Argosy Foundation Entrepreneurial Fund for FIRST Alums

Established with a focus on early-stage companies , we welcome applications from ventures at all stages of development. We believe in cultivating a diverse portfolio of ventures that reflect the dynamic spirit of the FIRST community. We require all companies to be founded by FIRST alum.

Our current portfolio only includes dilutive funding; however, we are actively considering the inclusion of small grants for exceptionally promising early-stage startups that align with the core values of FIRST. We believe in flexibility and are eager to engage with a variety of FIRST alum-founded companies

As a newly established fund, we appreciate your patience as we navigate our comprehensive multi-tiered review process, involving input from our internal team at the Argosy Foundation, external advisors, and the careful consideration of Argosy Foundation trustees. Please note that as we are still in the process of fine-tuning our schedule, and your patience during this process is greatly appreciated.

We firmly believe in supporting FIRST Entrepreneurs, even if we couldn’t proceed with your initial investment request in the past. We would be happy to hear from you again in the future. We are genuinely interested in hearing about your company’s progress and milestones, so please share as you see fit.

Please direct all questions to Jacob or Gerardo at argosyfirst@argosyfnd.org. The is also a contact form located below, which may offer a more streamlined and reliable means of communication.

The Argosy Foundation is a private family foundation founded in 1997 by John Abele, co-founder of Boston Scientific. The Abele family members serve as the Board of Trustees; John is the chairman and Jeneye Abele is the President & CEO. As a former chair of FIRST, John Abele has demonstrated a deep dedication to youth STEM education. The foundation's headquarters and most staff are located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with additional offices in Boulder, Colorado and Birmingham, Alabama. You can learn more about Argosy Foundation at our website.