by Z Fellows
Z Fellows invests $10,000 at a $1 billion valuation cap in exceptional young builders. The program runs an intensive 2-week sprint in San Francisco, connecting fellows with top founders, investors, and each other.
Apply Now$10,000 at $1B valuation cap
2 weeks (intensive) + ongoing support
Global
Open to ambitious young builders worldwide. No formal age requirement, but most fellows are 17-25. No company required — individuals with ambitious projects are eligible. Must be able to travel to San Francisco for the 2-week program.
Multiple cohorts per year
Z Fellows is one of the most founder-friendly programs in the startup ecosystem. The program invests $10,000 in each fellow on a SAFE note with a $1 billion valuation cap — a deal so favorable that it effectively functions as a grant. This structure means founders give up virtually no equity while gaining access to an incredible network of mentors and peers.
The program runs intensive 2-week cohorts in San Francisco, bringing together a small group of 15-20 exceptional young builders. During the sprint, fellows meet with successful founders, investors, and operators for daily fireside chats, workshops, and 1:1 mentorship sessions. Past speakers and mentors have included founders from companies like Notion, Scale AI, and Figma.
Z Fellows is explicitly designed for young, ambitious people who are building something — whether it is a startup, an open-source project, a research initiative, or something entirely new. The program has a strong bias toward action and execution over credentials. Fellows are selected based on what they have already built and the clarity of their vision for what comes next.
An extremely founder-friendly deal combined with an intensive community experience.
Z Fellows cares about what you have built and what you want to build, not your resume.
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