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Columbus - Chicago Winter 2025

Program Schedule

Our flagship 'FI Core' program combines structured sprints with constant feedback to help you reach the milestones needed for investment and growth.

Feb 02

Early Application Deadline

Mar 30

Final Application Deadline

Apr 14 07:00 pm week 1

Accelerator Kickoff

During the Accelerator Kickoff, you will meet the Local Leaders and your cohort of Founders, and establish how your startup will use the program to push your business forward.

Date
Apr 14, 2025
Time
07:00pm EDT

Sprints

Your cohort will be split up into the "Validate Track", "Launch Track" or "Growth Track", depending on each Founder's stage and existing progress.

The below deliverables are in addition to any custom "Epic Sprints" you may receive based on your specific challenges, and are just high-level previews of the 10-15 deliverables you'll complete through Working Groups and Office Hours:

Deliverables

Validate Track
  1. Introductions - Prepare concise introductions on your background, skillset, and goals in FI to share with the cohort.
  2. Office Hours - Book your first Office Hours with Local Leaders and Mentors to get guidance on the next steps for your business.
Launch Track
  1. Office Hours - Book your first Office Hours with Local Leaders and Mentors to get guidance on the next steps for your business.
  2. Hotseat Pitch - Prepare a one sentence verbal pitch for the weekly "Founder Hotseat", where you present to Mentors during the Feedback Sessions.
Traction track
  1. Hotseat Pitch - Book your first Office Hours with Local Leaders and Mentors to get guidance on the next steps for your business.
  2. Vision Statement - Create a 3-5 sentence "Why Statement" that tells a cohesive story about why your company exists, in preparation for Mentor Feedback during the next session.
Sprints
Research
Apr 15 07:00 pm week 1

Vision & Mission

Apr 22 07:00 pm week 2

Customer Development

Apr 29

Refund Deadline

Apr 29 07:00 pm week 3

Revenue & Business Models

May 06 07:00 pm week 4

Pitch Mastery

May 13 07:00 pm week 5

Mentor Idea Review

May 20 07:00 pm week 6

Legal & Equity

May 27 07:00 pm week 7

Go-to-Market & Scale

Jun 03 07:00 pm week 8

Product Development

Jun 10 07:00 pm week 9

Investor Progress Review

Jun 17 07:00 pm week 10

Co-Founders & Team

Jun 24 07:00 pm week 11

Growth

Jul 01 07:00 pm week 12

Funding

Jul 15 07:00 pm week 14

Graduation

week 15+

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Apply to FI Core

Join the world's largest pre-seed startup accelerator

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.


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