Question 1

Do I need a company or product to apply for the Residency?

Accepted Answer

No. Some residents arrive with a shipped product, others with only an obsession and a skill set. We select for people, not decks — exceptional builders who can find an idea inside the 60 days. That said, having a direction (even a vague one) helps your application.

Question 2

Do I need to be technical?

Accepted Answer

No. Our cohorts mix engineers, designers, domain experts and operators. What matters is that you can build something people want — whether that's with code, distribution, deep industry insight or an unreasonable work ethic. Many residents find their technical co-founder inside the cohort.

Question 3

What does it cost? Do you take equity?

Accepted Answer

The Residency is free — we cover your flights, housing, meals and workspace; graduating places no obligation on you. Separately, Sandbox may offer to invest in companies formed or accelerated during the program on standard pre-seed terms — always optional, always a separate conversation.

Question 4

I already have investors. Can I still join?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and many do. If you're pre-seed or seed-stage with capital in the bank, the Residency and Accelerator give you density — talent, customers, and follow-on investors — that money alone doesn't buy.

Question 5

Why Rajkot?

Accepted Answer

Deliberately. Rajkot is affordable, calm and free of the startup-social treadmill. It's a manufacturing city with a legendary work ethic, 50 minutes by air from Mumbai. Founders who come here ship more in 60 days than they would in six months of metro distractions.

Question 6

What are the application deadlines?

Accepted Answer

Cohort 01 (Oct 12 – Dec 11) applications are open now and reviewed on a rolling basis — the cohort is small and fills early, so apply sooner. The Accelerator and Fellowship accept applications year-round.

Question 7

What stage and cheque size do you invest at?

Accepted Answer

Pre-seed and seed. Our standard first cheque is ₹50L – ₹2Cr, and we've gone up to ₹3Cr at seed when partnering with funds we trust. We often lead; when we follow, we do it loudly and early.

Question 8

Do you only invest in Indian companies?

Accepted Answer

No. We're India-first but invest wherever exceptional SaaS & AI founders are building for global markets. Around a third of our pipeline is diaspora or globally-incorporated teams with deep Indian roots.

Question 9

Do I need a deck to pitch you?

Accepted Answer

No. A two-minute Loom of your product or prototype beats forty slides for us. If you do have a deck, the form accepts it — but we've written cheques off a form, a demo and a conversation.

Question 10

I already have investors. Should I still talk to you?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Plenty of our best companies added Sandbox mid-cap-table. We can anchor bridge rounds, open follow-on introductions, and the studio, credits and community stack doesn't care who else invested.

Question 11

What does 'a straight answer in two weeks' actually mean?

Accepted Answer

Exactly what it says. Every serious pitch gets a partner read and a decision — or a clear reason it's a pass — within two weeks of the working session. Silence is a no from everyone else; we'd rather give you the no with respect.

Question 12

What does the Co-Build Studio cost?

Accepted Answer

For Sandbox portfolio companies it's free — that's part of your investment. Program graduates get studio access for the duration of their program and alumni rates afterwards. External founders can engage us on scoped paid sprints; the Diagnostics session decides fit.

Question 13

Who actually does the work in the studio?

Accepted Answer

Sandbox partners plus a bench of founding engineers, ML engineers, designers and GTM operators — people who've shipped products and run teams, not consultants with decks. You get the same faces for the life of the engagement.

Question 14

Can you help us hire our first engineer even if you didn't invest?

Accepted Answer

Community members and program graduates can use the talent network. For everyone else, talent support usually comes with a studio or program engagement — our network is one of the things we protect hardest.

Question 15

Do you help with fundraising if you're not investing?

Accepted Answer

Directly, rarely — focus goes to portfolio and program companies. Indirectly, yes: Founder School, Demo Day audiences, and honest deck feedback at events have launched many funders' rounds without our capital attached.

Question 16

How large is Fund I, and who backs it?

Accepted Answer

Fund I is a focused early-stage fund backed by family offices, operators and angels from India and abroad who share the density-over-geography bet. Details are shared with qualified LPs directly.

Question 17

Are you raising Fund II?

Accepted Answer

We're in early conversations. Our LP bar is high — aligned capital, patient timelines, no pyrotechnics. If you're an institution or family office interested in co-investment rights alongside our seed deals, write to lp@sandboxhq.vc.

Question 18

Do you take board seats?

Accepted Answer

Observer seats when we lead, full seats only when a founder actively wants one. Our default is to add value without adding governance overhead at the earliest stage.

Question 19

Can individual angels invest alongside Sandbox deals?

Accepted Answer

Occasionally, through our syndicate of operator-angels. It's not a public vehicle — allocation is by referral and fit. If you're an operator who can help our founders, introduce yourself via partners@sandboxhq.vc.

Question 20

Can I visit Sandbox House?

Accepted Answer

Please. The House is a working venue, not a museum — visits work best around events, build weekends or founder dinners. Email hello@sandboxhq.vc a week ahead and we'll slot you in. Thursdays are dinner nights.

Question 21

Do you have press or brand assets?

Accepted Answer

Logos, boilerplate and partner headshots are available on request — email hello@sandboxhq.vc with 'Press' in the subject and we'll send the kit within two working days.

Question 22

Are you hiring at Sandbox itself?

Accepted Answer

Occasionally — for roles where we're picky. Work with our portfolio companies is a far bigger surface area. Either way, write to careers@sandboxhq.vc telling us what you're exceptional at.

Every question, answered straight.

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Every question, answered straight.

Not on the list?