Since launching in San Diego in 2009, the Founder Institute has graduated over 50 companies, including successful local startups like Embarke, Kaliki, DonationMatch, Feetz, Explorence, Green Kid Crafts, and many more.
The San Diego Founder Institute is now accepting applications for the San Diego 2026 Semester. If you could benefit from expert training and advice to launch a technology startup in San Diego, click here to apply today.
Those who apply by the Early Admissions Deadline (Dec 07, 2025) will have their application fees waived (typically $50) and are eligible for Founder Institute Fellowships.
In the Founder Institute's four-month, part-time program, promising startup entrepreneurs “learn by doing” and launch a company through structured training courses and expert feedback from a large network of business mentors. Plus, you are not required to quit you day job to participate, so you can begin building a business around your ideas without putting your livelihood at risk.
In order to celebrate the launch, the San Diego Founder Institute will host a “Pre-Curriculum” of free startup events for the general public:
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 10:00am, Oct 27, 2025 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/379031
- Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 5:00pm, Nov 10, 2025 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/378928
- How to Unlock Your Region’s Entrepreneurial Potential for Economic Growth: 9:00am, Nov 12, 2025 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/380014
- Ask an Investor Anything: Q&A with Kirby Winfield: 10:00am, Nov 17, 2025 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/379432
- Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 10:00am, Nov 24, 2025 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/379563
- Build Your 2026 Startup Operations Plan: 10:00am, Dec 01, 2025 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/381723
- Hiring for Startups: How to Build Your Team Early: 10:00am, Dec 08, 2025 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/380836
- Founder Showcase: Startup Pitch & Networking Event, with Jenny Fielding: 9:00am, Dec 10, 2025 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/380946
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 10:00am, Jan 26, 2026 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/382079
The San Diego Chapter will be led by by longtime Founder Institute Director and San Diego Startup advocate, Jeanine Jacobson.
In only 16 years of operation, over 8,100 graduate companies across 200 cities have used the Founder Institute to validate their idea, develop their plans, refine their product, build an advisory board, prepare for seed funding, and more.
