Your Work Should Matter
There is no shortage of big problems facing humanity, but there is a shortage of ambitious startups trying to solve them.
The Founder Institute's mission is to "Globalize Silicon Valley" and empower talented and motivated people to build impact companies that create one million jobs, and since 2009 we have helped launch over 3,500 companies across six continents.
However, we too often watch talented entrepreneurs pursue ideas with low ambition. As the world becomes more connected and technology infiltrates the very fabric of our society, there has never been a better time for tech startups to make a difference and change the world.
We cannot rely on just government. Entrepreneurs can fix the world's problems.
As part of our "FI for Good" initiative, we are happy to announce the "Pitch for Purpose Competition", which aims to empower and showcase ambitious entrepreneurs building impactful businesses across the globe.
In this free and open pitch competition, any entrepreneur or team building an impactful business with less than $250,000 USD in funding can submit a video pitch for a chance to be present on our Global Online Demo Day, judged by top venture capitalists and broadcast live to thousands of global viewers.
The top ranked pitch on the Online Demo Day will then be crowned the Pitch for Purpose Champion, receiving the opportunity to pitch onstage at the world’s top conference for future technologies, 4YFN, Fellowships to attend any Founder Institute program worldwide, and Office Hours with top global entrepreneurs.
Applicable businesses include any products that can positively shape the future of our society, including those addressing gender and racial equality, space exploration, clean technology, food and water, fertility, financial inclusion, housing and urban planning, governance and democracy, education, healthcare and biotech, and other related fields. The Final Application Deadline for the competition is Friday, April 26th at 11:59pm PT, and the Online Demo Day will take place on Wednesday, June 5th at 9:30am PT.
Our Areas of Focus
Gender Equality
For too long, women have been marginalized in our society, and shifting this paradigm will drive growth for the global economy.
Since 2011, the Founder Institute has offered the Female Founder Fellowship program, and in 2017 we launched the Female Founder Initiative.
Veteran Entrepreneurship
The very people that protect civilians and our way of life far too often find themselves left behind by the global economy.
The Founder Institute started the Veteran Founder Initiative to support and inspire veterans to build companies.
Space Exploration
The greatest human achievement since the taming of fire and the cultivation of food will be the permanent habitation of the stars.
In 2017, the Founder Institute launched the Star Fellow program to support space entrepreneurs. An updated version of this program is coming soon.
Clean Technology
Most scientists agree that fossil fuels and our existing models for energy are negatively impacting our health and poisoning our planet, possibly past a point of no return.
Stay tuned for the Founder Institute's first clean tech initiatives, and if you want to help or partner with us, get in touch.
The Future of Food & Water
Our food industry is built on unsustainable technologies and optimized to mass-produce food that negatively impacts our health.
Stay tuned for the Founder Institute's first food tech initiatives, and if you want to help or partner with us, get in touch.
Women's Health & Fertility
Fertility impacts every single person on this planet. There is massive opportunity for gains in this area and women's health as a whole.
Stay tuned for the Founder Institute's first women's health initiatives, and if you want to help or partner with us, get in touch.
Financial Inclusion
Our "global economy" is not global at all, when you consider that the vast majority of humans have no means to participate.
Stay tuned for the Founder Institute's first financial inclusion initiatives, and if you want to help or partner with us, get in touch.
Housing & Urban Planning
The potential for technology to positively impact our buildings, cities, and urban planning is only just started to be explored.
Stay tuned for the Founder Institute's first housing initiatives, and if you want to help or partner with us, get in touch.
Governance & Democracy
Modern technology has done far too little to improve the average person's participation in governance.
Stay tuned for the Founder Institute's first governance initiatives, and if you want to help or partner with us, get in touch.
Racial Equality
We cannot reach out potential as a species when antiquated idealogies hold us back from basic decency, peace, and collaboration.
The Founder Institute has released countless local initiatives around racial equality, but stay tuned for our first global initiatives. If you want to help or partner with us, get in touch.
Transformative Education
Many of our existing models for education have proven to be ineffective, and are often preparing people for a world that no longer exists.
Stay tuned for the Founder Institute's first ed tech initiatives, and if you want to help or partner with us, get in touch.
Healthcare & Biotech
Our one-size-fits-all medicinal industry often produces drugs that are addictive, and supported by a broken healthcare system that’s optimized for profit instead of the well-being of the patients.
Stay tuned for the Founder Institute's first health tech initiatives, and if you want to help or partner with us, get in touch.
Stay tuned for more details on our initiatives.
In addition to our global initiatives, the Founder Institute also offers local programs across the globe to African American-led startups, LGBTQ-led startups, and more. Check your city's Local Fellowships Page to see the local programs offered in your city.
Build a Company that Matters
The Founder Institute is here to support ambitious Founders that want to change the world.
Apply to the Program