Forum Ventures, the early-stage B2B venture studio, accelerator, and pre-seed fund that has backed over 550 companies since 2014, today published performance data from its most recent accelerator cohort. The data reveals that 64.1% of founders in the cohort reached early revenue during the 16-week program. Additionally, 58.3% were first-time founders, and 25.6% were solo-founder led. These independent findings highlight the program's effectiveness in supporting founders who are often overlooked by traditional accelerators and investors.
Michael Cardamone, CEO and Managing Partner of Forum Ventures, stated, 'Most accelerators are subconsciously filtering out the founders who need them most. Solo founders, first-timers, founders without a product yet—those are exactly the people we built Forum for. The data shows they can deliver.'
The narrative around early-stage funding has long favored repeat founders, co-founding teams, and companies with pre-existing traction. Forum's 2026 cohort data challenges these assumptions by demonstrating that solo founders and first-time entrepreneurs can achieve significant milestones with the right support. The program pairs each company with a dedicated Managing Director who provides weekly one-on-one guidance, replacing the typical co-founder dynamic with professional operational support.
First-time founders constituted a majority of the cohort, yet their performance matched Forum's historical averages: a 65% fund-through rate and an 80+ Net Promoter Score across the portfolio. This suggests that structured, hands-on support—including at least 15 hours of one-on-one Managing Director time and over 40 investor introductions per showcase—can level the playing field for inexperienced entrepreneurs.
Revenue generation during the program is a key metric for Forum. The 64.1% of founders who achieved early revenue did so regardless of their traction upon entering the accelerator. The program's focus on go-to-market strategy, customer acquisition, and fundraise readiness from the first week is designed to produce this outcome.
Kory Kelly, founder of Legal Karma, which raised $6.8 million to date, commented on the program's value: 'The $100k is nice... but the real value comes from having the MDs on your team. Their perspective, energy, and introductions as you grow are worth the investment. Especially for first-time founders who need someone to walk the journey with. I know in 4 years I can still call up my MD and he'll jump on a sales call or help me wordsmith messaging.'
Forum Ventures' accelerator invests $100,000 for 7.5% equity via a post-money SAFE. The 16-week program is tailored to founders who have raised less than $500,000 and are pre- or post-MVP. Applications are reviewed individually, and Forum answers every pitch. More information about the accelerator and Forum's other investment strategies is available at forumvc.com.
