We back founders building the foundation
of the autonomous economy
Join Growth Engine
OUR THESIS & VISION
Executive Summary
Growth Engine represents a paradigm shift in acceleration programs: moving from rigid, time-bound cohorts to a flexible, outcomes-driven model. We work with an open cohort system where founders advance based on individual KPIs and readiness, not arbitrary timelines. Our thesis centers on the interconnection of all technologies, rejecting artificial boundaries between AI, fintech, blockchain, and traditional tech sectors.
We're built in NYC with a global reach.
Core Thesis:
Autonomous Economy
Agentic Infrastructure: the protocols, rails, and primitives that let autonomous agents transact, coordinate, and settle without human bottlenecks
Convergent Fintech: where AI, blockchain, and traditional financial systems stop competing and start composing into something new
Embedded Finance & Payments: financial functionality dissolving into the products people already use, powered by agents acting on their behalf
Autonomous Commerce: the layer where agents don't just assist purchasing decisions, they make them
Economic Security: reputation systems, trust infrastructure, and defense layers for a world where the attackers are also machines
Digital Labor Markets: Platforms and protocols built for a workforce that is part human, part agent, operating at mixed speeds
The New Economic Primitives: the foundational coordination tools for Agentic Economy (identity, reputation, settlement, governance)
The Problem with
Traditional Cohorts
Traditional accelerator models bundle projects with vastly different business models, growth trajectories, and visions into rigid, time-bound cohorts. This creates artificial pressure: founders must present on a fixed "startup day" regardless of readiness, leading to premature pitches, rushed development, and missed opportunities.
This outdated approach ignores the reality that startups mature at different rates and need different levels of support at different times.
Our Solution:
The Open Cohort Model
Growth Engine operates with an open-ended cohort structure:
Fixed capacity, flexible timeline: We maintain a fixed number of active projects while allowing each to progress at its own pace.
Multiple startup days: We host 4-5 startup days annually. Founders choose when to present based on readiness, not arbitrary dates.
Individualized goals: Each project has custom KPIs aligned with their specific business model and stage.
Graduation by achievement: Projects graduate when they hit their goals: product-market fit, repeatable revenue, and/or fundraising readiness.
Rolling admissions: As projects graduate to our alumni network, we onboard new startups into available slots.
How We Work With Founders
Connecting founders with the right network:
Investor introductions
Client & customer connections
User onboarding
Strategic partners
Growth catalyst relationships
Alumni Network & Ecosystem
Projects that achieve their program goals graduate to our alumni network, where they:
Continue receiving strategic introductions and partnership support
Transition from hands-on support to self-sufficient operations
Lead workshops and mentor new cohort members
Facilitate introductions within the ecosystem
Contribute expertise to current founders
This creates a powerful, self-reinforcing network where each graduating class strengthens the ecosystem for future cohorts.
Peer Groups &
Cross-Cohort Collaboration
We facilitate peer groups that enable founders to support each other throughout their journey. These groups:
Transcend individual cohorts where relationships persist beyond program completion
Enable cross-pollination of ideas and resources
Provide founder-to-founder support and accountability
Create opportunities for collaboration and partnership
Build lasting relationships that extend well beyond the program