Forum Ventures, the early-stage B2B venture studio, accelerator, and pre-seed fund, today released performance data from its 2026 accelerator cohort, highlighting that 64.1% of founders reached early revenue during the 16-week program. The data also reveals that 58.3% of founders were first-time entrepreneurs and 25.6% were solo founders, challenging conventional wisdom in early-stage investing.
According to the data, 64.1% of founders in the most recent cohort achieved early revenue during the program. This metric is a key focus of the accelerator, which emphasizes go-to-market strategy, customer traction, and fundraise readiness from the first week. The program pairs each company with a dedicated Managing Director who provides 15 hours minimum of 1:1 support weekly, along with 40+ investor introductions per showcase.
First-time founders made up 58.3% of the cohort, a group often perceived as higher risk by investors and accelerators. However, Forum's data shows that these founders performed consistently with the firm's 3-year averages, including a 65% fund-through rate and an 80+ Net Promoter Score across the portfolio. The structured support system, including hands-on guidance from former founders and operators, appears to mitigate the lack of prior startup experience.
Solo founders, representing 25.6% of the cohort, also delivered strong results despite industry bias favoring co-founding teams. Forum's model provides solo founders with the operational support and accountability typically expected from a co-founder through weekly 1:1 sessions with their Managing Director. This approach aims to level the playing field for entrepreneurs who may otherwise be overlooked.
Michael Cardamone, CEO and Managing Partner of Forum Ventures, said, '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.'
Kory Kelly, founder of Legal Karma, which raised $6.8 million to date, added, '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.'
The Forum Ventures accelerator invests $100,000 for 7.5% equity via a post-money SAFE, with a 16-week program focused on go-to-market, customer traction, and fundraise readiness. The program is designed for founders who have raised less than $500,000 and are pre- or post-MVP. Forum reviews each application individually and answers every pitch.
Forum Ventures, founded in 2014 and headquartered in New York City with offices in San Francisco and Toronto, has backed over 550 portfolio companies and 1,000 founders. The firm operates three investment strategies: the AI Venture Studio ($250,000 at formation), the Accelerator ($100,000, 16 weeks), and the Pre-Seed Fund ($250,000 to $1 million). More information is available at forumvc.com.
