Can I still apply if I missed YC, SPC, and EF London?

Yes. Those three closed, but six programs in this guide are still open. Start with Sequoia Arc if you can move before August 17, then Character Cap Labs and Solo Founders if you need a September window.

Which program is best for solo founders?

Solo Founders Cohort 5. It is built only for solo founders, with $100K for 2.5% and three months in San Francisco, starting September 10. If you are not solo, look at Arc, Character Cap Labs, or Greylock Edge instead.

What if I am pre-idea or still a student?

Greylock Edge takes pre-idea through seed, and 1517 Fund backs students, dropouts, and deep-tech scientists with micro-grants plus pre-seed checks and no degree requirement. Match the program to your stage instead of forcing an early company into a seed-focused cohort.

← AI Guides

6 Underrated AI Startup & Founder Programs (Aug 2026)

Published August 16, 2026

beginner

Mika Reyes

Co-founder at King’s Cross Labs · ex-LinkedIn PM & Forbes 30 Under 30

YC closed July 27. South Park Commons closed August 2. Entrepreneur First London closed August 4. If you missed those, you are not out of options. Six underrated founder programs are still open, and barely anyone is talking about them.

What underrated startup programs are still open?

Ordered by urgency. Arc closes first.

1. Sequoia Arc — closes August 17

Sequoia's own 7-week program for pre-seed and seed founders.

Check size: $500K–$1M
Who it's for: Pre-seed / seed founders in the Americas + Europe
Why it matters: Open call, so no warm intro needed
Apply here

2. Character Cap Labs — closes September 23

A 5-week sprint built entirely around finding product-market fit.

Check size: $200K for 5%
Who it's for: Founders who need a focused PMF sprint, not a long accelerator tour
Apply here

3. Solo Founders Cohort 5 — apps open now, starts September 10

Built only for solo founders. Three months in San Francisco.

Check size: $100K for 2.5%
Who it's for: Solo founders who want a cohort designed around building alone
Apply here

4. Greylock Edge — rolling

A 3-month build program for pre-idea through seed.

Extras: $500K+ in cloud credits
Who it's for: Founders still early, including pre-idea
Apply here

5. Founders Inc — rolling

First checks plus a real SF campus with a hardware lab.

Check size: $100K–$250K first checks
Campus: 42,000 sq ft in San Francisco, including a hardware lab
Who it's for: Founders who want capital and a place to build
Apply here

6. 1517 Fund — rolling

Backs dropouts, students, and deep-tech scientists. No degree required.

Entry point: $1K+ micro-grants to get started, plus pre-seed checks
Who it's for: Students, dropouts, and deep-tech builders without the usual credentials
Apply here

If you want the bigger pattern behind what YC batches are rewarding right now, read YC Spring 2026 Batch Trends. If you are earlier in the career-to-founder path, the AI fellowships roundup and Claude Corps breakdown are useful next reads.

Save this and share it with a founder who missed the big deadlines. I post AI and founder opportunities like this as I find them. Follow @its.mikareyes.

Here are some related guides to check out:

Frequently asked questions

Can I still apply if I missed YC, SPC, and EF London?: Yes. Those three closed, but six programs in this guide are still open. Start with Sequoia Arc if you can move before August 17, then Character Cap Labs and Solo Founders if you need a September window.
Which program is best for solo founders?: Solo Founders Cohort 5. It is built only for solo founders, with $100K for 2.5% and three months in San Francisco, starting September 10. If you are not solo, look at Arc, Character Cap Labs, or Greylock Edge instead.
What if I am pre-idea or still a student?: Greylock Edge takes pre-idea through seed, and 1517 Fund backs students, dropouts, and deep-tech scientists with micro-grants plus pre-seed checks and no degree requirement. Match the program to your stage instead of forcing an early company into a seed-focused cohort.