Accelerate Your Startup’s Growth in Washington, D.C.
The Penn West Accelerator provides the tools, mentorship, and connections you need to grow your startup in Washington, D.C. and beyond.
Accelerator Dates
Accelerator Structure
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Small cohort of participants. Limited to 20 companies.
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In-Person Sessions at WeWork in downtown Washington DC
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Participate in an Investor Demo Day
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Equity-free
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No Program Fee
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Access resources from the Golden Triangle BID including mentors and partners
Ideal Applicant
Startup founder that is
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An international startup looking to enter the US market
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A US-Based startup considering to expand into the East Coast
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At the seed stage (post- MVP)
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Willing to relocate to Washington, D.C. to be part of the program
Take Your Startup to the Next Level
Join the Penn West Accelerator to gain hands-on mentorship, sharpen your business strategy, and build lasting relationships in one of the U.S.'s most vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystems.
- Accelerate Product and Market Entry. Validate your product, refine revenue models, and scale in the D.C. market
- Build Local Partnerships and Network. Connect with mentors, legal experts, and D.C. business leaders
- Enhance Pitch and Investment Readiness. Craft and perfect your pitch for Demo Day with expert feedback
- Prepare for Funding and Expansion. Strategize for fundraising and secure key investor relationships
Meet your Program Director
Guc Ozenci
Managing Director of the Founder Institute accelerator in Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia, where he has built a portfolio of over 40 early-stage companies. He is an angel investor, advisor, and connector, with a proven track record in growing startups and leading them to successful exits.
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I cannot thank FI and its mentors enough for helping me go from idea to launch and now a seed round! Their programs really push you to towards your goals. The mentors at FI were always available for help and support: from reviewing cap tables to strategizing about launch. Without FI it would have been difficult to scale!
Swathi Arulguppe NagendraBettermeal.ai ($500K+ funding) -
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 BiyaniUdemy (IPO, 2021) -
FI's content and structure were extremely helpful to learn everything in a step by step manner. It saved me a significant amount of time and prevented me from making a lot of mistakes!
Purva GuptaLily ($41M+ funding) -
The biggest challenge I had during fundraising was explaining our value proposition. It was complicated. The advice I got around everything from FI was spot on!
Ernest ChanPredictNow ($750K+ funding)
Program Schedule
This Acceleration Program contains in-person workshops, assignments, and networking opportunities with your cohort.
Program Dates
Traction Foundations
Four weeks, on the ground in DC, to turn early wins into repeatable growth. Work from the Golden Triangle WeWork, tap BID and partner resources, meet expert mentors, and leave with a U.S.-ready go-to-market you can execute now.
- (1) Accelerator Kickoff
- (2) Vision & Mission
- (3) Customer Development
- (4) Revenue & Business Models
Investor & Expansion Readiness
Over the next four in-person weeks at Penn West, you’ll perfect an investor-grade pitch, stress-test your strategy with seasoned mentors, and button up the legal / equity essentials. The phase finishes with a data-driven go-to-market plan primed for rapid U.S. scale from your Golden Triangle base in Washington DC.
- (5) Pitch Mastery
- (6) Mentor Idea Review
- (7) Legal & Equity
- (8) Go-to-Market & Scale
Team, Traction & Scale
Over four in-person weeks, you’ll iterate on your product roadmap, align and empower your founding team, and deliver a clear investor progress report. Backed by expert mentors and Golden Triangle BID resources, you’ll exit with a scalable growth playbook and a team primed for local expansion.
- (9) Product Development
- (10) Investor Progress Review
- (11) Co-Founders & Team
- (12) Growth
Investor Showcase Sprint
Learn the art of fundraising, prep your pitch for real investors, and then take the stage on Demo Day. Backed by DC mentors and Golden Triangle resources, you’ll leave Penn West ready to scale.
- (13) Funding 101
- (14) Demo Day
Grow Your Business from The Golden Triangle
- The Golden Triangle is a walkable, safe, transit-connected neighborhood with a wide array of amenities, including many of DC’s best restaurants, shops, bars, parks, public art, and more, as well as close proximity to established residential neighborhoods with robust housing options.
- As part of the Penn West Accelerator, you’ll be building your company in the epicenter of global influence. As the nation’s capital, we are home to over 175 international embassies, more than 550 international companies, world-renowned universities, and headquarters of notable international institutions such as The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the Delegation of the European Union to the United States. Our unrivaled location gives you a front seat to the decision-makers that shape national and global policy.
- The Penn West Accelerator will be based out of a state-of-the-art WeWork coworking space, where you’ll have plenty of space to collaborate and innovate.
- You’ll have access to an array of resources from the Golden Triangle BID and our partners to help you succeed in growing your company here in DC.
Powered by the Founder Institute
Based in Silicon Valley, the Founder Institute is the world's largest pre-seed startup accelerator. Since 2009, FI's accelerators have helped launch fast-growing, funded technology companies across nearly every geography, industry, and sector.
9,000+
Portfolio Companies
2BN+
Portfolio Company Funding
200+
Chapter Cities
100+
Chapter Countries
6
Continents
40,000+
Global Mentors & Advisors
Frequently Asked Questions
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The ideal applicant is a seed-stage startup founder who’s ready to take their proven MVP into the U.S. market and is willing to relocate to Washington, D.C. for the duration of the program. You should be seeking hands-on access to seasoned mentors, strategic investors, and the Golden Triangle BID’s resources to accelerate your growth on the East Coast.
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This government-funded program does not offer direct grants or equity investments to participants. However, you’ll engage with a curated network of investors throughout the program and at Demo Day, giving you ample opportunity to secure external funding.
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No, there is no equity component to this program.
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Submit your application online; our Accelerator Director will review all entries and shortlist candidates for an interview. From those interviews, we’ll select just 15–20 companies to join the cohort.
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We’re unable to provide visa processing, travel, or lodging on your behalf—but we’re happy to share trusted recommendations. All travel, visa, and accommodation arrangements are the responsibility of the founder.
The Founder Institute is the world’s most proven network to turn ideas into fundable startups, and startups into global businesses. Since 2009, our structured accelerator programs have helped over 9,000 entrepreneurs raise over 2BN in funding. Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 100 countries, our mission is to empower communities of talented and motivated people to build impactful technology companies worldwide.
