Techstars vs Entrepreneur First vs Seedcamp: Which Fits You

Techstars vs Entrepreneur First is one of the first questions a London founder asks when deciding where to apply, and Seedcamp usually comes up in the same breath. The three names get grouped together, but they are built for very different founders and stages. Techstars is a fixed-term accelerator, Entrepreneur First backs people before they even have a company, and Seedcamp is a venture fund rather than a programme at all. Applying to the wrong one wastes weeks and can cost you equity you did not need to give away.

This guide compares all three on what actually matters: the stage they want, how much they invest, the equity they take and the format you sign up for. The figures below are the publicly stated 2026 terms, which change from time to time, so always confirm the current deal before you sign. For more on the wider funding landscape, see the guides on the Idea London homepage.

The quick answer

If you already have a co-founder and an early product, and you want three months of intensive mentorship, look at Techstars. If you are a strong technical or commercial individual with no co-founder and no company yet, Entrepreneur First is built for you. If you have a team and are raising a pre-seed or seed round now, Seedcamp is a lead investor, not an accelerator you graduate from. The rest of this article explains why.

Techstars: the mentorship-driven accelerator

Techstars runs a three-month, cohort-based accelerator with a heavy mentorship model: dozens of mentor meetings in the first weeks, then a push towards a demo day and a fundraise. It suits early companies that already exist as a team with something to show.

Under its current terms, Techstars invests 220,000 US dollars per company. That is structured as 20,000 dollars for 5 percent of the company in common stock through a Convertible Equity Agreement, plus a 200,000 dollar uncapped SAFE with a most-favoured-nation clause that converts at your next priced round. There is no cash fee to take part. You can read the detail on the official Techstars investment terms page. The main criticism founders raise is the total dilution once that SAFE converts, so it is worth modelling against the value of the network you gain.

Entrepreneur First: the talent investor for people without a co-founder

Entrepreneur First (EF) does something the other two do not: it invests in individuals before there is a company or a co-founder. You join a cohort, meet potential co-founders, test ideas and form a team during the first phase, called Form. During Form, EF pays a Talent Investment stipend towards your living costs, and this support is equity-free. If you do not form a company, or EF does not invest further, you owe nothing and give up no equity.

If you form a team and progress to the Launch phase, EF invests up to 250,000 US dollars. The core is 125,000 dollars for 8 percent through a post-money SAFE, with an optional further 125,000 dollars via an uncapped SAFE if your team relocates to San Francisco and incorporates as a Delaware C-corp. Incorporate in the UK and you receive a convertible loan note on equivalent terms instead. The full detail sits on the Entrepreneur First FAQs. EF is the right route if your bottleneck is finding the right co-founder, not building a product.

Seedcamp: Europe’s original seed fund, not an accelerator

Seedcamp is often listed alongside accelerators, but it is a venture capital fund, one of the first in Europe. There is no fixed cohort or demo day you graduate from; instead Seedcamp leads or joins your funding round and then supports you with hiring, introductions and follow-on capital.

In June 2026 Seedcamp raised a new 320 million dollar fund, pushing it past 1 billion dollars under management. It writes initial cheques of up to roughly 1.3 million dollars, leads around 70 percent of the deals it does, and targets 5 to 10 percent ownership at pre-seed and seed. Its process can move from first call to a partner decision in about two weeks. You can approach it directly through the Seedcamp site. Choose Seedcamp when you have a team and traction and want a lead investor for a proper round, not a training programme.

Techstars vs Entrepreneur First vs Seedcamp: how to choose

Line the three up against your own situation:

Stage: EF for pre-team individuals; Techstars for very early teams with a prototype; Seedcamp for teams raising a pre-seed or seed round.
What you get: Techstars gives structured mentorship and a demo day; EF gives you a co-founder search plus a stipend; Seedcamp gives you a lead cheque and long-term investor support.
Money and equity: Techstars 220,000 dollars (roughly 5 percent plus a converting SAFE); EF up to 250,000 dollars (from 8 percent), with an equity-free stipend first; Seedcamp up to about 1.3 million dollars for 5 to 10 percent.
Format: Techstars and EF are time-boxed cohorts; Seedcamp is an open, rolling investment process.

Timing matters too. Techstars and EF run fixed intake windows and are competitive, so you apply months ahead of a set cohort start and commit to being on the programme full time. Seedcamp has no cohort to wait for; you can approach it whenever your round is live, and a decision can come within a couple of weeks. If you need capital on a specific timeline, that difference alone can decide it, regardless of the equity terms.

They are not mutually exclusive over a company’s life. It is common to do EF or Techstars first, then raise a seed round that Seedcamp leads. The mistake is treating them as interchangeable at one moment in time. Match the programme to the exact stage you are at, and the choice usually makes itself.

Frequently asked questions

Is Techstars or Entrepreneur First better for a solo founder?

Entrepreneur First is designed for solo founders with no co-founder or company, because its Form phase is built around helping you find a co-founder. Techstars generally expects an existing team with a prototype, so a solo applicant is at a disadvantage there.

How much equity does each programme take?

Techstars takes about 5 percent in common stock plus a converting SAFE from its 220,000 dollar investment. Entrepreneur First takes from 8 percent for its core 125,000 dollar cheque, after an equity-free stipend. Seedcamp targets 5 to 10 percent for a much larger seed cheque.

Is Seedcamp an accelerator?

No. Seedcamp is a seed-stage venture capital fund. It leads or joins funding rounds rather than running a fixed cohort with a demo day, although it is hands-on in the way an accelerator is.

Do these programmes only take London startups?

All three back founders well beyond London. Techstars runs accelerators worldwide, EF operates across several countries with a route to San Francisco, and Seedcamp invests across Europe and is expanding in the US. London is simply where much of the UK activity is concentrated.

Can you apply to more than one?

Yes, and many founders do over time. A typical path is joining EF or Techstars early, then raising a seed round led by Seedcamp later. You would not usually be in a Techstars and an EF cohort at the same time.

Which gives the most money?

Seedcamp writes the largest single cheque, up to around 1.3 million dollars as a round lead. Techstars and Entrepreneur First invest smaller amounts (220,000 and up to 250,000 dollars) alongside their programme support.