Grove
 Fellows Program

A 6-month program for pre-seed and seed stage founders

FOUNDERS NOMINATED BY...

Build a more successful startup by growing as a leader

Participation includes a 4-day retreat, monthly peer groups, and a lifetime community membership.

4-Day Leadership Retreat

The program is based on T-groups, a form of experiential learning popularized by Interpersonal Dynamics, the most popular elective at Stanford GSB. You have open, challenging, and confidential group conversations that provide insights into how others perceive you and how you understand yourself.

Monthly Peer Groups

Get support and accountability as you deepen and apply your insights into your current professional and personal challenges over the next 6 months.

Lifetime Community Membership

After the fellowship founders receive a lifetime community membership that includes peer group support, founder events, and more.

“One of the most valuable ways I've invested in myself as a founder.”

Shreya Rajpal

Co-founder and CEO

,

Guardrails

“Few things in my life have blown away expectations when they were already high going in. YC was one. Grove is another.”

David Head

Founder & CEO

,

Endorsed

Transform how you lead through practice, not theory

Built on Stanford's Interpersonal Dynamics curriculum, 
our program has earned a world-class 87 NPS.

Cultivate
Self-awareness


Identify blind spots in your leadership style and understand exactly how you need to grow to have greater impact.

Strong relationships

Learn how to strengthen relationships with co-founders, colleagues, investors, customers, and partners.

Peer support

Form honest relationships with other founders who can support you without being biased by having a stake in your company.

How do I apply?

Due to limited space, applications are typically accepted by nomination only. Applicants must be founders of early-stage startups that have raised over $500k but haven't yet raised a Series A.

If you are interested in joining the Grove Fellowship or want to learn more, please email hello@grovefellows.com.


What does it cost?

Zero cash cost. We take an advisor-scale equity grant (0.05-0.25%) to make the program sustainable for future founders, structured as a $20k investment in your company on a standard YC SAFE at your most recent valuation with a side letter that says we invest the program in lieu of cash and we will refund the grant if you are unsatisfied for any reason in the first 30 days so long as you participate in the program in good faith.

Upcoming cohort dates

Retreats are held in the Bay Area including Santa Cruz, Sonoma and Napa, CA.

Spring 2026 Cohort [Waitlist Only]

April 30-May 3

Retreat

(

Santa Cruz, CA

)

June 2nd, 9-11am

Virtual Session

Jul 7th, 9-11am

Virtual Session

Aug 4th, 9-11am

Virtual Session

Sept 1, 9-11am

Virtual Session

Oct 6th, 9-11am

Virtual Session

Nov 10th, 1-5:30pm

In-Person (San Francisco)

Summer 2026 Cohort

August 20 - August 23, 2026

Retreat

(

Santa Cruz, CA

)

Sept 15th, 9-11am

Virtual Session

Oct 20th, 9-11am

Virtual Session

Nov 17th, 9-11am

Virtual Session

Dec 15th, 9-11am

Virtual Session

Jan 19th, 9-11am

Virtual Session

Feb 23, 2027, 1-5:30pm

In-Person (San Francisco)

“Grove changed my life. If you started a company to become the ultimate version of yourself, Grove and the people you meet through it will no doubt help you get there."

Doug Qian

Co-founder & CTO

,

Streamline

"The Grove Retreat is inexplicable in the best of ways. It’s a full experience that is intense and rewarding. You literally have to experience to understand the impact it will have on you.”

Greg Albritton

Founder & CEO

,

Longviewlabs

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