Who this is for: Early-stage founders anywhere in the world, from the idea stage to pre-Series A, who want to use AI to build, test and grow their company, whether or not they’re building an AI product.
INSEAD, one of the world’s leading business schools, runs the AI Venture Lab, a research and venture-building initiative. Its AI Founder Sprint 2027 is a free, 10-week virtual programme from 27 January to 2 April 2027. INSEAD charges no fees and takes no equity, and the sprint ends with a Demo Day where teams can win non-dilutive prize money.
Deadline: 1 December 2026.
At a Glance
| Organiser | INSEAD AI Venture Lab |
| Dates | 27 January – 2 April 2027 (10 weeks) |
| Format | Fully virtual |
| Cost | Free: no fees and no equity taken |
| Who can apply | Early-stage founders worldwide, from idea to pre-Series A |
| Highlights | Mentors, research-backed frameworks, a network of peers, operators and investors, and a Demo Day with prize money |
| Deadline | 1 December 2026 |
About the AI Founder Sprint
The AI Venture Lab is INSEAD’s global initiative on how AI changes the way new companies are started, with hubs in Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Paris and San Francisco. The Founder Sprint teaches founders to use AI across the work of building a company: testing ideas, building products, reaching customers and scaling. You don’t need to be building an AI product to benefit.
According to INSEAD, the sprint combines research-backed frameworks with expert-led study groups and masterclasses, guidance from mentors around the world, and a curated network of peers, operators and investors. It closes with a Demo Day in front of partners and investors.
Benefits
- A free 10-week programme, with no equity taken
- Practical frameworks for building with AI, from INSEAD’s research
- Expert-led study groups and masterclasses
- Mentors from INSEAD’s global network
- A Demo Day with partners and investors, and non-dilutive prize money
- A network of founders from around the world, all online, so you can take part from home
Eligibility
- Early-stage founders: from the idea stage up to pre-Series A.
- Open to founders anywhere in the world; the programme is fully virtual.
- Your startup doesn’t need to be an AI company. The sprint is about using AI to build and grow any kind of venture.
- You should be able to commit time each week from 27 January to 2 April 2027.
How to Apply
- Read the programme details on the AI Venture Lab website.
- Prepare a short description of your startup: the problem, your solution, your stage and your team.
- Complete the founder application online before 1 December 2026.
- Watch your email for the selection decision before the sprint starts in late January.
Apply to the AI Founder Sprint 2027 · INSEAD AI Venture Lab website
For questions, email the lab at [email protected].
Tips
- Be concrete about where AI could help you. Name the bottleneck, such as customer discovery, product building or sales, that you want to speed up.
- Show traction, even if it’s early. Users, pilots, revenue or a working prototype make an idea-stage application stronger.
- Plan your weekly time now. Ten weeks of study groups and masterclasses add up; the founders who get the most out of it show up every week.
- Treat Demo Day as the goal from day one. Prize money is non-dilutive, so build the sprint around a pitch you can deliver at the end.
Related Opportunities
- 20 Funding Opportunities for Startup Founders Open Now (November 2026)
- Y Combinator Winter 2027: US$500,000 for Your Startup
- MIT Solve 2027 Global Health Challenge
- OceanHub Africa Acceleration Programme Cohort 8
- UNDP and Tencent Youth AI4SDGs Impact Challenge 2027
Run a startup? Set up your company on the OpportunityLab Portal to see the grants, accelerators and prizes it can apply for.
