LeapYear

We believe a few talented young friends + an idea can be the start of the next generational company

So we fund teams of builders to take 1 year to build something ambitious (e.g. the LeapYear)

We don’t make you move or drop out

Our ask is commit & go build

Application Deadline for Winter 24 is November 8. Investments by December 4

Things BUILT BY People WITH Little Experience

The future is built by the young & ambitious. Always has & always will.

... you get the idea

What

LeapYear is a bet.

A bet that if young people go build for 1 year, great things will happen.

So we fund a few teams every 3 months. We value talent & grit over age. We look for people eager to do the best work of their lives.

Accelerator

Venture Fund

First-Believer Fund

Help the ambitious start. Give them a network. Be their first believer.

Investment

$40,000 for 2% Equity

We operate as a first-believer fund.

We think a lot can be done with a little. So we invest a small check as a first believer to get you started. Day 1 is talk to customers & build.

Our investment is low dilution, which gives founders flexibility to grow how they choose, whether through an accelerator, raising a pre-seed, or organically by re-investing profits.

Life On LeapYear

Talk to users. Understand their problems. Build solutions.

Emphasis on the building.

Accelerators love to optimize for the pitch. We are not an accelerator.

LeapYear is about building. If selected, we expect you to build.

We check in with our founders regularly if they want help but we have no programming.

We do run batch demo nights every 2 weeks where teams hop on and demo to each other. It’s meant to be fun & honest, just builders building.

Thats it. Just go build.

WHY LeapYear

  • Your First Believer
    Startups are built on momentum. We write your first check where you are & help you grow from there

  • Flexibility
    We don’t make you move or drop out of school. As long as you commit, we will fund you where you are

  • Support When You Want It
    We offer 1/1 advisory support when you want it. It’s your business though so we advise, not dictate

  • Top 1% Builder Network
    We think people make companies great. So we are supported by some world-class builders eager to help the next generation. More here

Why 1 Year

Great things take time to build.

We are not investing in an idea factory. We invest in builders.

There will be many ups and downs. It will be hard. Hard things are hard.

But if you are relentless. We believe you will find a way to succeed.

Our ask though, is you commit to building for 1 year minimum.

Perhaps the first idea might not work. Perhaps you might try 3 ideas.

Just keep building, talking to customers, & getting 1% better daily.

Last Batch

We are new. We funded our first batch just recently (LeapYear Fall 2024). A mix of students, new grads, & dropouts who want to go build

Funding 5-6 teams this Winter.

1 year to build something great.

SHORT Answer FAQ

How Does It Work?

Teams apply. We fund a few. They build. We offer help.

Is it Remote?

Yes. We fund teams everywhere. We love in person when we can but we run on the internet (video, chat).

What Is Required?

Commit. Talk to customers. Build something ambitious. Beyond funding, we start the batch with demo nights every 2 weeks where founders share with the group what they are building. Outside that, we offer advisory support when you want it.

Is This An Accelerator?

No. We aren’t trying to “accelerate startups in weeks”. LeapYear is a 1-year commit. Great things take time. We just consider ourselves a venture fund. We invest in teams, run some demo nights, & offer advisory support when you want it.

Is It REally 1 Full Year?

Teams need to commit to building for 1 year. If you want to build something ambitious, we think that should be the minimum time you give yourself to iterate. Tactically, our support is there when you want it. If your team is scaling or gets into a top accelerator, you may need us less. That is good. Keep building!

What Happens After 1 Year?

Ideally, your work is scaling. Maybe it doesn’t but you learn a lot.

What Stage Do You Invest At?

Day 1. That’s why we are willing to back teams still in school.

Do I Need to Still Be In School?

No. We will review all applications. You could be a high schooler, college dropout, recent grad, grad student, PHD, or something else.

If I’Ve Already Taken Funding, Can I Still Apply?

Yes.

Also.

LeapYear Scout Program

We are looking for campus leads to identify great teams on campus