INSEAD AI Venture Lab

Applications now open

The AI Founder Sprint 2027.

A 10-week virtual program for early-stage founders to build, test, and scale their ventures with AI.

  • 27 Jan – 2 Apr 2027
  • Fully virtual
  • Free, no equity
  • Applications close 1 Dec 2026
Apply now

Build a better company with AI, not just a company that builds AI.

The Founder Sprint is our flagship program for transforming entrepreneurship through AI. Over 10 weeks, early-stage founders take part in workshops, technical training, masterclasses and fireside chats, all built to make real progress on their business.

Past speakers

  • Grant Lee

    Grant Lee

    Co-Founder, Gamma

  • Henry Shi

    Henry Shi

    Co-Founder, Super.com

  • Chris Yeh

    Chris Yeh

    Co-Author, Blitzscaling

  • Ethan Mollick

    Ethan Mollick

    Wharton Professor

    TIME100 AI Honoree

  • Claudia Zeisberger

    Claudia Zeisberger

    INSEAD Faculty & Angel Investor

… and many more

Research Backing

“AI is not just lowering costs — it is raising the ceiling of firm performance. Our research shows that firms that learn to reorganize around AI discover 44% more use cases, generate nearly 2x the revenue, and need 40% less capital. The Sprint is where this science meets the field.”

Source: Kim, Kim & Koning

Read our research →

What selected founders receive.

  • Research-backed frameworks

    New frameworks for using AI to build, test and scale your startup.

  • Expert-led study groups

    Small groups where you apply AI tools to your own venture.

  • Masterclasses

    Sessions and feedback from leading investors, entrepreneurs and AI experts.

  • Mentorship

    Strategic guidance from global experts in AI and entrepreneurship.

  • A peer group and Community Lead

    A curated group of founders and a weekly check-in to keep you moving.

  • Partner resources

    Gain access to a series of perks and benefits provided by our curated list of partners.

How the Sprint works.

  1. Phase 1: Weeks 1–2

    Onboarding

    Get set up, meet your peer group and learn the core frameworks.

    ~4–5 hrs/week

  2. Phase 2: Weeks 3–7

    Build

    Apply AI to your venture through study groups, masterclasses and mentor sessions.

    ~2–3 hrs/week

  3. Phase 3: Week 8

    VC Week

    Hear from leading venture investors on today's fundraising landscape and what makes a company investable. Selected startups get the chance to sharpen their pitch with direct feedback from investors.

    ~2–3 hrs/week

  4. Phase 4: Weeks 9–10

    Test and refine

    Sharpen what you've built with mentor feedback and get ready for Demo Day.

    ~2–3 hrs/week

  5. Demo Days

    Venues to be announced

No full-time commitment required. Live sessions are scheduled with global time zones in mind, and recordings are available when needed. Sessions are in English.

Apply now

The community behind every founder.

Founders don't go through the Sprint alone.

Mentors

Experienced founders, investors and domain experts who advise ventures on strategy, product, go-to-market and fundraising. 1–2 hours per week.

Apply to mentor →

Community Leads

Facilitators who run a weekly check-in for a small peer group, part coach and part connector. No AI expertise needed. ~2 hours per week.

Apply to be a Community Lead →

Faculty and instructors

INSEAD faculty and practitioners who teach the frameworks and lead the masterclasses.

Who we're looking for.

  • Early-stage founders anywhere in the world, from ideation and business model planning through to execution
  • No INSEAD or academic affiliation needed
  • You don't need to be an AI-native startup or building an AI product
  • You must be at least 18 years old

Beyond stage, we look for clarity of vision and motivation, and a commitment to engage fully with the program. We curate a globally diverse cohort across geographies, sectors and lived experiences.

Key dates.

  1. 1 December 2026, 11:59pm GMT+8

    Applications close

  2. Early January 2027

    Selected founders notified

  3. 27 January 2027

    Sprint begins

  4. 2 April 2027

    Sprint ends

  5. After the Sprint

    Demo Days (venues to be announced)

From our first cohort.

“The Sprint's most valuable gift wasn't teaching us what to build — it was teaching us how to know when we're building the wrong thing.”
Jess Tang

Jess Tang

Mavic.AI

“Our 8-week ambition was to double the company valuation from $10M to $20M. We believe we're there.”
Casey Potenzone

Casey Potenzone

InsureMEP

“The Sprint gave me structure, accountability, and belief that even a single founder can build and launch globally using AI.”
Abhishek Sanoria

Abhishek Sanoria

RenewlyAI

See past programs →

Questions from founders.

See all FAQs →

Ready to build?

Applications for the AI Founder Sprint 2027 close on 1 December 2026. It's free, and we take no equity.

Apply now

Apply as a MentorApply as a Community Lead