Playbook
The Applied AI Founder Playbook
A step-by-step guide to going from a class project to a venture-ready AI company.
Coming soon
Resources
Field notes for university founders.
Playbooks, guides, and frameworks distilled from the founders, mentors, and operators inside the Kampus.vc ecosystem.
Guide
Validating an Applied AI Idea
How to test if the problem is real before you write a single line of production code.
Coming soon
Handbook
Cloud & AI Credits Handbook
What you get through Kampus.vc, and how to stretch every credit through your first year.
Coming soon
Framework
Demo Day Pitch Framework
The structure our founders use when pitching angels and early-stage funds.
Coming soon
FAQ
Answers, before you ask.
Current students and recent graduates (typically within the last three years) from any accredited university are welcome. We primarily support engineering, computer science, business, and interdisciplinary founders building Applied AI companies. Applicants should have either a validated idea or a working prototype.
No. Founders from any university can apply. Partner universities provide access to local Kampus Studios and additional resources, but admission is never limited to partner campuses.
Yes, we typically work with founders who have either a validated problem, early customer validation, or a working prototype. Kampus is designed for builders who are ready to move from idea validation toward launching a venture-backed company.
Both. You can apply to the studio at any time, and we also run cohort programmes with fixed dates — the Cohort-1 Founder Challenge is the first. Cohort deadlines are shown in your own timezone, with the official one beside them.
Most founders build remotely while meeting regularly with mentors and operators online. Where available, founders can also work through a partnered Kampus Studio on campus.
Quarterly Demo Days are opportunities—not graduation ceremonies. Founders present when they are investment-ready and continue building with Kampus after Demo Day through ongoing mentorship, startup infrastructure, and investor introductions.
Founders receive access to:
- Founder Academy
- Applied AI Venture Studio support
- Experienced operator mentorship
- Legal and incorporation assistance
- Startup credits from cloud and AI partners
- Investor readiness coaching
- Warm introductions to curated angel and early-stage investors
Kampus is an Applied AI Venture Studio. While we may invest selectively over time, our primary role today is helping founders build investment-ready companies and connecting them with our curated angel and early-stage investor network.
Our partnership is designed to align incentives for long-term success. Equity is typically around 15% and varies depending on the level of venture studio support provided. We believe founders should retain meaningful ownership while gaining long-term operator support.
We focus on Applied AI companies solving real-world problems across sectors including cybersecurity, healthcare, education, fintech, enterprise software, manufacturing, agriculture, AI Native Services, and other high-impact industries.
Yes. Kampus partners with universities to establish Applied AI Startup Studios that complement existing incubators by bringing operator mentorship, startup infrastructure, industry partnerships, and investor access to student founders.
The Next Great AI Company Could Start on Campus.
Applications are open year-round, and cohort challenges run to their own dates. Whether you're building from your dorm room, remotely, or through a partnered Kampus Studio, Kampus helps ambitious university founders build Applied AI companies with operator mentorship, startup infrastructure, and investor readiness.