The first to believe
For more than 30 years, Foundation Capital has backed founders at inception, long before the rest of the world believed in them. Our Build Accelerator programs extend that tradition.
We support founders at the very beginning, when all you have is conviction in yourself to start and a rough idea.
No equity. No fees. No catch.
We offer you our belief in you as a founder, resources to turn a technical insight into a company, and a community of equally ambitious believers.
Apply Now → Cal Build, IIT Build
🌊 Why Build Accelerator?
The leap from zero to one is the hardest stretch of company building. You’re running on conviction with limited resources, a small team, and an endless to-do list. Our Build programs exist to give founders an unfair advantage in the earliest, loneliest part of the journey - when you’re transforming a spark of technical insight into a company that can scale.
First to believe → We share your conviction from day zero.
From day zero to first product → Helping you turn a technical insight into a real, scalable product.
Direct access → To Foundation Capital partners and our extended network.
Zero downside, free to join → You shouldn’t have to give up equity to accelerate.
Founders push founders → Shared accountability, learning, and momentum that pushes everyone forward.
📚 Our programs
IIT Build
An exclusive network of IIT grads working together to start, build, and grow companies. Founders should be based in the Bay Area and working on B2B companies.
Learn more and apply to IIT Build.
Cal Build
An exclusive network of Cal students and alumni building companies together. Founders should be based in the Bay Area and working on B2B companies.
Learn more and apply to Cal Build.
✅ What we are, what we’re not
What we are
The first believers, backing founders at inception
Zero-equity, zero-fee programs designed for technical builders
Focused, intimate cohorts of 8 founders
Run by former founders who know what it takes
A lifelong community that continues beyond the program
What we're not
❌ A transactional sprint that ends at demo day
❌ A scaled accelerator or incubator churning through large batches
❌ A program that takes equity or sets terms upfront
❌ A one-size-fits-all curriculum
🔑 What founders get
When you join a Build program, you gain:
Small, hand-picked cohorts → 8 founders per program, not 80
Investor access → Hands-on time with Foundation Capital's investing team
Founder-to-founder accountability → Peers who won’t let you stall
Educational events → Monthly sessions with experienced founders and operators
$500k+ in credits and perks → Credits to AWS, Azure, OpenAI, Anthropic, and dozens more discounts
Free office space → Downtown San Francisco and downtown Palo Alto
Kickoff dinners → With Foundation Capital partners and your cohort
Ongoing community → Build doesn’t end after 3 months; you’re in it for life
💡 Every founder walks away with more than advice. They walk away with momentum, clarity, and an edge at the earliest stage, when it matters most.
🌟 Apply now
Be part of the next cohort. Build alongside peers who are in it with you, with the backing of a team that’s been the first to believe in extraordinary founders for decades.
Apply now → Cal Build, IIT Build