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Menlo Inception Fund

Rolling

by Menlo Ventures

Menlo Ventures' pre-seed fund for exceptional founders, providing 10–20 hours/week of customized support for up to three months.

Visit Program
Funding

Negotiated

Equity Terms

Standard pre-seed terms

Duration

Up to 3 months

Cohort Size

~10 founders/year

Cohort Cadence

Ongoing

Application Cycle

By invitation and application

Location

San Francisco

Live-In

No

Geographic Scope

United States

Last Verified

2/14/2026

Summary

Menlo Ventures' Inception Fund is a pre-seed initiative that partners with exceptional founders at the earliest stages. Unlike batch-based programs, Menlo accepts roughly 10 founders per year on a rolling basis, providing 10–20 hours per week of customized support for up to three months.

Founders get access to Menlo's extensive network of co-investors, advisors, and contractors. The program is lighter-touch than a traditional accelerator, designed for founders who need strategic guidance rather than structured curriculum.

Program Edge

Backed by one of Silicon Valley's most established VC firms (founded 1976). Deep enterprise and infrastructure network.

  • 10–20 hours/week of customized partner support
  • Access to Menlo's co-investor and advisor network
  • Contractor and hiring support
  • No batch format — rolling, personalized engagement

Best Fit

Experienced founders who need strategic guidance and network access, not structured programming. Enterprise and infrastructure focus areas.

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