How Antler and Founder Institute compare on investment, equity, format, stage and timing. Every figure comes from the programs' own sites, verified November 4, 2026.
| Antler | Founder Institute | |
|---|---|---|
| Equity | Not published | 2.5% |
| Deal terms | Varies by market: e.g. US $500K-$1M initial commitment; Singapore $100K for 10% plus $50K uncapped MFN SAFE; UK GBP125K for 8.5% | No investment; entrance fee (e.g. $1,399 in SF) plus 2.5% equity pledge to the Equity Collective |
| Format | In-person | Hybrid |
| Headquarters | Singapore | Palo Alto, United States |
| Stage | idea, pre-seed | idea, pre-seed |
| Sectors | general | general |
| Duration | 6 weeks to 3 months depending on location | ~10 sessions plus Funding Day |
| Application cycle | rolling, with multiple cohort starts per year by location | Multiple cohorts a year per city |
Investment is the full standard package; where part of it is an uncapped SAFE, the equity stake covers only the fixed part (see deal terms). Terms change; confirm on each official site before applying.
About
Global early-stage investor that runs in-person residencies where individual founders can meet co-founders and build a company before receiving pre-seed investment. It runs programs in about 30 cities across the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa. Investment terms are set locally and differ by market.
Notable alumni: Lovable, Airalo, Peec AI
About
Founder Institute is a global pre-seed program that takes founders from idea to fundable company through about 10 sessions and a Funding Day, run by local chapters in 200+ cities as well as online. Participants pay an entrance fee (e.g. $1,399 for San Francisco) and pledge 2.5% of future equity to a shared Equity Collective that activates only at a qualified financing.
Notable alumni: Udemy, Esusu, Oddbox
Key differences
More comparisons: Y Combinator vs Antler · Techstars vs Antler · Entrepreneur First vs Antler · Antler vs Startmate Accelerator · All comparisons
XRaze scores your fit against each program, drafts answers from your company profile and tracks every deadline. Start free with 50 credits, no card needed.