Build an Amazing Company in North Carolina

The Founder Institute provides a global support network and a proven methodology to get your startup to traction and funding

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Hybrid

Program Dates

Oct 16, 2026 Jan 09, 2027

Early Deadline

Oct 13, 2026

Early Entrance Fee

$999 $1299

The Agentic Experience

You don't have to do it alone. Alongside other like-minded entrepreneurs, you will build your business in a structured, proven process.

Critical Support Network

Join an Equity Collective of helpful startup mentors and founders that are invested in your success.

Get access to a lifetime of support programs and partners that far exceeds any comparable program.

Structured Methodology

Know what to work on, and when, with our proven business-building sprints and structured process.

Build a company with impact by leveraging the world's largest network of startup founders and mentors.

Challenging Process

Less than 40% of Founders make it through the program because we challenge you every step of the way.

Get fast-tracked to our FI Fundraising program and Virtual Demo Days, giving you the best chance to get funding.

Learn more about FI Agentic

Session Calendar

Below are the dates for the upcoming program

Onboarding

Oct 16, 2026

06:00pm EDT

Kickoff

Oct 17, 2026

06:00pm EDT

Vision

Oct 24, 2026

06:00pm EDT

View Full curriculum

Featured Grad

From our Silicon Valley chapter, Udemy is the global leader in online learning, with nearly 200,000 courses. The company went public on the NASDAQ in October 2021, raising $421 million.

The real question is: can the Founder Institute be game-changing for your business? The answer is yes. Without FI, Udemy may have never raised any money.

Gagan Biyani

Udemy (IPO, 2021)

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FI North Carolina Mentors

Build a business efficiently through video conferences, office hours, and material reviews from a roster of top startup mentors.

Rich Heckelmann

Mentor and Professional Consultant @ Keystone Founders + Forward Vision Consulting

Oz Merchant

CEO @ Futureproof

Ebin Ephrem Elavathingal

Director/Tecknogog @ MERSTRA Foundation / MITC

Dennis McCarron

VP, Head of Corporate Strategy and Development @ Sabre

Tobi Walter

Partner @ Cofounders Capital

Jesse Jones

Owner @ Fourscore Business Law

See all North Carolina Mentors

FI Partners

Get special deals and support worth over $3 million from top support organizations and partners.

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The Founder Institute is the world’s largest agentic company builder, turning ideas into fundable startups, and startups into unicorns. Since 2009, the Founder Institute program has helped over 9,000 entrepreneurs build 9,000+ companies, including unicorns like Udemy and Esusu, raise over 2BN in funding, and grow a portfolio worth an estimated $20BN. Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 200+ cities and 95 countries, our mission is to empower communities of talented and motivated people to build impactful technology companies worldwide. Learn more about the Founder Institute.