The A1 Model
What do we offer?
Our 12-week, fully individualized investment process is designed to get you to first close. We have designed our activities specifically to help you get your first venture capital fund successfully off the ground. However, we also work with managers who are further advanced on their journey. In rare circumstances, we also incubate new early stage venture funds from scratch.
How often?
We run two batches every year, investing in around 5 funds each (or around ten funds a year.)
What are the terms?
We generally invest under our Standard Deal. (Exceptions are rare, but do happen, especially in the odd case of managers we only meet near the end of their fundraise.)
How long does it take?
The process typically takes a maximum of 12 weeks from first contact to closed deal.
HOW & Where?
The investment process is conducted on a fully remote basis.
What DO WE LOOK FOR IN THE FUNDS WE INVEST IN?
First and foremost, it's about you - the founder and GP. Apart from your background, motivation and experience we also might ask you about, and work with you on, the following topics:
1. Thesis & Edge
A clear, differentiated investment thesis
Define your edge - what's your unfair advantage?
Storytelling - why you?
Who's in your network? Why do people come to you?
2. Deal Warehouse
Do you have a well-tracked pipeline of quality deals
What's your deal-making process
Why do founders pick you as their investor
Do you already have signed deals for your fund?
3. Setup & Admin
Leverage our knowledge and network in your location
Build partnerships with us and third-party providers
Learn fund administration and reporting
Set up your fund and team incentive structures
4. Fundraising
Combine your network with ours and your batchmates'
Let's define your process, tools & time-lines
Learn common pitfalls, dos & don'ts & LP preferences
Present at Allocator One Demo Day
Is it all about who i know, not what i know?
We love working with GPs coming from non-traditional, non-finance backgrounds. So far, all of our investments originated with our standardized application process. Of the GPs we have funded to date, only one was a personal contact of an A1 team-member (but even they applied first).
Will everyone in the program receive the standard deal?
We select participants of the program for their talent and ability to be most successful VC fund managers of the future. Just like we do not make the acceptance of the standard deal a requirement for participation, we also do not guarantee that we can offer the standard deal to everyone in the program. If you require transparency about your ability to receive the standard deal at any point in time, we are very happy to make an accelerated investment decision, even before the end of the program.
What do I need?
Just the desire to be the founding partner of a successful VC fund (or a “solo GP”). If we decide to work together, will be happy to provide you with everything else you need as part of our process.
Anything else?
Contact us with your questions or apply directly.
“Working with A1 was exactly what we needed to get us from zero to Fund 1 quickly.”
Selma Ribica
Founder at First Circle Capital
“When building a fund for the first time, it's the things you don't even know you don't know that hold you up."
Agnes Aistleitner Kisuule
Founder at First Circle Capital
Apply
A1 Summer 2024 Batch: Jul 2024 - Oct 2024
If you are a fund manager with a background that’s different from the background of typical fund managers you see in the market, we strongly encourage you to apply even if you think that you will not qualify. We strongly believe in the power of diverse teams and are committed to provide support to talents that might need a bit of help to find their path to thrive.
Should I Try to Get a warm intro to Allocator One?
No. Having an intro call with us without filling out your application first is actually a disadvantage, statistically speaking. All of our investments to date originated through our application process.
Apply by Jun 15, 2024 for Allocator One Summer 2024