by Menlo Ventures
Menlo Ventures' pre-seed fund for exceptional founders, providing 10–20 hours/week of customized support for up to three months.
Visit ProgramNegotiated
Standard pre-seed terms
Up to 3 months
~10 founders/year
Ongoing
By invitation and application
San Francisco
No
United States
2/14/2026
Menlo Ventures' Inception Fund is a pre-seed initiative that partners with exceptional founders at the earliest stages. Unlike batch-based programs, Menlo accepts roughly 10 founders per year on a rolling basis, providing 10–20 hours per week of customized support for up to three months.
Founders get access to Menlo's extensive network of co-investors, advisors, and contractors. The program is lighter-touch than a traditional accelerator, designed for founders who need strategic guidance rather than structured curriculum.
Backed by one of Silicon Valley's most established VC firms (founded 1976). Deep enterprise and infrastructure network.
Experienced founders who need strategic guidance and network access, not structured programming. Enterprise and infrastructure focus areas.
Source: Menlo Ventures
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