Ali Partovi's venture firm Neo has launched Neo Residency, a new accelerator program designed to disrupt the traditional model with founder-friendly, low-dilution terms.
The program invests $750,000 via an uncapped SAFE in 12 to 15 startups per summer cohort, with equity dilution tied to future valuations—ranging from 5% at $15 million to just 0.75% at $100 million.
Challenging Y Combinator's Dominance
This structure starkly contrasts with Y Combinator's standard 7% equity for $125,000, aiming to attract top founders wary of heavy dilution.
Accelerators like Y Combinator have shaped the startup ecosystem since 2005, but their fixed equity demands often clashed with elite founders seeking to retain control.
Ali Partovi's Proven Track Record
Ali Partovi, CEO of Neo and early investor in successes like Facebook and the $30 billion-valued AI startup Cursor, brings credibility to the initiative.
Neo's existing four-year-old accelerator has produced alumni such as fintech firm Moment, which raised $56 million, and healthcare AI company Anterior backed by Sequoia.
Program Features and Student Opportunities
The three-month residency in San Francisco's Jackson Square includes a two-week Oregon bootcamp and mentorship from 30 operators, including Notion's CTO.
A dedicated student track offers 5 to 8 college innovators $40,000 no-strings grants for a semester to build projects without dropping out.
Impact on Startups and Future Outlook
By fronting risk with minimal dilution, Neo empowers founders to scale while keeping more ownership, potentially drawing unprecedented talent.
Capped at two annual cohorts of 20 teams blending startups and students, the program signals a scalable yet elite future for acceleration.
Industry voices like FPV Ventures' Wesley Chan praise Neo's 'wicked smart' founders, hinting at a broader shift toward low-dilution models in venture capital.
Maria Lourdes
