Build an Amazing Company in Waterloo

The Founder Institute provides a global support network and a proven methodology to get your startup to traction and funding

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Fully Virtual

Program Dates

May 07, 2025 Jul 31, 2025

Early Deadline

Mar 16, 2025

Early Entrance Fee

$799 $999

The Core Experience

You don't have to do it alone. Alongside other like-minded entrepreneurs, you will build your business in a structured, proven process.

Critical Support Network

Join an Equity Collective of helpful startup mentors and founders that are invested in your success.

Get access to a lifetime of support programs and partners that far exceeds any comparable program.

Structured Methodology

Know what to work on, and when, with our proven business-building sprints and structured process.

Build a company with impact by leveraging the world's largest network of startup founders and mentors.

Challenging Process

Less than 40% of Founders make it through the program because we challenge you every step of the way.

Get fast-tracked to our Funding Lab program and Virtual Demo Days, giving you the best chance to get funding.

Learn more about FI core

Session Calendar

Below are the dates for the upcoming program

Onboarding

Apr 30, 2025

06:00pm EDT

Accelerator Kickoff

May 07, 2025

06:00pm EDT

Vision & Mission

May 08, 2025

06:00pm EDT

View Full curriculum

Featured Grad

From our Silicon Valley chapter, Udemy is the global leader in online learning, with nearly 200,000 courses. The company went public on the NASDAQ in October 2021, raising $421 million.

The real question is: can the Founder Institute be game-changing for your business? The answer is yes. Without FI, Udemy may have never raised any money.

Gagan Biyani

Udemy (IPO, 2021)

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Join an Online Information Session

Sign up for an upcoming info session to learn more and chat with our team. There are several sessions per week across most time zones.

Events

Join us for an upcoming event - local or global - to meet other founders and experts. Learn what you need to know now to scale your startup.

Startup Funding AMA & Founder Institute Info Session, with Jonathan Greechan (CEO, Founder Institute)

Dec 30, 2024

01:00pm EST

Founder Institute Online Information Session

Various Dates

Various Times

Startup Funding AMA & Founder Institute Info Session, with Jonathan Greechan (CEO, Founder Institute)

Jan 02, 2025

08:00pm EST

How to Go from 0 to 1: Scaling and Exiting Your Startup with Mark Balovnev

Jan 06, 2025

01:00pm EST

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Leadership

Our leadership team are proven startup experts who know how to walk you through the challenges of your early-stage startup.

Sunil Sharma

Canada Director @ Founder Institute

FI Waterloo Mentors

Build a business efficiently through video conferences, office hours, and material reviews from a roster of top startup mentors.

Giovanni Gerbolini

Entrepreneur, Board Member, Startup Advisor @ Djot, Loyal VC, MaRS Discovery District, Independent, Covenant House

Todd Finch

Tauseef Riaz

Cofounder ConsidraCare, Stock Target Advisor and Mashkraft @ ConsidraCare.com

Yemi Oluseun

Growth & GTM For FinTechs @ The Change Hive

Natalie Smith

Senior Associate @ Whitecap Venture Partners

Maryam Nabavi

Founder and CEO @ Babbly (Techstars 2020)

See all Waterloo Mentors

FI Partners

Get special deals and support worth over $3 million from top support organizations and partners.

Have any questions?

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The Founder Institute is the world’s most proven network to turn ideas into fundable startups, and startups into global businesses. Since 2009, our structured accelerator programs have helped over 7,500 entrepreneurs raise over $1.85BN in funding. Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 100 countries, our mission is to empower communities of talented and motivated people to build impactful technology companies worldwide.