ANTLER RESIDENCY
GO FURTHER —FASTER

Our process is largely the same across locations and consists of four steps: an application review, two interviews with Antler team members, and a final decision.

Sometimes, we may invite founders for an additional third interview or ask them to complete a video task if we need more information.

At each interview stage, you will receive detailed preparation material that outlines all assessment points and the structure of the interviews to ensure thorough understanding and preparation.

We take great care in building a group with the right balance of skills, industry expertise, personas, and experience. We carefully look for a variety of skills and areas of expertise to take on board. We also consider founders' ability to problem-solve and deconstruct ideas.

We ensure that individuals we accept can match with others and have a strong drive and ability to build and innovate. It is not necessary to have an idea. In fact, most teams Antler backs arrive at problem areas at the intersection of their skills, expertise, and interests, capitalizing on their shared insight.

The best and fastest way to get all your questions answered is to apply. That gives us the chance to review your questions and get back to you with the right contact person or answer.

If you have an idea that is too good not to pursue or it’s the right time to start a company, you’ll have to work through a long list: find a co-founder, build a team, validate said idea, create a business model, put a pitch deck together and contact the right VCs for your business.

Antler connects you wth a group of exceptional, like-minded people who are just as ready to build as you are—helping you save valuable time.

Also—when founders find product-market fit early and things move fast, important building blocks of successful IPOs are often forgotten—a clean cap table, proper board setup, financial structure, etc. Setting your company up in a controlled environment has the advantage of bolstering your startup against those pitfalls.

The schedule for the first weeks of our Residency is designed for you to meet people who we have carefully vetted, during sessions, workshops, industry sprints, and thoughtfully designed social occasions.

These sessions are meant to help everyone build a shared vocabulary and spend time during thoughtfully planned social gatherings that make it easier to find the right team. It’s important to note that Antler isn’t a startup school—it’s not about sticking to a strict curriculum. Instead, you'll experience working with others on different projects, which can inspire you to explore ideas together.

Experience shows that what you focus on the most is what truly grows. Our advice is to thoughtfully consider avoiding side projects, as well as your current notice period and the personal and financial commitment that starting a business requires. However, we understand that everyone has different obligations, and we're here to work with you, offering flexibility to accommodate your unique situation.

​​You will validate your ideas and business models in sparring sessions with our regional Partners. We have over 70 Antler Partners: Experienced investors, entrepreneurs, and operators who have held senior roles in more than 100 venture-backed startups with over $15 billion in exit value, including Airbnb, Westwing, Alibaba, Lazada, and Coupang.

88% of our partners have firsthand startup leadership experience as founders, co-founders, or C-suite executives, and have been involved in an average of 2.6 startups.

You will work—supported by them—on problem-solution fit, market validation and traction, market size, business model, unit economics, go-to-market strategy, vision, and team.

We commit a lot of resources to help you find your co-founder(s) and launch your business, and thus we require exclusivity for a few months from the start date of the cohort. During this time, we ask that you be honest and transparent with us about any conversations with other investors. If Antler decides not to invest in your startup, you are free to raise from any investor.

Every Antler location has their own approach to making a formal offer, which is congruent with best practice in their respective countries and ecosystems. The intent of these is to ensure you are as committed to Antler as we would be to you.

For more specifics on terms and obligations, please refer to your preferred location.The intent is that over the course of the Residency, we will earn our equity, and you will see the value of having Antler on your cap table and as an active advisor and participant in your success going forward.

​​You will pitch your idea to our investment committee, composed of partners from the local Antler team, external local investors, and partners from the global Antler team. The IC decides which teams get investment and continue to the Antler platform.

You will continue to work with your dedicated coach until your final pitch at an investment committee and receive specific feedback and traction that you need to gain for the best chance at securing investment.

We will provide feedback on any investment decision, and it may be that it's only the first "no" you receive. You can pursue your idea without us, but our doors remain open, and you may secure investment from us in the future.

For location-specific terms, please see the individual pages. Most locations share the full term sheet for transparency at the point of offering places to join Antler. Our terms are designed to streamline future fundraising—and standardized to speed up the process.

The fastest way to get an answer is to apply—and some locations offer “Ask Me Anything” sessions that are worth checking out, navigate to the location of your choice and sign up.

Yes, please reach out to them! We can also connect you on your Antler journey.