All crypto startups will benefit from the program, regardless of their stage.

Your accelerator and mentorship experience might differ slightly, however, depending on whether you're an early-stage or later-stage team.

We assist early-stage teams with navigating customer development and refining their product strategy. These teams are often working on large markets but need to figure out how to best capture the opportunity.

For later-stage teams with a solid product thesis, our value-add comes from deep domain expertise in crypto-native areas like token economics, regulations, and go-to-market.

In addition, both early and later-stage founders typically tell us that Alliance helped them expand their crypto network and connect with other top-tier builders, leading to direct impact in sales, user testing, partnership, and fundraising efforts.

We run 2 cohorts a year. For each cohort, there's both an “Early Admission” and a “Regular” deadline.

We strongly encourage teams to submit applications as early as possible, as it maximizes your chances of selection.

Since most teams apply close to the deadline, applying early gives us much more time to review your application.

ALL12, our next program, starts on Feb 12, 2024.

Nothing, the program is entirely free.

We only require a $250k investment in your company (at unparalleled, founder-friendly terms). We've learned that our best performing teams actually do want us to have skin-in-the-game. And our investment further aligns us with your success.

Besides this, founders' only obligation is to ensure they have the time and energy to attend sessions and work with mentors. We expect full commitment during the program's 3 months.

Yes, we offer $250k in funding through two investment tracks:
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→ Early Stage (Standard Deal): For companies that haven't launched yet or have been working on their current idea for less than 6 months, we invest at a $5M post-money valuation.

→ Later Stage (Flexible Terms): For companies with strong traction or that are currently raising a multi-million dollar round, we'll typically follow the same terms as other investors.

Most teams going through our program fall under the Standard Deal.

If you'd like to take advantage of Alliance's funding but your fundraise timeline doesn't match the next cohort, don't worry. We've often supported startups by funding them before they're accelerated.

Just submit your application as you normally would. We review applications all year long and will invite you to an early interview if your startup meets Alliance's criteria.

The program is mostly remote, with the exception of its 1st week, when we gather in-person.

We also often host in-person social events during prominent crypto conferences – where our founders have the opportunity to meet and connect with their peers –, but these are entirely optional.

No. Alliance startups have historically come from all over the world.

However, we do expect you to join our in-person orientation (the program's 1st week). There we'll onboard you onto our community and you'll meet mentors as well as fellow cohort founders.

Afterward the program will continue remotely. Our sessions are typically 11 am Eastern Time to best serve global participants.

The program lasts 3 months.

Teams must dedicate at least 10 hours per week between sessions and mentorship.

Historically, however, our most successful founders go much further and strive to maximize the time spent on lectures, with mentors, and – in the latter half of the program – preparing for Demo Day.

The program relies on 4 activities: sessions, 1:1 mentorship, group mentorship and Demo Day.

→ Educational Sessions: We run 2 to 3 sessions per week where successful founders from our community share their stories and learnings as crypto operators. This is typically followed by a Q&A.

→ 1:1 Mentorship: Startups receive 1:1 mentorship from Alliance mentors. At times, this can also result in intros to experts in our extended network, depending on the problem at hand.

→ Weekly Check-ins: Founders meet weekly to share progress and challenges. Founders help each other identify solutions to blockers with support from Alliance mentors.

→ Demo Day: 6 weeks into the program companies start working on their narrative and pitch. Then, on week 12, startups present to our network and graduate from the program.

Each startup in our latest cohort received an average of over 50 intro requests after Demo Day from crypto's most value-add angels or funds, such as Paradigm, Multicoin or Initialized Capital. Most startups also receive significant interest from clients or potential partners.

Our last cohort had a 1.1% acceptance rate.

63% of accepted teams had received a formal referral from an existing Alliance alum or DAO member.

Founders are sometimes selected on their 2nd or 3rd application so we encourage you to apply again if you're not selected. We often make mistakes. Plus, resilience is a key trait we're screening for.

Alliance is highly selective. ALL10 received 1,692 applications, with only 19 startups being selected. You are competing against many hundreds of highly qualified teams.

Here are our recommendations for standing out:

1. Help us quickly understand what your company does. Avoid grandiose visions and use direct comparisons to clarify your product's value proposition (e.g. “We're X for Y”).

2. Communicate your ideas with a high signal-to-noise ratio. Cut unnecessary words and jargon from your application. The easier you make it for us to review your application, the more likely you are to qualify for an interview.

3. Avoid generalities – use precise numbers and facts to differentiate your application. All crypto startups will say, for example, that they're building great products or “giving back” ownership to users. If a statement can be said by any crypto startup it typically won't help you stand out.

4. Teach us something new that challenges our perspective. We're eager to learn about new ideas and insights, including unique problem-solving methods or intriguing customer behaviors. The founders we accept into the program often broaden our horizons and inspire us to push the limits of what's possible.

5. Get a referral from an alumnus or DAO member. We trust the judgement of our community. Convincing them to formally refer you through our community platform will increase your odds of admission.

6. Prepare for your interview. Follow the “Alliance Interview Guidelines”, arrive on time, and have answers ready for common questions. Keep your answers conversational and concise, avoiding long tangents. The more questions we can ask, the better we can understand your product and the opportunity.

After you apply to the program, mentors will start reviewing your application. This process usually takes multiple weeks.

Our admissions team will then invite ad hoc the most promising teams for a “Round 1” interview over Zoom. This will consist of a 20 minute fast-paced conversation with one of Alliance's mentors (with guidelines shared before the interview).

About 1/3 of teams proceed to a “Round 2” interview, our final step of the process. Differently from the previous interview, this call will instead last 30 minutes and have two new, different mentors in the call.

Final decisions are communicated over email. These vary based on the cycle the team has applied to (i.e. “Early Admission” and “Regular Admission” decisions are communicated at different times). Decisions' due dates are available on the application page.

Note that due to the sheer number of applications and interviews, mentors are unfortunately not able to give personalized feedback to teams that are not selected.