Program · Residency
Focal Founder Residency
Focal Founder Residency is Focal's residency offering comprehensive support for technical founders building AI-driven startups.
- Application state
- Accepting
Overview
What Focal Founder Residency offers
What Focal Founder Residency is
The Focal Founder Residency is an intensive 3+ month program designed for technical founders building AI-driven startups. Offered in partnership with The LAB Miami, the program combines venture investment, mentorship from unicorn founders, vendor partnerships worth $1M+, and optional upfront funding, creating a comprehensive accelerator without traditional dilution models.
Operational profile
Program status and context
Program status describes the program itself. Application availability and deadlines remain separate.
- Operational status
- Active
- Program type
- Residency
- Host organization
- focal
- Last reviewed
- March 16, 2026
Terms and economics
Published program terms
- Investment
- $1,000,000
- Stipend
- $25,000
- Price
- Unknown
- Compensation
- Micro Fund
Compensation and economics
Founders can participate and receive all program benefits without giving up equity to Focal. Optional upfront investment is available to offset relocation costs.
Focus and fit
Who the program is for
Program thesis
Focal's Founder Residency combines optional uncapped SAFEs, unicorn founder mentorship, vendor partnerships, and investor access into an intensive, physical founder development program with low dilution and high-touch support.
Eligibility
The residency targets AI/ML builders with strong technical foundation, early-stage founders with product-market fit signals or strong commercial traction, and teams seeking venture-scale growth without traditional accelerator dilution.
Selection approach
Applications for the Winter 2026 Residency opened at focal.vc/residency with a deadline of December 14, 2025. Focal typically announces residency programs with 6-8 week application windows.
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed
- Sectors
- Artificial Intelligence
- Regions
- United States
Format and cadence
How participation works
- Presence
- In Person
- Main location
- Miami, Florida, United States
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Cohort size
- 10
- Engagement
- Full Time
Delivery model
The program requires full-time in-person presence in Miami.
Participation expectations
Participants are expected to commit full-time, working 6+ days per week.
Availability and engagement
Application timing and route
- Application state
- Accepting
- Admissions
- Open
Published timeline
The program lasts for 3+ months with a full-time in-person commitment required in Miami.
Value and support
What participation may provide
Publicly described support is context, not a guarantee of current delivery or future benefit.
What participants may receive
Participants gain access to mentorship from unicorn founders, a network of 200+ active investors, $1M+ in vendor perks, and operational support.
Common questions
Program details at a glance
Focal Founder Residency is published in Upseed as a residency program hosted by focal. Upseed treats the Program and its host Organization as separate records so each can have its own status and sources.
Source and update disclosure
Know what this page is based on
Source basis
Public organization and program material, official websites, and structured Upseed records.
Last reviewed
March 16, 2026
Known limits
Terms, deadlines, and application states can change. Confirm current details at the published destination before acting. Upseed does not yet classify every Program destination as official.
Upseed is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or the official representative of this program or its host.