AltaLab Fall 2026
AltaLab Fall 2026
Building a unicorn starts
with the right framework
Building a unicorn
starts with the right framework
Work one-on-one with
Igor
Ryabenkiy,
and the
AltaLab
team
to strengthen the
fundamentals
that drive
long-term success.
Learn how to focus your resources, align your team, sharpen your communication with customers and investors, and make better decisions.
Applications close
September 4, 2026
September 4, 2026
Program starts
September 7, 2026
September 7, 2026
Who it is for
Founders with an idea
You have an idea, a problem you want to solve, or the conviction that something should exist.
Focus starts here: we help you choose one problem worth solving, align your team around it, and validate it — before you spend six months building something nobody needs.
Founders searching for product-market fit
You've launched. There are pilots, first users, maybe first revenue — but you're not sure yet what's actually working.
Focus is your filter: we help you separate the signal from the noise — which customers, which messages, which features actually move you toward product-market fit.
Founders raising and scaling
You have traction and you’re talking to investors — or about to. But growth has slowed, the story has drifted, or the team is pulling in different directions.
Focus is your leverage: we help you find the real bottleneck, sharpen the narrative investors buy, and align the team behind one bet.
Different stages, same root cause: lack of focus. That’s what we fix.
Who it is for
Founders with an idea
You have an idea, a problem you want to solve, or the conviction that something should exist.
Focus starts here: we help you choose one problem worth solving, align your team around it, and validate it — before you spend six months building something nobody needs.
Founders searching for product-market fit
You've launched. There are pilots, first users, maybe first revenue — but you're not sure yet what's actually working.
Focus is your filter: we help you separate the signal from the noise — which customers, which messages, which features actually move you toward product-market fit.
Founders raising and scaling
You have traction and you’re talking to investors — or about to. But growth has slowed, the story has drifted, or the team is pulling in different directions.
Focus is your leverage: we help you find the real bottleneck, sharpen the narrative investors buy, and align the team behind one bet.
Different stages, same root cause: lack of focus. That’s what we fix.
How it works
Stage 1
Online Sprint
Online Sprint
In three weeks, learn the fundamentals of building a successful company in the AI era through practical sessions and daily work on your own startup.
Learn more
Learn more
Stage 2
Founder Residency*
Selected teams continue into a hands-on residency with one-on-one support, workshops, masterclasses, and community events.
Learn more
Learn more
Stage 3
Build with
Build with
Learn more
Work with the AltaIR Capital team to strengthen your product, go-to-market strategy, fundraising readiness, and execution.
Work with the AltaLab team to strengthen your product, go-to-market strategy, fundraising readiness, and execution.
or
Scale with
Scale with
Learn more
Companies with strong traction can move directly into investment conversations with AltaIR Capital.
Companies with strong traction can move directly into investment conversations with AltaIR Capital.
*Participation at every stage
starting from Founder Residency
involves advisory options —
full details in our FAQ below.
*Participation at every stage starting from Founder Residency may involve advisory options — full details in our FAQ below.
Demo Day
Selected Founder Residency teams receive dedicated support preparing for Demo Day. Together, we refine your investor narrative, strengthen your pitch, and help you present your company to a group of angels, venture funds, and strategic partners.
The previous cohorts, at a glance
250+ teams
successfully completed the Online Sprint
30 teams
were selected for Founder Residency
10 teams
received investment offers
The previous cohorts, at a glance
250+ teams
successfully completed the Online Sprint
30 teams
were selected for Founder Residency
10 teams
received investment offers
What founders say after AltaLab
After the bootcamp, I’m so energized and inspired. This week exceeded every expectation I had. It’s difficult to find the right words to express my appreciation for Igor. I’ve never felt this motivated about a project before — not even after receiving my first exit payment. There is something almost magical about his approach to thinking and building. Special thanks to Nikita Bogachev, Harbour.Space, and the other founders in the program. Every conversation brought new energy, perspective, and practical value.
“
This has been one of the best programs I’ve ever participated in. It gave me the clarity and vision I needed to move forward. Learning with the master Igor Ryabenkiy is the biggest surprise; otherwise, how would we even think that the person who created so many unicorns can teach us? The combination of core concepts, practical exercises, and daily assignments forced me to validate my own assumptions and rethink important decisions. This experience was absolutely amazing. It has helped me set a clear vision and given me the tools to build a truly lovable MVP.
“
AltaLab is useful not only at the idea stage but also for teams already building a product. It helps founders structure their thinking, clarify priorities, and approach product development in a more systematic way.
“
What I carry out of AltaLab is not just a sharper pitch or a cleaner ask, though I have both. What I carry is a more rigorous relationship with the difference between what I believe and what I can prove, and a clear understanding that for a founder seeking serious capital, that gap is the only thing that matters.
“
The program brings together founders to focus on what really matters: building products that solve real problems and can scale. For me, the past weeks were packed with valuable insights, sharp frameworks, and honest feedback from the AltaLab team and fellow founders.
“
What founders say after AltaLab
After the bootcamp, I’m so energized and inspired. This week exceeded every expectation I had. It’s difficult to find the right words to express my appreciation for Igor. I’ve never felt this motivated about a project before — not even after receiving my first exit payment. There is something almost magical about his approach to thinking and building. Special thanks to Nikita Bogachev, Harbour.Space, and the other founders in the program. Every conversation brought new energy, perspective, and practical value.
“
This has been one of the best programs I’ve ever participated in. It gave me the clarity and vision I needed to move forward. Learning with the master Igor Ryabenkiy is the biggest surprise; otherwise, how would we even think that the person who created so many unicorns can teach us? The combination of core concepts, practical exercises, and daily assignments forced me to validate my own assumptions and rethink important decisions. This experience was absolutely amazing. It has helped me set a clear vision and given me the tools to build a truly lovable MVP.
“
AltaLab is useful not only at the idea stage but also for teams already building a product. It helps founders structure their thinking, clarify priorities, and approach product development in a more systematic way.
“
What I carry out of AltaLab is not just a sharper pitch or a cleaner ask, though I have both. What I carry is a more rigorous relationship with the difference between what I believe and what I can prove, and a clear understanding that for a founder seeking serious capital, that gap is the only thing that matters.
“
The program brings together founders to focus on what really matters: building products that solve real problems and can scale. For me, the past weeks were packed with valuable insights, sharp frameworks, and honest feedback from the AltaLab team and fellow founders.
“
Our team
Igor Ryabenkiy
Igor Ryabenkiy has spent two decades backing early-stage founders — 400+ companies and 10+ unicorns, including Deel, Miro, PandaDoc, and many more. He signed his first angel check in 1998 and founded AltaIR Capital in 2005. Igor is the author of bestselling books, Adventures in Venture Capital and Unicorn Focus. All ideas and frameworks behind AltaLab are based on Igor’s experience and his books.
Nikita Bogachev
Nikita Bogachev is head of AltaLab. He works directly with founders throughout the program.
Our team
Igor Ryabenkiy
Igor Ryabenkiy has spent two decades backing early-stage founders — 400+ companies and 10+ unicorns, including Deel, Miro, PandaDoc, and many more.
He signed his first angel check in 1998
and founded AltaIR Capital in 2005.
Igor is the author of bestselling books, Adventures in Venture Capital and
Unicorn Focus. All ideas and
frameworks behind
AltaLab are based
on Igor’s experience
and his books.
Nikita Bogachev
Nikita Bogachev is head of AltaLab. He works directly with founders throughout the
program.
About AltaIR Capital
A global early-stage venture investment company
$600M
assets under management
400+
companies backed
10+
unicorns
Top 1%
among VC firms globally (Dealroom, 2026)
About AltaIR Capital
A global early-stage venture investment company
$600M
assets under management
400+
companies backed
10+
unicorns
Top 1%
among VC firms globally (Dealroom, 2026)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the program online?
Is the program free?
How long does the Online Sprint last?
Can my startup receive funding through AltaLab?
Do I need a co-founder?
Do I need traction?
Can founders apply from anywhere?
Can I apply if I'm not building in one of AltaIR Capital's focus areas?
Can I apply again if I’ve applied before?
Applications for the
next cohort are open
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Applications for the
next cohort are open
Follow us!