We invest at the end of the residency — after working closely with founders for 6–10 weeks. That gives us a rare vantage point: we make founder-first investment decisions, based on direct observation, not just pitch decks.
By that point, we’ve seen how you work, how you think, and how you lead. That’s what we base our conviction on — not one meeting, but the full experience of building alongside you.
What we look for in founders
Because we’ve worked with you day to day, we look for real, observable signals — not polish.
- Outlier behavior
High energy, fast learning, sharp thinking, and a work ethic that sets the pace for everyone around you - Trajectory
It’s not about where you are now, but how fast you’re moving. Momentum — the slope of the curve — is the best predictor of long-term success - Founder–idea fit
You’re building the right company for you — based on your insight, credibility, and drive
There are hundreds of teams around the world working on similar problems, often with equally impressive backgrounds. We’re looking for indicators that this is the team that can win.
You don’t need perfection. You need pace.
What we look for in companies
We back companies with a credible path to billion-euro outcomes.
We’re truly sector-agnostic — from satellites measuring emissions from space to consumer apps used by millions. What matters is scale and ambition.
We look for:
- Scalability — can this become a category leader?
- Early signs of convergence — signals that the team is honing in on a real, valuable problem
How we decide
At the end of the residency, every team pitches to Antler’s investment committee.
The decision is made by the general partners — the same people who’ve worked with you throughout the process.
It’s fast, direct, and based on real conviction.