What Founders, Inc. does

Founders, Inc. (legal entity FKR, Inc.) is a San Francisco-based accelerator and early-stage venture investor founded around 2020-2021 by Furqan Rydhan. The organization writes first checks of $100,000 to $250,000 in exchange for 4-7% equity in pre-seed and seed-stage founders, with a stated focus on emerging technology domains including AI, AR/VR, gaming, DevTools, hardware, content creation, and robotics. Unlike traditional accelerators, it does not require pitch decks; founders apply and, if selected, trial-build at the campus for one to two weeks before a formal investment decision.

The company's core infrastructure is a 42,000 sq ft Fort Mason campus in San Francisco equipped with a hardware lab (CNCs, 3D printers, soldering equipment, Raspberry Pis), a media studio (cameras, microphones, lenses, lighting), open workspaces accommodating up to 80 founders, a gym, a gaming room, and event space. Productized programs include Off Season, a six-week summer intensive for 100 builders culminating in a demo day with up to $250k in funding and $50k in perks, and Canopy, a five-week cross-disciplinary program uniting 100 on-campus and 400 online builders across software, hardware, and media tracks, with up to $250k in funding and $500k in credits for top teams. Founders receive assigned desk space, daily lunches, 1:1 office hours, fundraising support, and access to a recurring calendar of ship-its, demo days, and founder talks. Application is free and reviewed on a rolling basis.

The business model is equity-based: Founders, Inc. does not charge application or program fees and takes minority equity stakes in exchange for first checks and ongoing support. Revenue, in a traditional sense, is not disclosed and is expected to materialize only through future portfolio exits. The named portfolio includes Rork (AI no-code mobile apps), thirdweb (Web3 dev platform), Anara (AI for researchers), LiveKit (real-time comms SDK), Sync Labs (lip sync API), Paraform (recruiter marketplace), Aurelius Systems (counter-drone defense), Trass Games (VR), Inference (distributed AI inference), Nebula (AI workflow agent), Hup AI (in-home AI assistant), and Yummy Future (robotic coffee shops). Co-investors include a16z Speedrun, GV (Google Ventures), Y Combinator, Coinbase Ventures, Shopify, GitHub Founders, and Reddit Founders, indicating tier-1 fund validation of deal flow.

Name

Founders, Inc.

Legal name

FKR, Inc.

Website

https://f.inc

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Founders, Inc. is a San Francisco-based accelerator and pre-seed investor writing $100k-$250k first checks for 4-7% equity in early-stage founders building across AI, AR/VR, hardware, robotics, and content creation, supported by a 42,000 sq ft Fort Mason campus with hardware lab, media studio, and structured cohort programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Accelerator / Early-Stage Venture Capital

NAICS

Management of Companies and Enterprises (55)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Venture Studios / Company Builders (FSANAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM), Early-Stage Venture Capital (Series A/B) (FSANAAAB)

Keywords

• Startup accelerator programs
• Early-stage venture capital
• Founder community building
• Startup campus facilities
• Seed investment funding

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Equity Investment Returns: Founders, Inc. generates returns through equity stakes in portfolio companies. They typically write first checks ranging from $100,000 to $250,000 in exchange for 4-7% equity. This represents their primary business model as an early-stage investor and accelerator.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Founders, Inc. is an early-stage accelerator and venture studio that writes first checks of $100,000-$250,000 for 4-7% equity in pre-product-market-fit startups building in emerging tech domains. Founders gain access to a 42,000 sq ft Fort Mason campus with hardware lab, media studio, dedicated desks, and a curated peer community. Structured cohort programs (Off Season, Canopy) provide six-week and five-week intensive building sprints with office hours, demo days, and follow-on funding for top performers.

Product overview

Founders, Inc. is a San Francisco-based accelerator and startup campus that provides early-stage funding and operational support to founders building in emerging technology domains. The core offering consists of investment checks ($100k-$250k) combined with access to the Fort Mason campus facilities. The company runs two primary programs: Off Season (a six-week intensive for individual founders) and Canopy (a five-week cross-disciplinary program spanning software, hardware, and media tracks). Founders receive desk space, hardware lab access, media production resources, daily lunches, office hours, and community events as part of their membership. The portfolio spans AI/ML, AR/VR, DevTools, Web3, and Robotics companies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Off Season: A six-week summer program at the San Francisco campus for founders to build intensely alongside a cohort of other builders.
• Canopy

Products and services

• Off Season A six-week intensive summer program at the Founders, Inc. Fort Mason campus in San Francisco where 100 founders build their startups alongside a cohort of peers, with no curriculum or pitch deck required. Top teams receive up to $250,000 in funding plus $50,000 in perks for all participating teams, with the program concluding in a demo day.
• Canopy A five-week program bringing together three worlds of builders — Software (agents, apps, tools, platforms), Hardware (robots, drones, wearables, machines), and Media (channels, streams, studios, creator-led brands). The program supports 100 teams at the San Francisco campus plus 400 teams online, with a concluding showcase where top participants receive funding and credits.
• First Check Investment Initial seed investment program writing checks of $100,000-$250,000 for 4-7% equity in early-stage founders. In addition to capital, founders receive access to campus facilities including desk space, hardware lab, media recording resources, gym, and 1:1 office hours with partners. Selected founders trial-build at the campus for 1-2 weeks before the investment decision.
• Fort Mason Campus Facilities 42,000 sq ft campus at 2 Marina Boulevard, Fort Mason, San Francisco, featuring a fully equipped hardware lab (CNCs, 3D printers, soldering equipment, Raspberry Pis), media studio (cameras, microphones, lenses, lights), open workspaces for 80 founders, community events space, gym, and gaming room. Provided as part of the firm's accelerator membership to portfolio founders.

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Stanford BiodesignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerZeit Medical emerged from the Stanford Biodesign program, which provided initial research and development support for the stroke/seizure detection technology.
• American Arbitration Association (AAA)minorOthersPer Terms of Service, disputes subject to binding arbitration administered by AAA under its rules.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Techstars: Techstars is one of the largest global accelerator networks running mentor-driven cohorts across many verticals. A broader incumbent in the accelerator space that competes for early-stage deal flow and founder mindshare, though at much larger scale.
• Y Combinator: Y Combinator is the dominant early-stage accelerator running twice-yearly cohorts. Founders, Inc. is frequently paired with YC (their founders often do YC after Off Season), making it a comparable — though much larger and more institutionalized — accelerator model.

Direct peers

• Antler: Antler is a global early-stage VC and accelerator that works with founders pre-idea through Day 0 and Day 1. Similar in offering first checks, residency programming, and global founder support, though operating at much larger scale across many geographies.
• South Park Commons: South Park Commons is a founder "home base" that takes people pre-idea or pre-funding and provides a community, programming, and eventually capital. Very similar model to Founders, Inc., with comparable "long-term, non-transactional" positioning and focus on the -1 to 0 journey.
• Pear VC: Pear VC is an early-stage venture firm running a PearX accelerator program for pre-seed and seed founders. Comparable in writing first checks and providing accelerator-style programming, with a focus on AI and deep tech.
• Pioneer.app: Pioneer is a remote-first, application-based accelerator/YC alternative providing initial capital, mentorship, and community. Targets similar pre-seed/seed founders in emerging tech categories without requiring geographic relocation.
• On Deck: On Deck runs founder and operator fellowship programs with cohort-based programming and community. Comparable in offering non-dilutive (or low-dilution) programming, peer community, and ongoing founder support rather than a one-time accelerator week.
• a16z Speedrun: a16z Speedrun is Andreessen Horowitz's accelerator program providing $1M+ checks and mentorship. It is a frequent co-investor in Founders, Inc. portfolio (e.g., Rork, DreamPark) and competes for similar early-stage founders in AI and emerging tech.

Emerging players

• Contrary: Contrary is a research-driven venture firm that runs fellowship and residency programs for early-stage founders. Comparable in combining investment with structured programs targeting emerging-tech and frontier founders.
• Neo (Andrew Yeung): Neo is a curated community and fellowship for founders and operators, offering events, programming, and capital in select cases. Comparable in founder-community positioning and social-media-driven brand building.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/fdotinc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@fdotinc?sub_confirmation=1
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/foundersinc
• Instagraminstagram.com/fdotinc
• TikToktiktok.com/@foundersinc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments228 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Founders, Inc.