5 Best Pre-Seed Accelerators Backed by Top VCs: Sequoia, Greylock, A16z & More

Looking for the best pre-seed accelerators to jumpstart your start-up? Discover 5 top VC-backed programs that offer funding, mentorship, and resources to early-stage founders.

When I first started meeting with VCs a few years ago, several of them gave me the same advice: get an established pre-seed VC or program to back your venture; it will make the fundraising process easier. Their line of thinking was that having an existing, well-known player in the VC world bet on my start-up would validate what we were trying to build.

Now, obviously, getting into an established program or meeting with such a VC is much easier in theory than in application. However, as someone who was new to the VC landscape back then, I didn’t have any idea who the big names in the game were or where to get started.

Over the years, I’ve come across some brilliant accelerator programs designed for pre-seed and seed founders that are run by some of the most prestigious names in the VC world. Here’s a quick breakdown of 5 programs and accelerators that provide ventures in their earliest stage of development with the support, structure and capital needed to navigate the early stages of building a start-up.

1. Sequoia's Arc

Known as one of the leading top-tier VCs, Sequoia Capital is known for backing legendary companies like Apple, Google, and Airbnb. Sequoia Arc is their pre-seed and seed-stage accelerator designed to invest and support early-stage founders through their resources and expertise. In addition to the investment, the program provides founders with in-person and virtual workshops and check-ins to further develop their business, GTM, and product strategies.

I first heard about this program when on a call with one of Sequoia’s analysts, who described it as a hidden gem to the founder community. The program also boasts an impressive line-up of speakers, such as the founders of Instagram, Notion, Atari, Hubspot, and more.

Benefits: $500k - $1M potential investment, weekly workshops and check-ins to refine your start-up with Sequoia’s team, access to Sequoia’s digital hub and Builder’s community that provides further resources, connections and content, and over 200+ benefits in credits and savings from companies like Anthropic, GitHub, Microsoft Azure, etc.

Eligibility: Open to pre-seed and seed-stage start-ups

Application Deadline: Applications opened on February 3rd, 2025, with the Spring cohort set to kick off on April 21st.

2. Greylock Edge

Greylock Partners is a leading venture capital firm with a strong track record of backing early-stage technology start-ups. Having been founded in 1965, it’s also one of the oldest and most reputable. They have been known to be an early partner to many of today’s leading tech companies, including Airbnb, Coinbase, Discord, Figma, Instagram, LinkedIn, Roblox, and Workday.

With the goal of taking ventures from “concept to company”, Greylock Edge is their bespoke accelerator designed to help founders at the earliest stages build scalable ventures, with funding potentially available to selected participants on a case-by-case basis.

Benefits: Three-month access to Greylock's resources, AI Researchers in Residence, hiring and customer services and $500K+ in credits with AWS, Google, Microsoft and more.

Eligibility: Open to start-ups in the pre-idea, pre-seed, and seed stages.

Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

3. Designer Fund Partnership

Designer Fund is a venture capital firm that invests in companies where design is critical to success. Their Partnership program is aimed at founders who prioritize design and are building in industries like health, climate, and economic prosperity.

Beyond investment, Designer Fund Partnership focuses on providing hands-on, tailored feedback through on-demand office hours that aim to aid founders in implementing design strategies, product flows and working systems to assist in their sales, recruiting, and company culture. Founders also gain access to an exclusive community of 300+ top founders and design leaders from companies like Stripe, Airbnb, and Slack through private Slack channels, resource libraries, and invite-only events.

They are specifically seeking out mission-driven founders who can produce innovations that are 10x better compared to alternatives in multi-billion dollar markets that currently have poor user experiences.

Benefits: Up to $1 Million in investment along with tailored introductions, events, feedback and advice through a combination of office hours and events.

Eligibility: Open to pre-seed, seed-stage and Series A start-ups working to improve health, climate, or prosperity for all.

Application Deadline: Applications are closed, but founders can still be referred to the program through a form on their website.

4. A16z’s Talent x Opportunity (TxO) Program

Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) is a top-tier venture capital firm known for backing game-changing technology companies. Their TxO program is designed to support “cultural innovators”, which they describe as founders with groundbreaking ideas but limited access to traditional networks and resources. Alongside the investment, selected start-ups receive training, community, mentorship, and access to products, services and expertise from TxO partner organizations.

Benefits: $175,000 investment along with being admitted to their 16-week accelerator program that combines in-person and online mentorship

Eligibility: Open to U.S.-based businesses with a consumer-facing technology product in the market with some proven traction. Founders outside the traditional venture capital / Silicon Valley network are encouraged to apply.

Application Deadline: Start-ups are accepted on a rolling basis, and applications remain open.

5. Afore Capital’s Founder-in-Residence Program

Afore Capital is a pre-seed-focused venture firm investing in high-potential founders at the earliest stages. Their Founder in Residence (FIR) program is designed for the most ambitious founders at the idea stage, offering flexible funding, bespoke support, and a tight-knit community to move from concept to traction.

Based in-person at San Fransisco, the program is a selective residency with 5-8 founders per cohort, offering a hands-on, community-driven approach to help founders iterate faster and build conviction. Their curriculum includes rapid prototyping, user testing, and building momentum towards product-market fit with direct feedback from the Afore team and fellow founders, with the aim of helping founders reach their first five customers.

Benefits: $100,000 minimum investment, office space in San Fransisco, weekly interactions and guidance, and access to 10,000+ prospective customers and design partners in their network

Eligibility: Early-stage founders are welcome to apply, including founders “tinkering” with an idea or part-time founders still iterating towards product-market fit.

Application Deadline: Their next cohort is set to begin in May 2025, with applications still open.

Which One is Right for You?

If you’re an early-stage founder looking to accelerate your start-up, these five accelerators each bring something unique to the table. Whether you’re pre-idea, working on product-market fit, or scaling an existing venture, each program focuses on a unique aspect of the entrepreneurial journey. I’d suggest identifying what is the most pressing goal or roadblock you are tackling and applying for the accelerator that is set up with the support and resources to tackle it.

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