Finding a Program Manager

The Founder Institute has tools to help you identify fellow Program Managers for the chapter in your city. Follow the step-by-step guide below to identify and close Candidates. Once you have two or three Candidates identified, the Founder Institute will complete a Team Assessment for your city. Here are a couple key resources for your reference:

Step 1: Identify Candidates

Program Manager Candidates should have one or more of the following three skills: entrepreneurial experience, startup ecosystem knowledge and event operating experience.

1.1. Set-up the Target List

Use the template below to track prospective Program Manager Candidates. Open the template, log in with your Google account and click "Make a copy..." under the "File" menu. Replace "[CITY]" with your city. Feel free to share your target list with future@founderinstitute.com.

Target List Template

1.2. Research Candidates

Populate the Target List with any people that you know and like in the startup community that you want to build the chapter with. Try to start with 5 to 10 different names, and some criteria are below:

1.3. Contact Candidates

Using one of the email templates below, reach out to all of the Candidates on the Target List.

Email Previous Email Friends Email Colleagues

1.4. Follow-up with Candidates

If you have not heard back from a Candidate after a few days, you can use the following email templates to follow-up with them.

Follow-up Email 1 Follow-up Email 2

1.5. Send Information

If a Candidate is interested in being a Program Manager, you can send them some more information to help them make a final decision.

Information Email

Step 2: Share on Social Media

If you are having trouble identifying potential Program Manager Candidates or if you want to build the brand of the Founder Institute in your local city, then you may want to start sharing information on different social networks to try and attract interested parties. The items below are listed in order, helping you to promote general information first. In is often the most effective channel, and we recommend customizing the messages for each posting and share different articles every couple of days. Linkedin (In) is a very effective channel.

2.1. Building an Ecosystem

These links contain information about the importance of building local startup ecosystems.

"The Right Way to Build a Local Startup Ecosystem" by Adeo Ressi

"Building Communities?" by Heislyc Loh

2.2. Running an Accelerator

These links contain information about the experience of leading a chapter.

"What it's like to Lead a Founder Institute Semester" by Adeo Ressi

"Founder Institute, the Local Startup Ecosystem Mortar Between the Bricks" by Michael Hiles

2.3. FI Overview

These links contain overview information on the Founder Institute and being a Program Manager.

Profile: Jeffrey Paine in Singapore

Profile: Jeanine Jacobson

Program Manager Application Form

2.4. Sharing Follow-up

After sharing various articles, you should receive inbound interest. Add any qualified interested Candidates to your Target List, and begin the follow-up process outlined in Step 1.4

Step 3: Introduce to FI

Once you have a qualified Program Manager Candidate that you like, introduce that Candidate to the Founder Institute either by making an email introduction or having them fill out the brief online application. Once we have their information in, we can qualify them and schedule them on a call with Adeo

3.1. Add Them Here

Use the 'Quick Candidate Submission' form at the top of this page to add a Candidate. If the form does not appear, please ask your RSM for help.

3.2. Online Application

Use the following template to have a Candidate fill out the application form directly.

Email Application

3.3. Email Introduction

Use the following email template to introduce a Candidate to our expansion team.

Email Introduction

Conclusion

Following the steps above, you should be able to find Program Manager Candidates within a few days to a few weeks. If you are struggling with any step or need help, please contact Adeo Ressi at future@founderinstitute.com.