Startup Founder – Founding to Give Pre-Incubator Program

Title: Startup Founder – Founding to Give Pre-Incubator Program

Organization: Ambitious Impact (AIM) in partnership with the School of Moral Ambition

Location: Hybrid – In-person for the first month; remote for the subsequent two months

Program Duration: January 5 – March 27, 2026 (12 weeks)

Application Deadline: Applications are processed on a rolling basis, but must be submitted latest on the 1st of August

Upcoming Webinar: July 24, 2025, at 18:00 BST – Learn more about the program, meet the team, and ask questions live. [register here]

Program Overview

Founding to Give is recruiting a small group of exceptionally talented startup founders to build high-growth tech companies to make a positive impact.

The program is ideal for technical talent and entrepreneurial builders in the earliest stages of starting a company – you do not need a team or startup idea to apply. Structured over 12 weeks, the program helps founders rapidly test ideas, find co-founders, and find early market validation. We help founders orient towards the most high-impact paths for their particular profiles.

The program does not take equity. Instead, participants pledge to donate a portion of personal earnings from any future successful exit — 5% of earnings under $1M and 50% above $1M — to effective charities of their own choice.

About Ambitious Impact (AIM)

The Founding to Give Program is a collaboration betweenAmbitious Impact (AIM) and the School for Moral Ambition (SMA). AIM has significant expertise in impact maximization, and it runs several training and incubation programs. Our team previously ran Charity Entrepreneurship, which launched over 40 nonprofits, some of which are now world leaders in the respective fields in terms of cost-effectively improving people’s lives at scale. 

Who Should Apply

We welcome a broad range of experiences, including:

• Technical builders: Software engineers and developers from startups, scaleups, academia, or big tech
• Entrepreneurial operators: Former founders or early startup employees
• Domain experts: Professionals with deep insight into specific industries like healthtech, biotech, edtech, talent/future of work, or emerging markets including Africa, Latin America, or Asia

We’re looking for high-agency, high-velocity individuals ready to found high-growth tech startups from scratch. The ideal participant is:

• Someone who wants to do the most good they can
• Excited about rapid iteration, co-founder discovery, and hard problems
• We don’t require a team or idea; the program helps with ideation and co-founder matching

We also welcome inquiries from founders who are already further along — e.g., those with $10K+ MRR or early-stage funding — and may be able to offer support on a case-by-case basis. Reach out via https://www.charityentrepreneurship.com/contact

Program Highlights

• Team Formation & Idea Validation: 4 week in-person intensive phase to explore ideas, meet potential co-founders, and test quickly
• Remote Build Sprint: Two months of high-speed building, mentorship, and preparation for next steps
• Stipend Support: We provide a monthly stipend to cover living expenses for 3 months during the program, and we cover accommodation, flights, and workspace during the first month of the program when we host the cohort in-person.
• Equity-Free: We take no equity — you retain full ownership of the company you start
• Pledge-Only Model: You commit to donating part of your future earnings if you succeed
• Global Community: Access to AIM’s network of aligned operators, funders, and advisors

Program Structure

• Month 1 (In-Person):
• Intensive idea testing, co-founder matching, and mentorship. Travel, housing, and stipends provided.
• Months 2–3 (Remote):
• Product development, market validation, and preparation for funding or accelerators.

Application Process

1. Online Form – Tell us who you are and why you’re a fit
2. Intro Interview  – Help us get to know you through a quick recorded interview
3. Test Task – Demonstrate your builder mindset
4. Final Interview – Deeper dive into your potential trajectory

We will assess applications on a rolling basis. Apply 1st of August latest here

Want to learn more first?

Register to join our info session on July 24, 2025, 18:00 BST.

You can read more about the program at aimfoundingtogive.com