Zeroth.ai: AI-Focused Accelerator Programs in Asia

Zeroth is Asia’s first dedicated AI accelerator, with cohorts in Hong Kong, Tokyo and Seoul. Its investment thesis is narrow — pure AI and machine learning companies — but its mentorship network is deep within that vertical, drawing mentors from DeepMind, Google Brain, and Baidu’s AI group. The programme is shorter than most (12 weeks), reflecting the faster iteration cycles of software-focused AI startups compared to hardware. Zeroth’s cheque size is at the lower end (US$50,000-100,000), positioning it as a pre-seed accelerator for AI founders who have a technical prototype and a data strategy but need investor network access and product-market-fit guidance. The programme’s exit track record includes several companies that have gone on to raise Series A from global deep tech VCs.