Founder in Residence
AIM Founding to Give · Remote (Global)
Program Overview
Founding to Give is recruiting exceptionally talented and impact-driven startup founders to build high-growth tech companies to create an outsized impact.
Quick snapshot of the program:
- For tech/founder talent who want to start a high-growth tech company for good
- No idea or cofounder needed – we can help with that
- Runs Jan–Mar 2026, including a 4-week in-person intensive in January (we cover travel + housing)
- Monthly stipend provided to cover living expenses
- No equity taken, instead, founders pledge to donate a portion of future personal exit earnings to effective charities of their choic
- More info here: www.aimfoundingtogive.com
The Founding to Give program is ideal for technical talent and entrepreneurial builders in the earliest stages of starting a company. Structured over 12 weeks, the program helps founders rapidly test ideas, find co-founders, and find early market validation. We help founders orient towards the most high-impact paths for their particular profiles.
The program does not take equity. Instead, participants pledge to donate a portion of personal earnings from any future successful exit — 5% of earnings under $1M and 50% above $1M — to effective charities of their own choice.
Who Should Apply
We welcome a broad range of experiences, including:
- Technical builders: Software engineers and developers from startups, scaleups, academia, or big tech
- Entrepreneurial operators: Former founders or early startup employees
- Domain experts: Professionals with deep insight into specific industries like healthtech, biotech, edtech, talent/future of work, or emerging markets including Africa, Latin America, or Asia
We’re looking for high-agency, high-velocity individuals ready to found high-growth tech startups from scratch. The ideal participant is:
- Someone who wants to do the most good they can
- Excited about rapid iteration, co-founder discovery, and hard problems
- We don’t require a team or idea; the program helps with ideation and co-founder matching
We also welcome inquiries from founders who are already further along — e.g., those with $10K+ MRR or early-stage funding — and may be able to offer support on a case-by-case basis. Reach out to [email protected].
Program Highlights
- Team Formation & Idea Validation: 4 week in-person intensive phase to explore ideas, meet potential co-founders, and test quickly
- Remote Build Sprint: Two months of high-speed building, mentorship, and preparation for next steps
- Stipend Support: We provide a monthly stipend to cover living expenses for 3 months during the program, and we cover accommodation, flights, and workspace during the first month of the program when we host the cohort in-person.
- Equity-Free: We take no equity — you retain full ownership of the company you start
- Pledge-Only Model: You commit to donating part of your future earnings if you succeed
- Global Community: Access to AIM’s network of aligned operators, funders, and advisors
Program Structure
- Month 1 (In-Person in London)
Intensive idea testing, co-founder matching, and mentorship. Travel, housing, and stipends provided. - Months 2–3 (Remote)
Product development, market validation, and preparation for funding or accelerators.
Application Process
- Online Form – Tell us who you are and why you’re a fit
- Intro Interview – Help us get to know you through a quick recorded interview
- Project – Demonstrate your builder mindset
- Final Interview – Deeper dive into your potential trajectory
We will assess applications on a rolling basis. Apply 1st of August latest here
Want to learn more first?
Register to join our info session on July 24, 2025, 18:00 BST.
You can read more about the program at aimfoundingtogive.com
About Our Team
The Founding to Give Program is a collaboration between Ambitious Impact (AIM) and the School for Moral Ambition (SMA). AIM has significant expertise in impact maximization, and it runs several training and incubation programs. Our team previously ran Charity Entrepreneurship, which launched over 40 nonprofits, some of which are now world leaders in the respective fields in terms of cost-effectively improving people’s lives at scale.
