How to Pitch Antler or Apply for Funding

Updated

Antler is a global early-stage VC that backs founders "from first check to IPO," so if you are at the inception or pre-seed stage, the way in is the Pitch Us entry point on antler.co, followed by choosing the Antler location that fits where you want to build and scale. Antler operates across 30 locations globally (its site cites 26 locations worldwide in one section and 30 in another), so the practical first decision is which region and city you are applying to, not whether a single global application exists.

Who this path is for

Antler describes itself as backing "exceptional founders from inception" and specialises in early-stage investments. That makes it a fit if you are:

  • Pre-idea or just forming a company and looking for a first check
  • Building in AI or another category where you want capital plus a founder community
  • Willing to build and scale within one of Antler's regional ecosystems

If you are raising a later-stage round, the site's framing ("from first check to IPO") still applies, but the entry route described here is oriented toward early-stage founders.

The application route, step by step

  1. Go to antler.co and find the "Pitch Us" call to action. The homepage repeats "Pitch Us" as the primary founder action, so that is the entry point to look for.
  2. Pick your region. Antler groups its locations under four regional headings on the site: Asia Pacific, Europe, Americas, and Middle East and Africa. Choose the region where you intend to build and scale.
  3. Choose a specific location. Antler says it is "active across 30 locations globally" and invites founders to "find your location" and "find the best place to start and scale your company." Your application is tied to a location, so this choice matters.
  4. Submit your pitch through that location's Pitch Us flow. Expected result: you are routed into the pipeline for that region rather than a generic global queue.

What to prepare before you pitch

Antler's own site signals what it values, which is useful for shaping your application:

  • A category-defining ambition. The site frames its founders as people "looking to build the next category-defining company."
  • Evidence you can execute. Its portfolio includes companies such as Airalo (described as the world's first eSIM unicorn), Lovable (an AI software-building platform), Wrtn (a consumer AI company that raised a $73.5M Series B), Salmon (a digital bank for the Philippines that raised $100M), and Harper (commercial insurance rebuilt with AI, $46.8M raised).
  • Awareness of the community you are joining. Antler cites 2,000+ portfolio companies and a 12,000+ founder community.

Reading the founder stories on the site before applying is a low-cost way to calibrate the stage and ambition Antler backs.

Common sticking points

  • Treating Antler as one application. Because locations are grouped by region and the site tells you to "find your location," applying to the wrong geography can waste the effort. Decide where you will actually build first.
  • Skipping the location choice. "Find your location" is a distinct step from "Pitch Us," so do both rather than only hitting the pitch button.
  • Assuming terms, amounts, or timelines. The site does not publish check sizes, pricing, or application timelines, so do not plan around numbers that are not stated. Confirm specifics with the Antler team for your chosen location.

If you are an investor, not a founder

Antler runs a separate path: "For investors — Join our global network of investors backing ambitious founders from inception." If your goal is to invest rather than raise, use that route instead of Pitch Us.