UK AI Forum’s mission is simple:
We’re here to build a thriving community of AI safety researchers in the UK.
UK AI Forum × Pivotal × LISA presents
Liftoff Founders Week: five days to launch a new AI safety organisation.
Join 30+ founders, research leads and operators at LISA in London. Meet co-founders, turn a Project Tailwind direction into a 12-month plan, and pitch it to Coefficient Giving grantmakers.
T–38 days to launch · 9 Nov 2026
Important AI safety problems that nobody is working on yet.
Project Tailwind is Coefficient Giving's open call for founders to start ambitious new AI safety projects in areas no existing organisation owns. Liftoff is the on-ramp: a focused week to pick a problem, find a team and test your plan with the people who fund this work.
Pitches on Thursday are feedback conversations with grantmakers. Funding decisions come through Project Tailwind within two weeks of the event.
Read about Project Tailwind →From idea to pitch in one week.
Kick off
MondayMeet the cohort and possible co-founders. Dig into Project Tailwind and meet the funders.
Scope
Tue – WedChoose your problem. Draft a theory of change, a 12-month plan and budget, and the case for your team.
Pitch
ThursdayA 10-minute conversation with Coefficient Giving grantmakers, with written feedback the same day.
Decide
FridayUse the feedback to choose your next step, and close the week together.
Propose
AfterPromising teams get 2–4 weeks of support from LISA and Pivotal to write a full proposal.
For people who have built things before.
Founders
You've started or run an organisation, programme or product.
Research leads
You have a track record in AI safety or a related field and could lead a bigger research effort.
Operators
You're excellent at something a young organisation needs, such as operations, comms or fieldbuilding.
No finished idea or co-founder needed. Pick the Tailwind directions you care about; you can change course during the week.
Co-founder matching
Introductions before and during the week to people building in the same area. Teams of 2–4, or go solo.
Founders & funders
Office hours with experienced founders, researchers and grantmakers, plus feedback on your pitch.
£1,000 + costs
A £1,000 stipend, with your travel to London and hotel paid for. International applicants welcome.
Support after
Up to four weeks of help writing a full proposal, plus a network of founders and funders in AI safety.
Apply in under 15 minutes.
Tell us about your experience, which group fits you best, and which Project Tailwind directions excite you most.
Questions? info@joinliftoff.ai
- 12 OctApplications close
- 12–15 OctSome applicants invited to a 20-minute call
- By 19 OctDecisions sent
- After 19 OctCo-founder intros, travel booked, short pre-read
- 9–13 NovFounders Week at LISA, London
More from UK AI Forum
Liftoff sits alongside our speaker series, conferences and socials for people working on AI safety and security in the UK.