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Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence

Ai2 (the Allen Institute for AI) operates as a non-profit research institute and a specialized venture studio (AI2 Incubator) that builds AI-first companies from the ground up.

Seattle, WA, USA

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Description

Ai2 (the Allen Institute for AI) operates as a non-profit research institute and a specialized venture studio (AI2 Incubator) that builds AI-first companies from the ground up. You do not apply with a "finished company"; you apply to the AI2 Incubator. 

  • Founder-in-Residence (FIR): You can apply as a solo founder or a small team to enter their incubation program.
  • Engineering/Technical Focus: They look for "technical masters"—builders who want to push the boundaries of Generative AI, Computer Vision, or NLP.
  • Application Link: AI2 Incubator Application 

Eligibility

  • Sector: Exclusively Artificial Intelligence.
  • Technical Bar: Extremely high; they look for elite engineers, AI researchers, and product visionaries.
  • Geography: Primarily Seattle-based (given its roots in Paul Allen’s estate), but they support remote and hybrid founders across North Americ

Process

The process is an intensive, high-touch engineering and business validation period:

  1. Selection: Technical interviews and deep dives into your AI expertise.
  2. Incubation: A several-month period where you work alongside AI2’s world-class researchers (including those behind projects like ELMo and OLMo).
  3. Validation: AI2 provides internal engineering resources to help you build your MVP.
  4. Spin-off: Once the business case is validated, the company is legally formed and "spun out" of the incubator.
  5. Demo Day: Access to a private network of top-tier VCs (Sequoia, Madrona, etc.) for follow-on funding. 

What an Applicant can Obtain

  • Capital: An initial investment typically totaling $500,000 to help you reach your next milestone.
  • GPU Access: Free or subsidized access to massive compute resources for model training.
  • Research Access: Direct collaboration with the 150+ PhD researchers at the Allen Institute for AI.
  • Recruiting: Assistance in hiring your first 2–3 "founding engineers.