Cleo Capital

Program Type: Online
Location: New York City, US
Investment: $250,000
Equity Taken: 7%
Program Duration: 12 weeks
Stage: Idea, Early Stage, Pre-seed, Seed, Pre-Series A
Industry of Focus: Cybersecurity

Additional Information

• The program is fully virtual, so there is no need to relocate.
• Participants will receive funding in exchange for equity, along with access to top industry speakers and mentors, discounts on essential business software, and a community of like-minded cybersecurity entrepreneurs.
• The program will begin on February 24, 2025, and run until May 20, 2025.
• Standard investment terms are $250,000 for 7% equity, but alternative terms can be discussed for more advanced companies.
• Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with a deadline of February 15, 2025.
• Applicants must establish a US entity (specifically a C Corporation) for Cleo to invest.
• Participants are expected to work on their startup full-time and should not be in school or working another job.

Key Highlights

Program Overview

The Cleo Capital Cybersecurity Accelerator is a 12-week, fully virtual program designed to support and fund exceptional founders in the cybersecurity space. Sponsored by Cleo Capital, an early-stage generalist venture capital fund, the program offers funding, mentorship, and a community of like-minded entrepreneurs.

Investment Details

Our standard investment for this program is $250,000 for 7% equity. If your company is more advanced but pre-Series A, alternative terms can be discussed.

Benefits Details and Perks/Credits

• Access to top industry speakers and mentors
• Discounts on essential business software
• Community of like-minded cybersecurity entrepreneurs

Program Format

The program runs from February 24, 2025, to May 20, 2025. Participants will engage in Zoom speaker sessions, workshops, and office hours 1 day per week, usually during morning Pacific time.

Location or Relocation Requirements

There is no need to relocate, as the program is fully virtual.

Cohort Size and Program Frequency

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Requirements Related to Users, Revenue, or LOIs:
Participants are expected to work on their startup full-time and should not be in school or working another job.

Company Types Requirements

We are interested in startups within the areas of consumer, infrastructure/dev tools, and defense in cybersecurity.

Founding Team Preferences

Participants should be working on their startup full-time.

Cleo Capital Cybersecurity Accelerator FAQS

Disclaimer: Not all applications will be accepted. Cleo may, now or in the future, evaluate, invest in or do business with various entities, some of which may be similar to or competitive with your business in terms of the products developed, manufactured and marketed, services offered and/or business activities undertaken, and neither this application nor receipt of your confidential information shall in any way restrict or preclude such activities or create any presumption that Cleo used your confidential information.

Logistics

What is Cleo Capital? What is this accelerator program?
Cleo Capital is an early stage generalist venture capital fund that invests in startups with the potential to become multi billion dollar companies. For more information, visit our website or check us out on Instagram, LinkedIn, or X.
The Cleo Capital Accelerator Cybersecurity Accelerator is a 12-week, fully virtual accelerator, designed to support and fund exceptional founders in the cybersecurity space—whether or not you’ve already started a company and regardless of your location.
Participants will receive funding in exchange for equity*, along with access to top industry speakers and mentors, discounts on essential business software, and a community of like-minded cybersecurity entrepreneurs.

When is the application deadline? When will I know my results? When are interviews?
The application deadline for our accelerator is February 15, 2025. Please note that this is a rolling deadline, so apply as soon as possible. Interviews will be conducted shortly afterwards, with decision results released shortly thereafter.

When does the accelerator take place?
The program will begin on February 24, 2025 and run until May 20, 2025.

Where does the accelerator happen? Do I need to move?
There is no need to relocate, it is fully virtual.

How do you choose which startups to accept and fund?
After carefully reviewing your application, we will determine if your startup aligns with our investment thesis and if it will be a good fit for our accelerator. We are currently interested in the areas of consumer, infrastructure / dev tools, and defense within cybersecurity.

How much do you aim to invest?
Our standard investment for this program is $250,000 for 7% equity*. If your company is more advanced but pre-Series A, we encourage you to still apply—if selected, we’re open to discussing alternative terms.

What can I use the investment capital for?
You can use the investment for whatever you believe helps your business. Many founders use the funding to support themselves and their employees so they can dedicate themselves full-time to their company.

What is the time commitment for the Cleo Capital Accelerator?
You can expect to be engaged in Zoom speaker sessions, workshops, and/or office hours 1 day per week, usually during morning Pacific time. The rest of the time is yours to spend on building your company!

We are not based in the US. Do we need to do anything to apply to the accelerator?
You will not need a visa, as this accelerator is virtual. For Cleo to invest, you will need to establish a US entity (specifically a C Corporation), and we can assist with that.

Can I participate in the Cleo Capital Accelerator while I’m a student or working at another job?
We expect you to be working on your startup full-time, meaning you should not be in school and you should not be working at another job.

I’m working and living in the US on a visa (i.e., an H-1B). Can I do the Cleo Capital Accelerator and stay in the US?
We are not able to assist with your immigration status.

Application

Where can I apply?
https://forms.gle/FyCu7pTMCNnfxzhz6
If you have a Google account and are logged in, you can save your progress and make edits to your application after submission.

Am I too early to apply to the Cleo Capital Cybersecurity Accelerator? Should I wait until I have more traction?
We are open to founders at various stages, from those with a great idea but no company yet to those further along in their journey.

We’ve already raised funding. Can we still apply? What if I’ve raised money at a higher valuation than is implied by the Cleo Capital accelerator investment?
You can apply as long as you’d be willing to accept an investment by us if selected. Our standard investment for this program is $250,000 for 7% equity*. If your company is more advanced but pre-Series A, we encourage you to still apply—if selected, we’re open to discussing alternative terms. You can also submit a pitch outside of the accelerator here.

I have two ideas. Can I submit two applications?
Apply with your top choice, and there will be space on the application to list other ideas you considered applying with.

If I have a cofounder, do they need to apply as well?
Please submit 1 application. In the application, select “I have a cofounder” and provide their details when asked.

Do I have to answer the non-required questions?
Nope! Provide as much information as you want.

We submitted our application but need to edit it.
If you were signed into your Google account when submitting, you’ll be able to edit your application afterward.

The deadline has passed. Am I better off applying late or waiting until the next batch?
We encourage you to submit your application by January 20th, 2025. Please remember that applications are rolling. We can not guarantee that we’ll be able to review your application if it is late.

When will I get a reply if I submit a late application?
We will make every effort to review your application, but there is no guarantee we’ll be able to review it if it is submitted late.

If we are rejected by the accelerator, can we still pitch Cleo Capital for funding?
Yes, you can still pitch us through our normal channel if not accepted into the accelerator.

If we’ve pitched you in the past but were rejected, can we still apply for the accelerator?
Yes, you may apply. Your past rejection will not affect the chances of your acceptance into the accelerator.

Do you give feedback on application results?
We will not be able to provide feedback due to the volume of applications.

*Investment terms may vary at Cleo’s discretion