Announcing Elbow Grease batch 01. Full announcement
“Two or three brawny Fellows in a Corner, with mere Ink
and Elbow-grease, do more Harm than an Hundred systematical Divines with their sweaty Preaching.”
“Two or three brawny Fellows in a Corner, with mere Ink and Elbow-grease, do more Harm than an Hundred systematical Divines with their sweaty Preaching.”
- Andrew Marvell (1672)
Sponsored By:
Elbow Grease is a hard-working AI accelerator by Gutter Capital in NYC.
first-check
investment
First-check
investment
mentorship,
workshops, speakers
Mentorship &
workshops
in
New York City
In New York City
1
First money for hard problems
Our team has decades of experience funding, founding, scaling and exiting software companies focused on the real world.
Our team has decades of experience funding, founding, scaling and exiting software companies focused on the real world.
Energy
Energy
Energy
Construction
Construction
Construction
Real Estate
Real Estate
Real Estate
Industry
Industry
Industry
Government
Government
Government
SMB
SMB
SMB
2
For founders,
by founders
Elbow Grease teams will be paired with successful founders for 1:1 mentorship throughout the program and beyond.
Elbow Grease teams will be paired with successful founders for 1:1 mentorship throughout the program and beyond.
3
Off-the-record with industry leaders
Every week at Elbow Grease will conclude with private, off-the-record conversations with leaders from the Gutter Capital network.
Every week at Elbow Grease will conclude with private, off-the-record conversations with leaders from the Gutter Capital network.
4
A crash course in company building
We have curated a weekly series of workshops from some of the best operators in our network, designed to deliver immediate value to early stage founders.
We have curated a weekly series of workshops from some of the best operators in our network, designed to deliver immediate value to early stage founders.
Day 0 Design
Vince Li
Design Advisor, Gutter
Day 0 Design
Vince Li
Design Advisor, Gutter
Day 0 Design
Vince Li
Design Advisor, Gutter
AI-First Engineering
Jeff Silver
CTO, Opus
AI-First Engineering
Jeff Silver
CTO, Opus
AI-First Engineering
Jeff Silver
CTO, Opus
Early Stage Marketing
Sarah Quirk
VP Marketing, Northstar
Early Stage Marketing
Sarah Quirk
VP Marketing, Northstar
Early Stage Marketing
Sarah Quirk
VP Marketing, Northstar
Mission, Vision, Values
Dan Teran
Partner, Gutter
Mission, Vision, Values
Dan Teran
Partner, Gutter
Mission, Vision, Values
Dan Teran
Partner, Gutter
Brand Building for Founders
Abhinav Kapur
CEO, Bikky
Brand Building for Founders
Abhinav Kapur
CEO, Bikky
Brand Building for Founders
Abhinav Kapur
CEO, Bikky
Founder-Led Sales
Chris Thompson
Co-Founder, Bikky
Founder-Led Sales
Chris Thompson
Co-Founder, Bikky
Founder-Led Sales
Chris Thompson
Co-Founder, Bikky
Elite Recruiting for Founders
Richard Hughes
Operating Partner, Gutter
Elite Recruiting for Founders
Richard Hughes
Operating Partner, Gutter
Elite Recruiting for Founders
Richard Hughes
Operating Partner, Gutter
Co-Founder Dynamics
Josh Lavine
Founder Coach
Co-Founder Dynamics
Josh Lavine
Founder Coach
Co-Founder Dynamics
Josh Lavine
Founder Coach
High Stakes Mental Game
Elliot Roe
Mindset and Performance Coach
High Stakes Mental Game
Elliot Roe
Mindset and Performance Coach
High Stakes Mental Game
Elliot Roe
Mindset and Performance Coach
5
8 weeks in NYC, Gutter forever
Gutter Capital is a community-first venture capital firm. All Elbow Grease companies will participate in the Gutter Capital Infinity Fund and be part of the Gutter community for life.
Gutter Capital is a community-first venture capital firm. All Elbow Grease companies will participate in the Gutter Capital Infinity Fund and be part of the Gutter community for life.
About Us
Gutter Capital was founded in 2021 by Dan Teran and James Gettinger to help mission-driven founders build companies of consequence.
We are small by design. We make a few investments each year to give us the time and space to drive outsized impact for our founders. We roll up our sleeves to help build winning teams, and have recruited over 70 people to Gutter portfolio companies, including category leaders like Forerunner, Bikky, Opus, Soundtrace and Recharged. By working closely with founders, we have achieved exceptional results.
Gutter Capital Fund I is in the top 5% of all venture funds, and 60% of investments have graduated from Seed to Series A, 3x the industry average. Gutter has been recognized by Business Insider as a Top 100 Seed Investor in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Gutter Capital was founded in 2021 by Dan Teran and James Gettinger to help mission-driven founders build companies of consequence.
We are small by design. We make a few investments each year to give us the time and space to drive outsized impact for our founders. We roll up our sleeves to help build winning teams, and have recruited over 70 people to Gutter portfolio companies, including category leaders like Forerunner, Bikky, Opus, Soundtrace and Recharged. By working closely with founders, we have achieved exceptional results.
Gutter Capital Fund I is in the top 5% of all venture funds, and 60% of investments have graduated from Seed to Series A, 3x the industry average. Gutter has been recognized by Business Insider as a Top 100 Seed Investor in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked
Questions
Who should apply?
Who should apply?
Who should apply?
How much do you invest?
How much do you invest?
How much do you invest?
What are the terms of your investment?
What are the terms of your investment?
What are the terms of your investment?
Do you charge fees or take additional equity?
Do you charge fees or take additional equity?
Do you charge fees or take additional equity?
Do I need to have a co-founder to apply?
Do I need to have a co-founder to apply?
Do I need to have a co-founder to apply?
Can I apply if I’ve already raised capital?
Can I apply if I’ve already raised capital?
Can I apply if I’ve already raised capital?
How many companies will you select?
How many companies will you select?
How many companies will you select?
Who will I work with on your team?
Who will I work with on your team?
Who will I work with on your team?
Do I need to be in New York City to apply?
Do I need to be in New York City to apply?
Do I need to be in New York City to apply?
What are the program dates?
What are the program dates?
What are the program dates?
Do you provide housing?
Do you provide housing?
Do you provide housing?
What is the time commitment?
What is the time commitment?
What is the time commitment?
Do you fund competitive companies?
Do you fund competitive companies?
Do you fund competitive companies?
Do you provide follow-on capital after the accelerator?
Do you provide follow-on capital after the accelerator?
Do you provide follow-on capital after the accelerator?