AIR is live. Applications are open.

Today, we’re opening applications for Cohort One of AIR (AI Residency)—an accelerator for early-stage teams building design-led, culture-forward consumer AI.

Backed by Collaborative Fund and in partnership with Fictive Kin, AIR is a 10-week program based in New York City. We invest $500K for 10% and give founders the space, support, and community to build with clarity and momentum.

Why we’re doing this

We believe design will be the differentiator. The most meaningful AI products won’t just do more—they’ll feel different. They’ll be emotionally resonant, intuitively designed, and built from first principles. In a world of tools competing on specs, we’re betting on teams who care how their product makes people feel.

AIR is for founders who treat software as a cultural object, not just a technical one, who understand that depth beats scale and that great software doesn’t just solve problems, it shifts culture.

The story so far

This spring, we kicked off a pilot: Cohort Zero—seven designers, engineers, and independent builders exploring what’s possible when you treat AI as creative material. (More on them soon!) Their work has already exceeded our expectations: playful tools, emotionally intelligent products, and early signals of what AI-native software can become.

We hosted sessions with Reggie James (formerly Eternal) on founder vision, and with Alejandro Matamala Ortiz (Runway ML) on carving interfaces from the material of the model. We spent our days demoing half-formed prototypes and debating what makes something feel like a product, not just a prompt wrapper.

Now, we’re opening applications for the next cohort, Cohort One, which will run June 23 to August 29, 2025.

Join the next chapter

If accepted, you’ll receive:

• $500K investment for 10% equity

• 10 weeks in NYC, starting June 2025

• Creative workspace in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn

• 1:1 support, weekly workshops, and critical feedback

• A curated demo day with aligned investors

If you’re building something new—and care deeply about how it feels—we want to hear from you. Apply by May 26. →

What to expect here

In the coming weeks, we’ll share more about what’s happening inside AIR: cohort recaps, builder interviews, behind-the-scenes notes, and reflections on software, taste, and tooling in the AI era. If you’re trying to build smarter, weirder, more resonant software—follow us on X, Instagram, or subscribe here to follow along.

And if you’re already in NYC, come to our next happy hour. Meet the team (hello!), chat with current residents, and get a feel for how we’re supporting early-stage builders at the intersection of design, culture, and AI.

Whether you’re deep in a build or just exploring what’s possible, we’d love to meet you.