What sets Entrepreneurs First apart
Entrepreneurs First was founded in 2011 by Alice Bentinck and Matt Clifford and describes itself as the pioneer of "talent investing": backing individuals before they have a cofounder, an idea, or a company, rather than backing startups that already exist.
Its portfolio is worth over $16 billion, built across offices in London, Paris, Bangalore, and San Francisco over more than a decade – a valuation also reported independently in press coverage of the firm's March 2026 $200 million funding round. Applicants to the Talent Investor track are joining the firm with the longest track record in this specific category, which is a concrete basis for weighing it against newer talent-investing programs when prioritising a limited number of applications.