Founder Fellowship

This role is for first-time founders. Let’s talk if you want to run a business from 0 to 1.

Our Thesis

Most startups fail because they chase vague ideas in crowded markets or never have enough early momentum to get started. Vector’s Founder Fellowship partners with founders at the earliest stage. From pre-revenue, pre-product, even pre-idea, our goal is to help you identify the right opportunity and create early momentum. 

At Vector, we believe that Micro-Vertical AI is the future - https://medium.com/@vector-ai/micro-vertical-ai-startup-thesis-5ea601ff1787. 

Program Structure

The fellowship runs in focused cohorts to create momentum. The membership in the community and continued mentorship extends well beyond the cohort. You graduate once you’ve launched a product, earning real revenue.

Each cohort includes:

• Kickoff session (in-person or virtual)
• Weekly founder accountability sessions
• Weekly office hours with experienced founders
• Live build reviews and product feedback
• Traction check-ins and execution tracking

Weeks 0-4: Idea creation & validation. Research, Product building. Business Direction and shipment

Weeks 4-8: Go-to-market implementation, user acquisition, and scaling. You'll be focused on getting your product in front of real users and driving revenue.

How We Accelerate the Startup Timeline

Our fellows learn how to use AI to compress what traditionally takes months into weeks — without sacrificing quality.

Our fellows learn concrete AI strategies to accelerate what traditionally takes months into weeks. This allows our fellows to reach revenue fast (our fastest to date was 2 weeks).

We focus on accelerating:

1. Market exploration
2. Idea validation & positioning
3. Product launch
4. User testing and validation
5. Iteration cycles
6. Revenue growth

Long-Term Community Access

You’ll remain in our Founder Fellowship network and received continued benefits after graduating from the program. The ongoing benefits include:

• Slack community of successful fellows
• Monthly closed-door founder roundtables
• Demo days and launch showcases
• Resource library (playbooks, GTM frameworks, validation guides)
• Peer introductions and collaboration
• Talent and co-founder matching
• Investor visibility for high-performing founders
• Alumni network access

What You Receive

• Unlimited Credits for duration of 8-week program
• Direct mentorship and feedback from Vector CEO (Founder $22M raised)
• High-signal peer community and accountability
• Tactical workshops (idea validation, pricing, distribution, retention)
• Public launch amplification within our ecosystem
• Long-term founder network access
• Direct introductions to potential investors if you demonstrate strong traction and execution
• Priority consideration for deeper collaboration with Vector
• Monthly in-person happy hour and social opportunities

Commitment

During the 8 week program, we expect:

• Minimum 20 hours per week
• Active participation in accountability sessions
• Public shipping and iteration
• Transparent progress updates

The Founder Fellowship does not require any equity to participate.

The program is offered for a one-time fee, which covers the full 8-week experience - including curriculum, live mentorship, weekly workshops, build sessions, community access, and full access to the Vector Max platform throughout the program.

Vector also offers scholarships of up to 40% for currently enrolled students.

Who This Is For

We are looking for:

• Founders ready to launch a vertical AI micro-SaaS company now
• Individuals with strong ownership and accountability
• People serious about launching a real AI software business

You may be:

• Starting from scratch
• Refining an early idea
• Exploring a specific vertical

You do not need:

• An idea
• A co-founder
• Technical background
• Fundraising experience

You do need:

• Strong bias toward action
• Comfort with feedback
• Commitment to building something real

We’re looking for founders starting from scratch or iterating on early ideas. This program is designed for builders going from 0 to 1.

What Success Looks Like

By the end of the program, you should have:

• A profitable AI software business
• Real user feedback
• Validated demand and early revenue
• Founder-level execution experience and frameworks
• A startup with credible potential for investment

Application Process

• Application Deadline: Monday, April 27th, 2026 at 11:59 PM PT
• Application Basis: Rolling, please submit as early as possible
• Interview Round: One 30-minute remote conversation with the Vector team
• Final Decision: Friday, May 1st, 2026 at 11:59 PM PT

How to Apply

Please submit responses to the following link:

• Application link: Vector Founder Fellowship Application
• Personal information: Full name, Email, and LinkedIn profile
• What about your background makes you uniquely suited to start a company?
• What are the startup ideas you are considering?
• Links to products, projects, or work you’ve built
• Referrer

Should you require any additional information or have further requests, please contact [email protected].