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Accelerator + seed fund · for AI-first companies

We write the first check for AI-first founders.

Catalyst is an accelerator and seed fund for AI-first companies. We write your first check, run a focused program, and help you get to launch.

Idea-stage welcome AI-first only Remote-first
Apply to the batch → How it works
● Batch 01 — now reviewing applications on a rolling basis
catalyst · batch 01
reviewing
The first check
Standard terms. Same for everyone.
simple SAFEno games
Program
12 weeks
Partner credits
Compute + models
Applyopen ✓
Interviewrolling
Check + onboardingday one
Build → Demo Day12 weeks
First check
We invest at the earliest stage — idea-stage founders welcome
One deal
Simple, standard terms — the same for every company
12 weeks
A focused batch, from idea to launch and Demo Day
AI-first
The only companies we back — with the credits, mentors and network to match
AI-first companies only · Batch 01 reviewed on a rolling basis · we share specific terms when we make an offer
Why AI-first is different

AI-first companies are different.

They start smaller, move faster, and hit different walls — model access, compute costs, and investors who understand the stack. Most accelerators treat them like any other startup.

Catalyst backs one kind of company. We write the first check and give you the credits, mentors, and network built for AI-first founders.

What you get on day one.

One standard deal · same for everyone

The first check

The first money in, on simple standard terms — no games, fast paperwork, and we move quickly so you can get back to building.

A 12-week program

Weekly build sprints, office hours with the partners, and a small batch of serious AI-first founders pushing each other to ship.

Compute + model credits

Meaningful credits from our compute and model partners, so you can build, evaluate, and scale without burning runway on inference.

The network

Warm intros to the customers, engineers, and operators who move AI companies forward — plus founders who've done it.

Demo Day

Launch to a room of top seed and Series-A investors who understand the AI stack and write checks fast.

Follow-on support

We help you run your raise after the program and can double down on the companies that break out.

Who we back

AI-first companies, at the very beginning.

Applied AI products
AI as the core of the product, not a feature.
Vertical AI agents
Agents that do real work in a specific domain.
AI infrastructure & tooling
The picks and shovels for the AI stack.
AI-native consumer
New consumer experiences only possible now.
Stage
Idea to early traction. Pre-seed is perfect. No demo required.
Team
Technical founders who can build and ship fast.
What we look for
Speed, taste, and an unfair understanding of your problem.
What we don't do
Non-AI companies. We do one thing and do it well.
The program

From application to your raise.

Click a stage
The deal

One simple, standard deal.

No negotiation, no games, and the same terms for every company in the batch. You spend your energy building, not papering a round.

Standard offer
Same deal, every founder.
  • We write the first check on a simple, standard SAFE
  • The same terms for everyone in the batch — no negotiation
  • No board seat and no control provisions
  • Compute & model credits from our partners
  • Follow-on support when you raise your seed

We share specific terms when we make you an offer.

Your stack is covered

Credits and support across the tools AI-first companies actually run on.

Through our partners
Model providers
Frontier and open models for your core product.
Cloud & compute
Training, inference, and hosting at scale.
Vector & data
Retrieval, storage, and the data layer.
Evals & observability
Ship with confidence; watch what matters.
GTM & analytics
Reach first customers and learn fast.
Who's behind Catalyst

Operators backing the next generation of AI-first founders.

VK

Vishesh Khurana

Co-founder & General Partner

Co-founder of Catalyst, focused on backing and building AI-first companies from day zero.

AP

Arjun Prasad

Co-founder & General Partner

Co-founder of Catalyst, focused on the program, founders, and the AI-first investment thesis.

FAQ

Questions, answered.

What stage do you invest at?
Idea to early traction. Pre-seed and even pre-product are welcome — we back founders early and often.
Do I need a demo or revenue to apply?
No. We look for technical founders who can build fast and a real, unfair insight into the problem. A prototype helps but isn't required.
What are the terms?
We write the first check on a simple, standard SAFE — the same terms for every company in the batch, with no negotiation. We share the specifics when we make you an offer.
Is the program remote or in person?
Remote-first, with an in-person kickoff and Demo Day. You keep building where you are, and we come together for the moments that matter.
Do you only back AI companies?
Yes — AI-first only. It's the one thing we do, so the check, the credits, the mentors, and the network are all tuned for it.
When is the next batch?
Applications for Batch 01 are open and reviewed on a rolling basis. Apply any time — earlier is better.
Apply to Batch 01

If you're building AI-first, we want to write your first check.

Applications are open and reviewed on a rolling basis. It takes a few minutes — no warm intro required.

1 · Apply
Tell us who you are and what you're building.
2 · Talk
A focused call with the partners, fast.
3 · Build
Get the check, join the batch, start shipping.
Opens your email client with your application ready to send to apply@catalystventurestudios.com.
Thanks — your email should be open. Send it and we'll be in touch soon.

Backing the best AI-first founders, from day one.