The Monastery - AI-native Company Building Program

cyber•Fund's AI-native Monastery is a new model for building companies in the AI era. The 12-week program gives founders $2M upfront alongside hands-on support to architect AI directly into the foundation of their companies from day one.

The Monastery is designed around the premise that a startup's competitive advantage now comes from how deeply intelligence is embedded into a company itself. Founders work directly with mentors and operators to build custom AI systems that dramatically accelerate execution and speed to market.

Format

• $2M SAFE investment. No valuation cap
• 12-week hybrid program
• Two 2-week in-person blocks in San Francisco
• Eight weeks remote with full focus on shipping
• Rolling intakes with a shared Demo Day
• Demo Day Batch 1: October 26, 2026 (invite-only)

What is AI-native?

An AI-native company is one that is built around AI capabilities from day one. Every workflow, data structure, product, and operation is designed around AI agents, enabling tiny teams to run with massive leverage, automate entire functions, and scale output without proportional headcount growth.

FAQ

Who should apply?

Exceptional founders who want to build AI-native companies.

What are the investment terms?

Teams join the monastery for 5% equity and receive a $2M investment via an uncapped SAFE. Final ownership that cyber•Fund gets depends on the valuation of the priced financing round where the SAFE will convert.

Is it in-person or online?

Hybrid. 2 weeks in-person kick-off in San Francisco, 8 weeks remote, and another 2 weeks in-person before demo day.

How much time does remote require?

Around 4 hours per week. The remainder is for full focus on building – if you want to spend more time sparring with your mentor or your founder peers, you can do so at your preference.

When is Demo Day?

The demo day for batch 1 is the week of October 26, 2026. Invite-only. Readiness gate applies.

When does the program start?

Kick-off for batch 1 starts the first half of August in SF.

What does AI-native mean?

Agents, workflows, and tooling set up per company from Day 1. The playbook is yours to keep.

When can I apply?

We have rolling intakes. Apply as soon as you're ready, and we'll review on an ongoing basis. If you are accepted we start working with you immediately we don’t wait until the next batch starts.

How soon can I expect a decision?

First interview within 7 days. Final decision within 14 days of first interview.

What is the cohort size?

5–10 companies. Intentionally small and curated.