Entrepreneur First

Entrepreneur First (EF) is a global venture capital firm that pioneered the concept of Talent Investing in 2014. Founded by Matt Clifford and Alice Bentinck in 2011, EF focuses on backing individuals with exceptional potential, even before they have a business idea or team. EF's unique approach connects these individuals with co-founders, provides the necessary resources, and places them in a community of ambitious peers, helping them develop groundbreaking startups from scratch.

EF has invested in over 3,000 individuals and supported the creation of startups now valued at over $10 billion. The firm’s portfolio features a wide range of industries, including biotechnology, AI, space technology, finance, and healthcare. Some successful startups that have emerged from EF’s programs include Tractable (AI for accident recovery), Aztec (privacy for web3), Sonantic (expressive AI voices), and Magdrive (next-gen satellite propulsion). Notable exits include Magic Pony Technology, which was acquired by Twitter.

EF is backed by prominent investors such as Reid Hoffman (LinkedIn), Patrick and John Collison (Stripe), Demis Hassabis (Google DeepMind), and Matt Mullenweg (WordPress). These partnerships ensure that EF-backed companies have access to top-tier global investors. The startups formed through EF programs often attract significant funding, such as Gensyn, which raised $43 million just three years after its founders met in the program.

Operating in key global hubs, EF provides a fast track to success for founders, allowing them to raise capital from investors like Index Ventures and a16z. EF continues to expand its influence, helping founders accelerate their careers and create globally impactful companies that may not have existed otherwise.
 

Entrepreneur First (EF) was founded in 2011 by Matt Clifford and Alice Bentinck in London, United Kingdom. The organisation was established with a unique concept: to invest in talented individuals rather than fully formed companies. The founders believed that great companies could be built by backing exceptional people even before they have a business idea or team. This marked the origin of what later became known as Talent Investing.

EF ran its first cohorts in London in the early years, bringing together talented individuals to help them find co-founders and develop their startups. Unlike traditional venture capital firms, EF focused on the individual’s potential rather than the startup’s early traction or revenue. This approach allowed people with diverse skill sets and ambitions to collaborate and create innovative companies from the ground up.

In 2014, EF formalised its concept of Talent Investing and expanded its operations. By this time, it had already seen some early success, with startups formed through its programme attracting attention and investment. A major milestone came when Magic Pony Technology, a company formed in EF's programme, was acquired by Twitter. This acquisition brought further credibility to EF's model and highlighted its potential to create successful, high-growth startups.

In the following years, EF continued to expand, opening new offices in cities worldwide, including Singapore, Berlin, Paris, Bangalore, and Toronto. This global expansion allowed EF to attract talented individuals from different regions and industries, further strengthening its portfolio. EF also began to focus on key sectors such as biotechnology, AI, space technology, and finance.

One of EF’s notable successes came with the creation of Tractable, an AI company focused on accident and disaster recovery. Other successful companies that emerged from EF’s programmes include Cleo, an AI-powered financial assistant, Aztec, a privacy layer for web3, and Sonantic, a company specialising in expressive AI-generated voices. EF's portfolio continued to grow, with startups in diverse industries like healthcare, robotics, and sustainability.

In 2016, EF received backing from some of the world’s leading investors, including Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn, and the Collison brothers, founders of Stripe. This support helped EF further scale its operations and attract more top-tier investors to its startups.

EF’s programmes became a fast track for individuals to start companies and secure funding. In 2020, Gensyn, a startup created through EF, raised $43 million in a Series A round led by a16z. EF’s network of investors and industry experts played a crucial role in helping these companies secure funding and scale rapidly.

As of 2023, EF has invested in over 3,000 individuals and supported the creation of startups now valued at over $10 billion. The firm operates in key global cities and continues to attract ambitious individuals looking to create impactful companies. EF’s portfolio spans a wide range of industries, including AI, biotechnology, space technology, finance, healthcare, and more. Notable companies from EF's portfolio include Tractable, Aztec, La Vie, and Magdrive.

Today, EF remains focused on its mission to support exceptional individuals in building companies from scratch. It continues to innovate in the venture capital space, offering programmes that help founders develop their ideas, find co-founders, and secure funding from top investors. With a global presence and a growing portfolio of successful startups, EF has cemented its position as a leading player in talent investing and early-stage venture capital.

Entrepreneur First (EF) has a unique investment approach, focusing on individuals rather than traditional startups. Their investment criteria are based on talent and potential, rather than the presence of a business idea or existing team. Here are the key points of EF’s investment criteria:

• Exceptional Individuals: EF looks for individuals with extraordinary potential, particularly those who are ambitious, curious, and driven to make a big impact. They do not require applicants to have a business idea or an existing company. Instead, EF invests in the individual’s talent and their ability to build a successful company.
• Founders Without Ideas: Unlike other venture capital firms, EF backs individuals even if they don't have a fully formed business idea. The goal is to provide the tools, network, and environment to help them develop and refine an idea during the programme.
• Focus on Co-Founders: EF places a strong emphasis on helping individuals find co-founders. The programme brings together people with different skill sets and backgrounds to create balanced teams that can work together to build a company.
• Potential for Global Impact: EF is particularly interested in founders who have the potential to build companies that can have a significant, global impact. The focus is on innovative technologies and industries that can shape the future, such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, space technology, and fintech.
• Commitment to Growth: EF looks for individuals who are committed to growing and scaling their companies. This involves a willingness to learn, adapt, and take on challenges. EF provides support throughout the journey, but founders must show a strong drive to make their companies successful.
• Early-Stage Support: EF backs founders before they have a product, customers, or even a clear business model. The support is provided through EF's programme, which helps founders develop their idea, find co-founders, and create a viable startup.
• Access to a Global Network: EF connects founders with a global network of investors, mentors, and experts. This network provides guidance, advice, and funding opportunities for companies that show promise and are ready to scale.
• Fast Track to Funding: EF’s programme is designed to fast track founders to secure investment from leading global investors. EF’s portfolio companies often attract significant early-stage funding from prominent investors, helping them grow quickly.

Entrepreneur First (EF) offers a range of value to individuals who join their programme. Their unique approach and support system provide founders with resources, networks, and opportunities to create successful startups. Here are the key points of the value EF provides:

• Talent Investing: EF’s key value lies in its Talent Investing model. They invest in individuals, not just businesses. Even if you don’t have a business idea, EF backs you based on your talent and potential, helping you build a company from scratch.
• Finding Co-Founders: One of EF’s greatest strengths is helping individuals find co-founders. They bring together people from different backgrounds and skill sets, helping you meet a potential partner to create a balanced team for your startup.
• Structured Programme: EF runs a structured programme designed to help founders develop their ideas, form teams, and create successful companies. The programme provides guidance, resources, and support to build a strong foundation for your business.
• Access to a Global Network: EF gives founders access to a global network of mentors, investors, and industry experts. This network is essential for advice, mentorship, and early-stage funding, helping you grow your business quickly.
• Fast-Track to Funding: EF helps founders secure investment faster by connecting them with top investors. Their portfolio companies have raised funding from prominent global investors, allowing them to scale quickly.
• Proven Track Record: EF has a strong track record of success, with startups formed through their programme now valued at over $10 billion. Companies like Tractable, Magic Pony Technology, and Cleo have emerged from EF, proving their ability to help founders create impactful startups.
• Global Reach: EF operates in major cities across the world, allowing founders to access different markets and networks. Their global presence allows you to build a company with international reach and ambition.
• Support for Growth: EF provides ongoing support as your company grows. From the early stages of forming a team to scaling the business, EF offers advice, resources, and access to investors that help you navigate the challenges of building a startup.

The mission of Entrepreneur First (EF) is to enable exceptional individuals to build globally impactful companies from scratch. EF focuses on Talent Investing, backing people based on their potential rather than a fully formed idea or business. By bringing together talented individuals, providing them with resources, and helping them find co-founders, EF aims to create innovative startups that can shape the future. With a global network of investors, mentors, and industry experts, EF’s mission is to support the next generation of founders in developing transformative companies that otherwise might not exist.

Here’s a detailed portfolio of Entrepreneur First (EF) companies, with brief descriptions of each:

• Tractable: An AI company that helps insurers assess damage after accidents and disasters, speeding up recovery processes.
• Aztec: A privacy-focused platform for web3, ensuring secure and private transactions on blockchain technology.
• Sonantic: Develops expressive and realistic AI-generated voices, used in media and entertainment industries.
• Magdrive: Working on next-generation satellite propulsion technology to enhance the efficiency of space missions.
• Neptune: Provides robotic cleaning solutions for the shipping industry, improving efficiency and reducing costs.
• GenoMines: Focuses on plant-based mining solutions, making resource extraction more sustainable and efficient.
• Unitary: Uses AI to detect harmful online content, helping platforms moderate and ensure safer digital spaces.
• La Vie: Produces plant-based pork products, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional meat products.
• Atlas ML: An open-source platform providing machine learning tools to improve AI workflows and collaboration.
• Cleo: An AI-powered assistant that helps individuals manage their personal finances more effectively.
• FabricNano: Utilises enzymes to create sustainable alternatives in the biotechnology space, reducing environmental impact.
• Alcemy: A company dedicated to helping cement and concrete producers reduce costs and carbon emissions through AI.
• Core Biogenesis: Utilises plants as biofactories to produce valuable molecules for biotechnology applications.
• Intropic: Provides data solutions for investment management firms, optimising investment decisions with advanced analytics.
• Gensyn: Democratises access to AI computation by making compute resources more accessible and affordable for AI projects.
• Lynceus: Develops reliable manufacturing quality prediction software, improving efficiency in production lines.
• Green Li-ion: Creates technology to rejuvenate lithium-ion batteries, extending their life cycle and reducing waste.
• Neoplants: Bioengineers plants to fight air pollution by enhancing their ability to absorb harmful toxins from the environment.
• Ochre Bio: Focuses on developing genomic medicines to improve outcomes in liver transplant surgeries.
• Phagos: Offers a sustainable alternative to antibiotics by using innovative biotechnology solutions.
• PolyAI: Develops customer-led voice assistants, helping enterprises improve customer service through AI.
• Allozymes: Accelerates the discovery of enzymes to enhance biotechnology processes, improving efficiency across industries.
• Nivoda: An online marketplace for the jewellery industry, offering streamlined access to diamonds and gemstones.
• Open Cosmos: Designs and operates satellites to provide solutions for businesses and governments in space technology.
• Omnea: Simplifies procurement processes through automation, making it easier for businesses to source products and services.
• Faircraft: Creates sustainable lab-grown leather alternatives, contributing to the shift towards environmentally friendly materials.
• SEPPURE: Develops sustainable chemical separation processes, reducing energy consumption in industrial applications.
• Transcelestial: Aims to revolutionise internet distribution by using lasers to provide high-speed connections globally.
• PassFort: Helps companies automate the process of Know Your Customer (KYC) onboarding for regulatory compliance.
• Salus Labs: Provides security solutions for web3 protocols, enhancing the safety of blockchain technologies through ML-based threat detection.