The foundersdefining what's next.
We find the founders defining the next decade, and put them in front of the investors backing it.
Nominations for 2026 are now closed.
Thank you to every founder who applied. Get notified the moment the 2027 edition opens. Finalists are revealed December 15 at the Gala.
Q1 2026
Closed
Q2 2026
Closed
Q3 2026
Closed
Q1 2027
Opening soon
The publication investors read first.
Quarterly editions on who is building, what is working, and the founders worth knowing before everyone else.
View the latest edition or browse past editions.
- 250,000
- Founders in the network
- 20,000
- Investors reached
- 1,000+
- Events hosted
- $500M+
- Raised by founders
A year-long pipeline.
Uncompromising curation.
Founders are nominated across 10 partner networks and curated down to 26 finalists a quarter, 78 across the year. Half the score is business excellence. Half is the founder’s story.
01 — Nominated
Each quarter, founders are nominated through our 10 partner networks.
02 — Reviewed
Every application is read by our team, then scored by a selection committee.
03 — Published
26 finalists a quarter are featured in the edition and introduced to investors.
04 — Recognized
The Top 26 Founders of 2026 are announced live at the Gala in Manhattan.
Nominations closed
Be first in line
for 2027.
2026 nominations are now closed. Join the waitlist and we'll let you know the moment the 2027 edition opens.
- First to know when 2027 nominations open
- Reviewed by our team and a selection committee
- Edition releases and Gala highlights in your inbox
Annual Gala · December 15, 2026 · New York
One night that
defines a year.
December 15, 2026 · 48 Wall Street, New York · Invite-only
An invite-only evening in New York, where the Top 26 Founders of 2026 are revealed live, followed by a seated dinner and after-party.
The 26 receive the Top Founder Badge, a permanent mark of credibility across the venture ecosystem.
- Doors open
- 6:00pm
- Top 26 revealed
- 6:30pm
- Dinner
- 7:30pm
- After-party
- 9:00pm
Capital that
finds you.
Investors in our network don’t search. Every week, a shortlist of the most compelling founders lands in their inbox.
Weekly founder shortlist
From Global Founder Index to investors
- Weekly founder shortlist
- Handpicked founders with verified traction, sent every Monday.
- Pitch competition access
- Quarterly, in person in New York, $50K to $1.5M on the table.
- Founder intelligence
- Qualitative data on the founders that matter, reviewed by people.
In person · New York
Introductions happen in the room.
Quarterly pitch competitions, investor Q&As and Global Founder Index presentations, in person in New York.
Global Founder Index pitch nights and presentations, New York.
Partnerships
Build the season
with us.
Brands, funds, and ecosystem partners can sponsor editions, own a category, or activate at the 2026 Gala.
The ones who build the future get here first.
2026 nominations are closed. Get notified the moment the 2027 edition opens.