EWOR
EWOR is a Berlin-based founder fellowship and early-stage venture platform that backs the top 0.1% of founders with up to €500k in capital, 1:1 mentorship from unicorn builders, and a global ecosystem to build €1B+ companies. EWOR was founded in 2021. The company is led by Daniel Dippold. Based in Berlin, Germany. Team size: 11-50. Total funding raised: $65.4M. Latest round: Series A. Key investors include Daniel Krauss (Flix), Jochen Engert (Flix), Felix Haas (10x Founders), Fabrice Grinda (FJ Labs), Calm/Storm Ventures.
- Founded
- 2021
- Headquarters
- Berlin, Germany
- Team size
- 11-50
- Total funding
- $65.4M
Value proposition
EWOR provides outlier founders with up to €500k in capital, weekly 1:1 sparring with unicorn founders who are full-time partners, a curated network of 2,000+ mentors/VCs/experts, and a borderless virtual-first fellowship — all with a 0.1% acceptance rate that is more selective than Y Combinator.
Products and solutions
EWOR Ideation Fellowship (for pre-idea/pre-seed founders, up to €300k), EWOR Traction Fellowship (for revenue-generating startups, up to €500k), EWOR Platform (digital resources, blueprints, community tools), Grand Pitch (demo day for investors), EWOR Houses (in-person community experiences)
Unique value
The only fellowship where unicorn founders (SumUp, Adjust, ProGlove) work full-time as partners, offering 1-5 hours of weekly 1:1 sparring — not monthly check-ins. ML-driven founder selection with 0.1% acceptance rate. Fellows raise 50-300% higher valuations than average.
Target customer
Outlier founders — visionaries, technical prodigies, deeply driven operators, and serial entrepreneurs — who have the potential to build €1B+ companies. Open globally but focused on Europe and the Americas.
Industries served
Deep Tech, AI/ML, Climate/Energy, Healthcare/Biotech, Fintech, Space, Robotics, Hardware, Enterprise SaaS
How they differentiate
Unlike Y Combinator, Antler, or Entrepreneur First, EWOR has a 0.1% acceptance rate (vs YC's ~1-2%), is run full-time by six founders who built €12B+ in combined company value, offers up to 5 hours/week of 1:1 sparring with unicorn founders, uses ML-driven pattern recognition for founder selection, and is virtual-first/borderless rather than cohort-based in a single location.
Main competitors
Y Combinator, Entrepreneur First, Project Europe (Harry Stebbings), Antler
Key partnerships
16+ partner companies providing €300k in cloud credits and steep discounts (CRM, accounting, etc.), Network of 2,000+ mentors, VCs, and subject matter experts, Partnership with 10x Founders, FJ Labs
Notable customers
Artifact AI (raised $4M led by a16z), Thaleron (raised €11.4M pre-seed, Europe's largest by first-time founder), Aspect Health (€43.8M valuation), Gama Space, Prosper (Ricky Knox), SE3 Labs, Drill Surgeries, Cambridge Surgical Models, Salesy
Major milestones
2020: EWOR started as side project by Daniel Dippold, 2021: Officially founded, 2022: Dippold goes full-time, 7 pivots, 2023: Seed funding from Calm/Storm Ventures, FJ Labs, Felix Haas, 2025: €60M Series A commitment ($65.4M), split €30M for EWOR GmbH and €30M for investment fund, 2025: 0.1% acceptance rate with 35 fellows selected from 35,000+ applicants
Growth metrics
0.1% acceptance rate (35 out of 35,000+ applicants); Fellows raise €1-11M on average during fellowship; 100% of recent 22 portfolio companies closed follow-on rounds; €12B+ combined company value created by EWOR partners
Market positioning
Positioned as the most selective founder fellowship globally — "harder than Y Combinator." Competes with Y Combinator, Project Europe, Entrepreneur First, Antler, and Techstars for top-tier early-stage founders. Claims alumni raise $5M on average vs YC's $1.3-1.5M.
Geographic focus
Europe (primarily), with global reach; competes with US-based Y Combinator for European talent
About Daniel Dippold
Ex-CTO & Co-founder of New Now Group (AI services); Founder & CTO/CEO of Unlimitix (sold); Founder & Founding President of Sigma Squared Society; Angel investor in 50+ companies (7 unicorns); PhD dropout in ML from University of Cambridge; studied Mathematics at ETH Zurich, Computer Science at HKUST, Business at University of St. Gallen; Forbes 30 Under 30
Latest news about EWOR
Official website: https://www.ewor.com