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 Spring 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:
- Founder’s Guide to AI: Building a Marketing Engine with AI: 10:00am, Feb 24, 2026 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/385484
- Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
- Founder’s Guide to AI: Converting Data into Business Value with AI: 10:00am, Mar 03, 2026 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/385323
- What Do Investors Really Look For? Startup Funding Q&A with Keshia Theobald-van Gent: 9:00am, Mar 09, 2026 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/387480
- The 10x Leadership Framework for Growth in Large Organisations : 10:00am, Mar 10, 2026 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/389295
- Startup Advisors 101: How to Find Advisors and Maximize their Impact: 5:30pm, Mar 10, 2026 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/388465
- From Zero to Startup Idea: A Practical Founder Framework: 5:00am, Mar 16, 2026 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/387690
- Cash Flow Survival for a First-Time Founder: 9:00am, Mar 17, 2026 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/388888
- Venture Trailblazers, featuring Andrew D’Souza (VIP Event): 9:00am, Mar 19, 2026 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/390002
- [Restricted] VIP Pitch Lounge: Get Feedback from Global Investors & Advisors (Private Event): 9:00am, Mar 24, 2026 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/389096
- Stuck Without a Startup Idea? Build One That Fits You: 5:00pm, Apr 07, 2026 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/390157
- How Multiple Pivots positioned Checkbox as the ‘Legal Front Door’ for Corporations: 5:00pm, Apr 13, 2026 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/389497
- How to Choose the Right Startup Idea Before You Build: 9:00am, May 18, 2026 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/390356
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 8,900 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.
