Build something real. Get backed by someone real.
3F is built for student founders who are serious about their venture — and ready to go through a real process to prove it.
What the 3F experience looks like for founders
This isn't a one-day pitch event. From the moment you apply to the moment investors make allocation decisions at the Global Finals, 3F runs for 11 months — and you'll have professional support throughout.
Here's what that looks like:
- May–August: Applications open. Free to apply. Tell us about your venture and where you are right now.
- September: You're matched with a dedicated professional analyst — someone whose job is to understand your business, not just evaluate it.
- November–December: Deep-dive diligence. Structured interview. Your analyst produces a written investment memo on your venture.
- January: If your venture is selected, it enters the investor Lookbook — distributed exclusively to our investor network before the Finals.
- March–April: Global Finals. You pitch live. Investors make real capital allocation decisions in the room.
3 milestone checkpoints run across the year — you share how your venture is evolving at key moments, so investors see the business as it is, not as it was on day one.
Is 3F right for you?
3F is a great fit if you have an idea you're actively building — at any stage, from pre-revenue to already generating traction. You don't need to be incorporated. You don't need a team. You need a venture you can speak to with conviction and a willingness to go through structured diligence.
Applications are free and open to founders in any country.
Not sure if you're ready? Apply anyway.
We're looking for founders with momentum, not just polish.
What you walk away with
- A professional investment memo written about your venture
- Direct exposure to a real investor audience
- A JA Worldwide-backed credential on completion
- The diligence experience itself — which founders tell us is one of the most useful things they've done
Who applies
Student founders from around the world apply to 3F — solo founders and teams, ideas at concept stage and ventures already generating revenue. The common thread isn't traction level. It's seriousness of intent.
How to apply
This is your opportunity to present your venture in the way you think will resonate most with invest
The application is free. Any founder aged 27 and below is welcome.
Your basics
- First and last name
- Affiliated Educational Institution
- Country
- Co-founder or team members, if applicable
Your venture
- Venture name and date founded
- A short description — what you're building, who it's for, and what problem it solves
- Website or social media links (encouraged!)
Your traction
- Key milestones, achievements, or impact so far — with numbers where you have them
- How your venture has grown or evolved since you started
- What you're building toward in the next 6–12 months
Make your case
Present your venture in the way you think will resonate most with investors. That might be a deck, a video, a one-pager, a prototype link, or just a well-written summary.
There's no required format — use whatever best represents what you've built.
Ready to apply?
Send your application materials to 3F's Director (Maya Gobert at mingming.gobert@ingeniusprep.com).
Our team reviews submissions on a rolling basis.
If your application is a fit, you'll hear back directly to confirm your place before the cohort kicks off in September.
Have a question? Check out our FAQ.
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