What does participation in the program involve?
The program will feature one in-person cohort event each month as well as two U.S. Expansion Summits held in March and October (each running 2–3 days in NYC). Attendance is strongly encouraged and sessions may be joined by either a founder or a senior NYC-based team member.
The monthly events and summits include a mix of:
- Corporate engagement sessions with enterprise buyers and partners
- Curated introductions to potential customers and ecosystem leaders (Fortune 500, SMBs, and more)
- Investor introductions and fast-track meetings with Lightspeed Partners
- Business workshops on topics such as U.S. GTM, enterprise sales, hiring, immigration strategy, and navigating U.S. regulations
- High-impact community events, including peer-to-peer roundtables, shared learning, and community-building activities that strengthen relationships across the cohort and NYC ecosystem
- Additionally, there will be optional access to monthly 1:1 support, office hours, founder dinners, and executive events, which you can utilize at the pace that best supports your U.S. expansion.
Do I need to move to NYC?
Founders are not required to relocate to NYC. However, the program is designed to support companies that plan to build a meaningful presence in the city. Participating teams are expected to hire and grow a NYC-based team of 5+ within 24 months, and we provide resources, connections, and on-the-ground support to help you make those hires and establish your U.S. operations effectively.
What kind of immigration support do you provide?
While we do not provide or issue visas, we offer comprehensive support around U.S. immigration strategy. This includes guidance on common visa pathways, informational sessions led by immigration professionals, and referrals to immigration partners who specialize in working with global tech companies. Our goal is to help you understand your options, plan your timeline, and connect you with the right experts as you expand into the U.S.
What is the cost of the program?
The program is fully funded for participants. Additionally, we provide complimentary coworking space in Manhattan for up to two team members for the full 12-month duration of the program.
However, cohort companies are responsible for their own travel, living expenses, and business costs, with access to discounted partner rates where available.
Do you take equity?
No – we do not take equity, revenue share, or any form of ownership. The program is fully funded, providing companies with a supported pathway to expand into the U.S. That said, participating companies will gain exposure to leading venture firms (including Lightspeed) and other investors through curated introductions, but any investment discussions are entirely optional, separate from the program, and at the sole discretion of the founders and investors.
Do we already need to have a U.S. entity or customers to join the program?
No, you do not need to have a U.S. legal entity or traction in the U.S. prior to applying. We work with you to develop your U.S. expansion strategy.
What are the program dates?
“The program starts on Mar 2, 2026 Application Deadline – Jan 16, 2026 (11:59pm ET) Decision Notification – Jan 30, 2026 Rolling applications accepted after the deadline on a space-available basis”
What are the eligibility and selection criteria? How competitive is the program?
Ideal applicants are growing AI companies that:
- Have $5M+ in revenue / funds raised
- Are currently operating outside the U.S.
- Intend to establish a NYC presence
- Plan to hire 5+ U.S. team members within 24 months
Traction—such as enterprise customers, active pilots, strong technical teams, or frontier AI capabilities—does strengthen your application. The program is selective and optimized for companies prepared to scale immediately in the U.S. market.
