turn out to matter.
You do not need a team. A solo founder can apply. You do not need to be incorporated — they help with company formation. You do not need a business plan: their FAQ answers the "I only know how to write grants" question with a no, you just have to explain what the company will do in a way that makes sense to a technical colleague outside your field.
What they fund
The main focus right now is life sciences, but they are open elsewhere — asked whether they fund computer scientists and engineers building software or hardware companies, the answer is a flat yes. The bar is "novel technologies that have the potential to make a big difference in people's lives".
The portfolio shows what that looks like in practice:
| Company | What they do |
|---|---|
| NewLimit | Extending lifespan with partial reprogramming |
| Engage Bio | Genetic medicine — acquired by Eli Lilly in 2026 |
| Earth AI | Exploration for high-value rare earth mineral deposits |
| Current Surgical | Micro-invasive, software-enabled surgery |
| Deliver Bio | In vivo cell editing |
| Harbor | Genome engineering with full gene insertions |
| Preventive | Preventing disease before birth |
| Luminate Medical | Cancer care |
| Fletcher Bio | Precision immune therapy |
| Moab | Minibinders inspired by nature |
| Olio Labs | Combination therapies with fewer side effects |
| Sculpta | Reshaping proteins in the brain |
| Trace Bio | Fluorescent-guided surgery |
| Xterna | Cell-type-specific targeting |
Note the mix: mostly biotech, but Earth AI is minerals exploration and Current Surgical is a device-and-software company. "Life sciences focus" is a lean, not a filter.
The terms
This is equity, and they publish the number most firms won't: for pre-seed to seed they are "normally aiming for ~12%". They prefer to settle terms later in the process, once they can see what milestones your funding needs to reach.
Two things worth knowing, both unusually founder-friendly:
- They take no stake in your IP. Equity in the company only — no claim on patents or royalties. The IP stays with the inventor or institution. For a founder spinning out of a university, this is the question that usually decides whether a deal is possible at all.
- No strings on the money. No obligations and no restrictions on how you spend it, salaries included — their only guidance is to "be reasonable about it".
What comes with the money
- Office hours, as often as you want. You schedule them; they describe their involvement as helping you make progress rather than running your company.
- Introductions to investors in their network when you raise.
- Lab space help, if you're in the Bay Area or willing to move there. They don't provide space themselves, but will help you find shared lab space if you need it at this stage. This is the one place being in the US genuinely matters.
- No end date. There is no formal program end — they say they try to stay useful well beyond your seed round.
How to apply
There is no form and no deadline. Email hello@scifounders.com describing what you are building. Applications are read as they arrive.
Because there is no structured application, the email is the whole pitch. Cover what the technology is, why you are the person to build it, whether a founder is full-time or will be on financing, and where you are incorporated or plan to be.
Eligibility
See if you're eligible
Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Funding providers
SciFounders is an early-stage venture firm run by technical founders who started their own deeptech companies. Its partners are Matt Krisiloff (CEO of Conception, previously director of Y Combinator Research and a founding team member of OpenAI), Lucas Harrington (co-founder of…
Learn moreBenefits & Funding
What You Get
Up to US$1 million in equity investment from SciFounders. For pre-seed to seed they say they normally aim for ~12%, with the exact terms agreed later in the process once the milestones your funding has to reach are clear.
Two unusually founder-friendly terms. They take no ownership of your IP — equity in the company only, with patents and royalties staying with the inventor or institution, which is often the deciding factor for a university spin-out. And there are no restrictions on how you spend the money, salaries included; their only guidance is to be reasonable.
Beyond the cheque: office hours as often as you want to schedule them, introductions to investors in their network when you raise, and help finding shared lab space if you are in the Bay Area or willing to move there. There is no formal end to the programme — they aim to stay useful past your seed round.
- Application fee
- Free
Timelines & Process
Application Fee
Free
Applications
Rolling basis
Selection Process
There is no form, no deadline, no pitch event and no cohort. You email hello@scifounders.com and the conversation starts from there.
What they weigh. Their stated goal is helping more technical teams run their own companies, and they say they care most about the quality of the founders, trying to stay agnostic about ideas — because ideas that look unfashionable now can turn out to matter. In practice that means the founders and the technology get more weight than the market slide.
The hard requirement. At least one founder full-time on the company. It does not have to be immediate, but it must be true once the company has launched. Technical founders must be on that full-time team.
What is explicitly not screened out: no incorporation, no co-founder, no business plan, no traction, no warm introduction, and no particular geography — international founders are fine, with US incorporation preferred rather than required.
Terms are set late, on purpose. They discuss valuation and structure once they can see where the company is and how much funding it needs to reach meaningful milestones. For pre-seed to seed they aim for around 12%, and they take no stake in IP.
After the investment there is no formal programme end. You schedule office hours as often as you want, they introduce you to investors in their network when you raise, and they help find Bay Area lab space if you need it.
Application Process
- 1
Initial Contact
Founders send an email expressing interest and introducing their startup.
You - 2
- 3
- 4
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Draft your application
Answer the form inside the grant tracker — AI drafts each response using your past answers, so you're not starting from a blank page.
- 2
Line up your documents
Keep every document from the checklist ready in one folder. Missing docs are the #1 reason applications get bounced.
- 3
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 4
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can founders based in India apply?
Yes. Asked whether they invest only in US-based companies, SciFounders say both are fine, and that what matters is that you have the support you need wherever you are based. They add that it is ideal if you have incorporated in the US or plan to, so expect that question early. You are not required to relocate.
How much do they invest?
Up to US$1 million. The exact amount is discussed later in the process, once it is clear what milestones the funding needs to get you to.
How much equity do they take?
For pre-seed to seed they say they normally aim for around 12%. They prefer to discuss terms later in the process to get a better sense of where the company is and how much funding you need.
Do they take any ownership of the IP?
No. They take equity in the company only, and no stake in patents, royalties or other IP — that stays with the inventor or institution.
Is there a deadline?
No. There is no application window and no form. You email hello@scifounders.com whenever you are ready, and applications are read as they arrive.
Do I need to be incorporated already?
No. They can help you through company formation, and it is equally fine if the entity already exists.
Do I need a co-founder or a team?
No. A team you have worked with before is a plus but is not necessary for them to consider working with you. They also run a sign-up for founders looking to join a startup or find a co-founder, and will try to find a match.
Does the whole founding team have to be technical?
No, but technical founders must be part of the full-time founding team. If you are not technical yourself, you should at least be technically literate — able to understand the science your company works on intimately and communicate clearly with the technical team.
Do I have to quit my job?
At least one founder has to be full-time on the company. That does not have to happen immediately, but it should be the case once the company has launched.
What sectors do they fund?
Novel technologies with the potential to make a big difference in people's lives. Life sciences is the main focus at the moment, but they are explicitly open to other areas and have said yes to funding computer scientists and engineers building software or hardware companies. The portfolio includes minerals exploration and surgical devices alongside biotech.
Do I need a business plan or a pitch deck?
No formal business plan. Their FAQ addresses this directly for scientists who have only written grants: you just need to communicate what the company will do in a way that would make sense to a technical colleague outside your field.
Are there restrictions on how the money is used?
No. There are no obligations and no restrictions, including using it for your own salaries — their only guidance is that you should be able to support yourselves and be reasonable about it.
Will they introduce me to other investors?
Yes. They will introduce you to investors from their network who they think might be interested in supporting you.
Do they provide lab space?
Not directly. If you are in the Bay Area, or willing to relocate there, they will help you find shared lab space if your company needs it at this stage.
How involved are they day to day?
As involved as you want. You have the option to reach out and schedule office hours as often as you like — their framing is helping you make progress, not running the company.
When does the programme end?
There is no formal end. They say they try to stay helpful well beyond your seed round.
Who is behind SciFounders?
Matt Krisiloff (CEO of Conception, previously director of Y Combinator Research and a founding team member of OpenAI), Lucas Harrington (co-founder of Mammoth Biosciences, PhD from Jennifer Doudna's lab at UC Berkeley) and Alexander Schubert (PhD in Molecular Biology from Cambridge, previously Research & Early Development at Genentech).
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
