Entrepreneur First

Founded in 2011 by Matt Clifford and Alice Bentinck, Entrepreneur First (EF) pioneered the concept of "talent investing." Rather than investing in existing companies, EF selects and invests in talented individuals before they have a team or a validated idea. The company runs intensive programs that bring these individuals together, facilitate the formation of co-founding teams, and help them develop their business concepts. EF then provides pre-seed funding to the most promising companies formed during the program, effectively acting as the world's leading 'foundry' for new startups.