WHO, WHEN, WHERE, HOW

Who can apply to the AI Founder Sprint?

Anyone who has a fabulous idea and wishes to leverage AI to build and scale their startup — from ideation, business model planning, to execution of the venture. The sprint is open to any founder across the world at the pre-seed stage who wants to learn cutting-edge practices on leveraging AI to build their business.  

• No, you do not need to be affiliated with INSEAD or any other academic institution.  

• No, you do not need to be a startup building an AI product.

• Yes, you have to be at least 18 years old. 

• Yes, you can participate from anywhere in the world, due to the virtual nature of the experience.

When and where does the AI Founder Sprint take place?

The sprint runs virtually for eight weeks. It is scheduled to launch on August 25th, 2025, and conclude on October 14th, 2025, with a hybrid Demo Day.

The deadline to apply is July 30, 2025.

What is the role of the Demo Day in the AI Founder Sprint?

The sprint culminates in a Demo Day. This event provides an opportunity for the most promising startups from the sprint to pitch to leading angel and venture capital investors and entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley, potentially facilitating future funding and growth.



How can I get involved, even if I am not a founder?

Great question! Reach out to us at aiventurelab@insead.edu. We are looking for partners to build the future with us, donors to fuel the next generation of AI founders, and mentors who are AI or venture experts to support founders. Please express your interest here.



How much does the AI Founder Sprint 2025 cost to join?

There is no cost to participate in the AI Founder Sprint 2025, nor does the sprint take any equity.

WHAT

What is the AI Venture Lab and what is its mission and vision?

The AI Venture Lab was founded by Hyunjin Kim at INSEAD to build the world’s first evidence-based playbook for AI-powered venture creation. The Lab’s core mission is twofold: to provide real-world impact by helping thousands of global entrepreneurs use AI to build better companies, and to serve as a research sprint that generates insights into how AI is changing the startup landscape, which can inform policymakers, managers, and investors. Beyond the Sprint, the lab will offer in-person experiences in Singapore, Abu Dhabi, and Paris, connecting ventures to San Francisco.



What makes AI Venture Lab different?

AI Venture Lab is the world’s first platform built on rigorous, evidence-based research into how AI transforms how we build companies. The AI Venture Lab's thesis is focused on "using AI to build better companies," rather than solely focusing on companies that build AI products. We are designed to help both the founders who participate as well as managers, investors, and policymakers who need evidence to navigate our AI future—we study what works, run real-world experiments, and define best practices for building AI-first businesses.



What is the AI Founder Sprint 2025?

The AI Founder Sprint is an eight-week virtual sprint designed to teach entrepreneurs globally how to leverage AI to build, test, and scale startups. It is positioned as the first global initiative focused on transforming entrepreneurship through AI.



What are the main components of the AI Founder Sprint?

The sprint includes three key components: new frameworks on using AI for building, testing, and scaling startup ideas; expert-led small study groups for applying AI tools; and masterclasses with feedback from leading investors, entrepreneurs, and AI experts.