What’s happening

OpenAI has reopened applications for Grove, a five‑week, part‑time founder program designed for people at the very start of their company‑building journey. Applications are open as of January 2, 2026, with a deadline of January 12, 2026. The next cohort runs January 22–February 27, 2026, mixing two in‑person weeks at OpenAI’s San Francisco HQ with three asynchronous weeks in between. Participants get mentoring from OpenAI technical leaders, weekly office hours, and early access to new tools and models. OpenAI (Apply page); OpenAI (Announcement).

Early-stage founders in a workshop at OpenAI’s San Francisco HQ, with a five-week timeline visualized

What Grove is—and isn’t

Grove is not a traditional accelerator. It’s aimed at pre‑idea to pre‑seed builders who want a dense peer network, direct time with OpenAI researchers and engineers, and a structured on‑ramp to explore and validate ideas. You don’t need to be building on OpenAI’s APIs to apply, and you can apply solo or as a team. Travel costs are covered for the opening and closing in‑person weeks in San Francisco. OpenAI (Apply page).

  • Format: five weeks total; first and last week in SF, weeks 2–4 async (about 4–6 hours/week).
  • Focus: hands‑on exploration, technical mentorship, and community.
  • Outcome: a stronger concept and network; after the program, participants may pursue funding or other paths inside or outside OpenAI. OpenAI (Announcement).
~15 founders
Cohort sizeSource: OpenAI Grove apply page (Jan 2026)

Key dates and logistics

Grove’s next cohort at a glance

ItemDetail
Applications openJanuary 2, 2026
Application deadlineJanuary 12, 2026
Program datesJanuary 22–February 27, 2026
Time commitment~4–6 hours/week (weeks 2–4 are async)
LocationOpenAI HQ, San Francisco (in‑person first & last weeks)
Travel supportTravel covered for the two SF weeks
Team applicationsWelcome (solo applicants also encouraged)

Source: OpenAI (Apply page).

Who should apply

If one or more of these describe you, Grove is a strong fit:

  • You’re technical (engineer, researcher, builder) and eager to explore ideas—not just execute a fixed plan.
  • You’re pre‑idea, just starting, or at pre‑seed and want a faster path to clarity and traction.
  • You value close mentorship and a small, ambitious peer cohort.
  • You want to experiment with new model capabilities early, and you’re open to building on any modern stack.

OpenAI (Apply page).

TipPro tip: Strengthen your application
  • Be concrete about what you want to learn or validate in five weeks.
  • Highlight prior projects (even prototypes) that show bias‑to‑build.
  • If you’re applying as a team, clarify how skills complement each other.

How Grove compares to other OpenAI programs

OpenAI has a few distinct offerings for builders:

  • Grove focuses on individuals at the very earliest stage—pre‑idea to pre‑seed—prioritizing exploration, mentorship, and community over polished traction. OpenAI (Apply page).
  • Pioneers works with companies already pursuing applied, domain‑specific use cases, co‑developing evals and fine‑tuned models with OpenAI researchers. OpenAI Pioneers Program.
  • OpenAI for Startups provides ongoing resources, credits, content, and community for founders actively building with AI. OpenAI for Startups.

Together these programs form a ladder: Grove helps you explore and shape an idea; Pioneers and OpenAI for Startups help you scale it.

What participants get (this cohort)

  • In‑person workshops and weekly office hours with OpenAI engineers and technical leaders.
  • Early access to new tools and models before general availability.
  • A small cohort (~15) and a lasting network of peers and mentors.
  • Credits and investor introductions may be offered as you build.

All items above are drawn from OpenAI’s Grove pages. OpenAI (Apply page); OpenAI (Announcement).

Laptop with the Grove application form on screen, beside a calendar highlighting Jan 22–Feb 27, 2026

How to apply (quick checklist)

  1. Skim the announcement for context, then open the application form. If you land on a localized page (Spanish/French/etc.), you can switch languages from the site footer. OpenAI (Apply page); OpenAI (Announcement).
  2. Prepare concise answers about what you’re building (or exploring), your background, and what you hope to get from Grove. The form asks for your stage (pre‑idea/start/pre‑seed), sector, and prior work. OpenAI (Apply page).
  3. Submit by January 12, 2026, and plan for in‑person time in San Francisco during the first and last weeks. OpenAI (Apply page).

Why this matters

A lot of founder programs favor companies with a product and traction. Grove fills an earlier gap: a structured, time‑bound environment where technical talent can explore ideas, pressure‑test them with experts, and gain early access to emerging model capabilities. That’s especially valuable when new primitives (reasoning models, agents, tool‑use) can change what’s feasible in weeks, not years. By reopening applications for a January–February cohort, OpenAI is signaling continued investment in the earliest rung of the builder pipeline—and giving would‑be founders a clear window to make 2026 the year they start. OpenAI (Apply page); OpenAI (Announcement).

Sources