The Founder Institute, the world’s largest entrepreneur training and startup launch program, announced today that it is officially launching its first chapter in London. The Silicon-Valley based program decided to officially launch in London earlier than scheduled, after a successful trial period in January attracted over 350 potential applicants. In fact, demand for the program was so strong that the test period was shortened by 10 days.
Applications to the first ever London Founder Institute are open now, and anyone interested in launching a technology company is welcome to apply at http://fi.co/apply/london.
In order to celebrate the launch, the London Founder Institute will host a series of free startup events for the general public, including an Information Session on Tuesday, February 17th at the London Google Campus. To see the full list of upcoming events, visit http://fi.co/curriculum/london.
Our local directors, and the large volume of interested applicants, are telling us that expert mentorship is sorely needed for idea-stage entrepreneurs in London. In Silicon Valley, we call this mentorship the ‘pay-it-forward’ mentality. With the Founder Institute’s structured program, we plan to emulate this dynamic in London and lower the barrier to entry for new entrepreneurs" - Adeo Ressi, Founder & CEO of the Founder Institute
Through the Founder Institute’s four-month program, promising entrepreneurs “learn by doing” and launch a company with structured training, expert feedback, and support from experienced startup CEOs. Since the program is part-time, it is also a great opportunity for full-time professionals to test and build their ideas before making “the leap” from employee to entrepreneur and quitting their jobs. Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 100 countries, the Founder Institute has helped launch over 7,000 companies; include fast-rising startups across 6 continents like Udemy, Realty Mogul, iCarsClub, Itembase, goplaceit, Appota, and many more.
Leading the Founder Institute's efforts in London are three leaders of the local entrepreneurship ecosystem: Darrell Knight, Simon Lavers, and Simon Walker.
Darrell Knight is a serial entrepreneur who is on his 5th startup (4 of which have been U.S.-based), and is currently President and CTO of Buzzigo, a social media marketing platform.
There is a large gap in quality mentorship for idea-stage entrepreneurs in London, and the Founder Institute will fill this gap. The support we have received from the community has been tremendous, because people understand that bringing some ‘Silicon Valley’ to the ‘Silicon Roundabout’ will be very powerful” - Darrell Knight, Co-Director of the London Founder Institute
Simon Lavers is an entrepreneur, advisor and board member of multiple startups both in the U.K, and across multiple continents. He is currently a Director at Hartnup Group.
I believe that the London startup ecosystem is very good at supporting people with traction, but very bad at supporting and training people with ideas. The Founder Institute will make entrepreneurship more accessible in London by helping aspiring Founders at the earliest stages of the startup journey”- Simon Lavers, Co-Director of the London Founder Institute.
Simon Walker is an entrepreneur, speaker and consultant who has launched and managed startups in the US and UK. He is the Co-Founder and Director of my360plus.
Other technology leaders who have signed on to mentor new entrepreneurs in a London Founder Institute program include top founders from the U.K. and beyond;
- Adeo Ressi: Founder & CEO of the Founder Institute
- Chris Thomas: CEO, Sports Fusion Limited
- Colin Frey: Managing Director, Safetrade Limited
- Darrell Knight: CEO, Buzzigo LLC
- Gordon Willoughby: Director Consumables, Amazon
- Joanna Moss: Co-founder & director, Moss Perform
- Kate Ross: Managing Director, eight&four
- Mark Evans: Partner, Positive Momentum
- Nick Fenner: Partner, TLT LLP
- Paul Weeden: Founder & Managing Director, Foration Limited
- Philippe Homsy: Co-founder, Butterfly Twists
- Phillip Hunt: CEO, Mobikats
- Rik Lomas: Founder, Superhi
- Roland Whitehead: CEO, Quru Limited
- Simon Walker: Co-Founder, my360plus
- Simon Lavers: Director, Hartnup Group
- Sophie Muir: Founder, Thincats London
- And many more to be announced.
Anybody who is interested can apply to the London Founder Institute at http://fi.co/apply/london. Anyone who applies by the Early Application Deadline on March 20th, 2015 is eligible for a variety of scholarships - including the Female Founder Fellowship, which is offered to the best overall female applicant.
Learn more about the Founder Institute at http://fi.co.
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About the Founder Institute
The Founder Institute (www.FI.co) is the world's largest entrepreneur training and startup launch program, helping aspiring founders across the globe build enduring technology companies. In the Founder Institute's four-month, part-time program, promising startup entrepreneurs "learn by doing" and launch a company through structured training courses, practical business-building assignments, and expert feedback from a large network of business mentors. Plus, aspiring founders are not required to quit their day job to participate, so they can begin building a business around their ideas without putting their livelihood at risk.
Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 200 cities and 100 countries, the Founder Institute has helped launch over 7,000 companies, which have created over 30,000+ new jobs. The company's mission is to "Globalize Silicon Valley" and create sustainable startup ecosystems that will create one million new jobs worldwide.
The Founder Institute was founded in 2009 by serial entrepreneur Adeo Ressi.
