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The Founder Institute (http://fi.co), the World's Largest Startup Accelerator, announced today that it is exploring a new semester launch in Orange County this Autumn.

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.

If you'd like to help bring a semester to Orange County, then fill out an Interest Form. If enough people complete this form by Sunday, October 5th 2014, then the Founder Institute will formally launch an Autumn 2014 Orange County program.

The Founder Institute is a part-time, four-month program where promising entrepreneurs can "learn by doing" and launch a company through structured training courses and expert feedback from business mentors. Plus, you are not required to quit your day job to participate, so you can begin building a business around your ideas without putting your livelihood at risk.

In order to test demand for a Autumn 2014 Orange County program, the Founder Institute will host several free startup events; 

  • How to Optimize Fundraising Efforts through Strategic Marketing Techniques : 10:00am, Mar 20, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/338201
  • Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
  • Crafting a Compelling Pitch: Secrets to Capturing Investors’ Interest: 10:00am, Mar 25, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/338336
  • How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas (Interactive Online Event): 5:00pm, Mar 27, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/338666
  • How to Build a Moonshot: Lonestar’s Mission to the Moon: 10:00am, Apr 01, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/339009
  • Pitch Lounge: Get Feedback on Your 1-Minute Pitch Idea from Startup Experts: 10:00am, Apr 03, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/338672
  • How Early-Stage AI Startups Will Fix Global Problems: 10:00am, Apr 10, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/338557
  • Ask an Investor Anything: Q&A with a Venture Capitalist: 10:00am, Apr 15, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/338400
  • Founder Showcase: Startup Pitch & Networking Event: 10:00am, Apr 18, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/337979
  • How to Acquire your First Customers with Actionable SEO Strategies : 10:00am, Apr 24, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/339068
  • Co-Founders Connect: Find a Business Partner Online: 5:00pm, May 01, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/338056
  • How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas : 10:00am, May 08, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/339362
  • Building a Fundable Start-up Brand: 10:00am, May 20, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/338803
  • Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 5:00pm, May 27, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/339405
  • How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 5:00pm, Jun 10, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/339727
  • Employee to Entrepreneur: How to Make the Transition to Startup Founder: 10:00am, Jun 12, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/339783
  • Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 10:00am, Jun 17, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/339933
  • Pitch Lounge: Get Feedback on Your 1-Minute Pitch Idea from Startup Experts: 10:00am, Jun 26, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/339841

 

Leading the Founder Institute's efforts in Orange County are two leaders of the local startup scene - Aman Singha, and Henri Duong.

Aman Singha has worked with startups since 1997, as a corporate lawyer, then moving on to venture capital and private equity, as well as executive management.

I believe the Founder Institute will provide a platform for people who are wishing to take the plunge into entrepreneurship but have not had a clear path. FI can add to the startup ecosystem in Orange County by collaborating and adding to the initiatives that already exist." - Aman Singha

Henri Duong was worked with startups since 2003. He has held multiple Director and Co-Founder roles in digital advertising agencies, online social networks, online video and e-commerce.


I wish there was something like FI back when I was starting up here in OC.  I would have saved so much travel time to Silicon Valley and beyond.  Having a platform that provides core startup lessons and direct mentorship from local and relevant tech CEOs is a much needed experience here in Orange County. I’m thrilled to be a part of giving back to my hometown." - Henri Duong

Other successful entrepreneurs who have pledged their support to mentor founders in a Orange County Founder Institute program include:

  • Adeo Ressi: CEO, Decile Group / VC Lab
  • Anderee Berengian: Chairman & CEO, Cie Digital Labs
  • Andrew Immerman: CTO, TrustCommerce
  • Andrew Bermudez: CEO & Co-Founder, Digsy, Inc.
  • Andrew Medal: Founder , Agent Beta
  • Anurag Bist: Founder, Ashmar
  • Arie Shen: Vice President
  • Atul Patel: CEO and Founder, Orbee
  • Azad Virk: Corporate Attorney, Stradling
  • Big Data Joe Rossi: Principal Technologist
  • Bob Drobish: Investor / Board Member / Advisor
  • Brendon Kensel: Founder & President, PrimaHealth Credit
  • Carey Ransom: Chief Product Officer, Experian Consumer Services
  • Chris Dover: CEO/Founder, Geniusly
  • Chris Hawkins: Founder, SignNow
  • Cori Linder: VP of Marketing, Retail Realm
  • Costin Tuculescu: VP Collaboration, Product & Engineering, Intermedia
  • David Gerken: Associate Partner, Digital Business Strategy, IBM
  • David Stevens: Founder & CEO, Hydroponic Creations
  • Don Vivrette: Founder & Chief Ideation Officer, Mackenzie Corporation
  • Drew Cather: Vice President
  • Fabian Geyrhalter: Founder and Principal, FINIEN
  • Fred Thiel: Former CEO & Chairman, Local Corporation
  • Henri Duong: Founder, Principal, Enclave Web Group (EWG)
  • Jason James: President, Regents & Park
  • Jason Taylor: Executive Director
  • Jeff Jackel: CEO, Chatter
  • Jeff Curie: CEO, Bitvore
  • Josh Stomel: CEO, Neohire
  • Kimberly Kovacs: Founder & CEO , MyJane, Inc
  • Lisa Taylor: Founder & CEO, CrashLabs
  • Malcolm Lewis: Founder & CEO, RefGo
  • Mark Surfas: CEO, Rockets and Robots
  • Mark Edwards: Co-Founder, Virtu Partners
  • Matthew Hannus: VP Strategy and Corporate Development , Kochava
  • Nessim Medjoub: CEO, Clickbye
  • paul spiller: President & COO, Acorns
  • Pete Deutschman: CEO, The Buddy Group
  • Rizwan Kassim
  • Ross Meador: Partner, TechLaw LLP
  • Russell Stern: CEO, Solarflare Communications, Inc
  • Sergey Sundukovskiy: Co-Founder, CTO and Chief Product Officer, Certemy
  • Sergio Munoz: Senior VP Investment Division, HOTB Software
  • Shawn Ahmed: President & CEO, Pivotus
  • Steven Haines: Founder and President, Sequent Learning Networks
  • Thomas Poletti: Partner, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP
  • Tim Chan: Founder | CEO, Level3 Apps, Inc.
  • Vince Bianco: CEO, Advanced Medical Reviews

  • And many more to be announced.

 

Help bring the Founder Institute to Orange County and fill out an Interest Form today.

 

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.

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