Why Grove matters

OpenAI created Grove to serve people before they have a polished idea or company. Traditional accelerators focus on incorporated startups with traction; Grove focuses on individuals and tiny teams who are curious, technical and hands‑on but want structure, mentors and a peer group to explore directions quickly.

What Grove is

• Pre‑idea builder programme, not an accelerator. The goal is exploration and learning, not equity or demo‑day theatrics. You don’t need to use OpenAI’s APIs to apply.

• Dense talent network. You’ll co‑build alongside peers and get counsel from OpenAI technical leaders; many outcomes are clarity of direction and evidence rather than a polished startup.

• Hands‑on with new tools. Participants can try new OpenAI tools and models before GA, speeding up prototyping and feedback loops.

• Hybrid format for momentum. Two in‑person weeks at OpenAI HQ (travel covered) book‑end three asynchronous weeks with 4–6 hrs/week.

• A starting point, not the end. After five weeks, you can pursue raising, continue building, or take another path—inside or outside OpenAI’s programmes. Grove connects to other initiatives (e.g., OpenAI for Startups) once you have more shape.

Key facts (2026 cohort)

• Application deadline: 12 January 2026

• Programme dates: 22 January – 27 February 2026 (five weeks)

• Format: First and last week in person in San Francisco (travel covered); middle weeks asynchronous with 4–6 hours/week

• Cohort size: ~15 participants

• Who can apply: Individuals and teams from any background or discipline

• Tech stack: Not required to use OpenAI APIs

• Benefits: Mentorship, peer community, credits, intros, and early access to new tools/models

Grove vs. other programmes

Who should apply

• Pre‑idea explorers: you’re technical/curious and want to validate directions fast.

• Problem‑led builders: you’ve spotted a pain point and want structured help to test solutions.

• Small teams: you’re two or three people and need momentum, mentors and a network.

Application checklist

• One‑paragraph founder story and motivation

• Problem space you care about (who, how big, current alternatives)

• Early hypotheses and a 5‑week learning plan

• Evidence so far (experiments, datasets, prototypes—even scrappy notes)

• Operating constraints (visa, travel availability, time commitment)

• Links: GitHub, portfolio, talks, writing, prior projects

What you’ll do during Grove

• Weeks 1 & 5 (in person): workshops, founder talks, peer reviews, and demo sessions.

• Weeks 2–4 (async): weekly office hours with mentors; customer conversations; rapid experiments; update notes; secure feedback on direction.

Practical examples of outcomes

• Direction clarity: sharpen problem definition and test 2–3 solution angles.

• Prototype & evidence: ship a lightweight demo or workflow and gather 10–20 user signals.

• Network & next steps: warm introductions to advisors/investors + a concrete 90‑day plan.

FAQs

Who can apply to OpenAI Grove?
Individuals at the very start of their company‑building journey—solo or as a small team. All backgrounds welcome.

Do I need to be using OpenAI’s APIs?
No. Grove is for anyone building—or aspiring to build—with AI, regardless of provider.

Is the programme in person or remote?
Hybrid: in‑person weeks at OpenAI HQ (first and last), with travel covered; middle weeks are asynchronous.

What’s the time commitment?
Around 4–6 hours per week during the asynchronous weeks, plus the two in‑person weeks.

What support is included?
Mentorship, peer community, programming/content, potential API credits, and introductions to raise capital.

Can teams apply?
Yes—include your group entry in the application form.

Tips to strengthen your application

• Be specific about the users and pains you’ll explore.

• Show bias to action: what you’ll test in 5 weeks.

• Add proof of curiosity: prior experiments, writing or open‑source work.

• State any constraints upfront and how you’ll handle them.

Summary

OpenAI Grove is a fast, founder‑first programme with mentorship, community and practical benefits. If you’re applying, we can help you prep a compelling application, set up your experiment stack, and plan your first 90 days.