Alyssa Goody
Head of Partnerships
Ecosystem builder with M&A, business development, growth strategy, and fintech/private equity experience. Previously Partnerships Manager at StartX.
About Inception Studio
Where the best AI founders start their next company.
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit AI accelerator. Four-day retreats. Zero equity, ever. Built for proven, successful founders building the next generation of AI companies.
For the full thesis on why Inception exists in this form, read Why Inception →
Mission
Help the most experienced founders in the world build the next generation of AI companies.
We believe that when exceptional people come together in the right environment, extraordinary companies emerge. Inception Studio exists to be that environment — focused, selective, and built around the moment between having something working and getting investors to back it.
Impact since November 2022
231+
founders welcomed
80+
companies started
$265M+
raised by alumni
0%
equity taken — ever
Founding partners
Built by founders, for founders.
Inception Studio was launched in 2022 by two serial operators who built the program they wished had existed when they were starting their own companies. Both are also founders in the Inception directory.
John Whaley
Co-Founder & CEO
3 successful exits
4× founder
Serial entrepreneur and expert in compilers, cybersecurity, and machine learning. Founded Moka5, UnifyID, and Redcoat AI. Launched Inception Studio in 2022.
View John's founder profile →
Mike Morris
Co-Founder & COO
1 successful exit
2× founder
28-year Silicon Valley veteran with deep expertise in building and scaling technical teams. Co-founded Inception Studio and Redcoat AI.
View Mike's founder profile →
Operations team
The people running the program.
Inception's day-to-day — events, partnerships, sponsor and mentor relationships, retreat logistics.
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Michael Liu
Head of Events
7x founder across e-commerce, nonprofit, logistics, consultancy, recruitment, and real estate. Co-founded Toronto Tech Fest and Aceocial (100+ tech events in 2024).
Advisors
The bench that sharpens the pitch.
Each retreat works with advisors across five dimensions — venture, GTM, sales, product, and technical — so every founder gets at least one pass on the angle that matters most for their next raise.
Why nonprofit
Equity creates adverse selection. We removed it.
Traditional accelerators take 5–10% equity, which creates adverse selection — the best founders have better options and skip the program. By operating as a 501(c)(3), we remove the equity barrier entirely. The best founders join because there is no downside.
The retreat is funded by program sponsors and philanthropic donors. Inception Studio is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. We take zero equity, charge zero fees, and never will. The economics work because the program does one thing well — refining the pitch that closes the next fundraise — rather than trying to be a full-service accelerator.
What we focus on
One job, done deeply.
Each cohort is a single four-day retreat. Six to eight companies. Ten to fifteen founders. In person, no remote sessions, no three-month curriculum. We do not teach founders how to be founders; we assume that is already settled. We exist to refine the pitch that closes their next fundraise. That is the entire job.
If that profile fits — proven, already shipping, ready to raise, looking for a focused environment to sharpen the story that closes your round — the retreat is built for you. Applications are open and run rolling.
Global community
San Francisco HQ, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taipei, Toronto, Park City, New York.
Inception founders are based across eight cities. The retreat is in person in the US; the alumni network spans the AI-native founder community globally.