Online Event
From First Idea to First Funding: Global Alumni Stories
Learn directly from Founder Institute alumni and accelerator leaders
Date
Dec 01, 2026
Time
09:00 am - 10:00 am
Address
Online Event
Founder Institute alumni have raised $2B+ and built some of the world's fastest-growing tech companies. Join our live Q&A to get real insights on launching and scaling a startup, hear what the FI accelerator is really like, and learn how a proven program can help turn your idea into a business. Sign up to connect with FI alumni and get started.
Mariana is a serial entrepreneur with over 15 years in the promotional products industry, as both a corporate buyer and a supplier. She is the CEO and Founder of Branddu AI, an AI-first platform that lets companies buy branded merchandise in minutes. Branddu serves 200+ clients, including Netflix, Canva, JPMorgan Chase and Samsung, and is backed by 500 Global. Mariana is a graduate of Founder Institute’s Silicon Valley Agentic AI program, where Branddu ranked #2 of more than 1,500 startups.
Donna is a communications innovator and inventor building a trusted communication channel for the physical world. Her company, MicDots, gives physical places like worksites, infrastructure and public spaces a voice, delivering verified spoken messages where people need them. She created the VoiceQR™ standard and wrote The Trust Tax (2026), a #1 international bestseller. Donna graduated in the Top 10 of Founder Institute’s Agentic AI program and is now in NVIDIA’s Inception Program.
Daan Weddepohl - CEO & Founder, Peerby
Daan Weddepohl - CEO & Founder, Peerby
Daan is the Founder and CEO of Peerby, an Amsterdam-based platform where neighbors borrow and rent everyday items from each other instead of buying new. Since founding Peerby in 2012, he has raised close to $7M, including a record-breaking crowdfunding campaign. Backers include Techstars and Loyal VC. One in four Amsterdam households are members, and Peerby has expanded to Boulder, Colorado. Daan is a two-time Founder Institute graduate, from FI Amsterdam and the recent Silicon Valley AI program.
What You'll Learn:
- The different types of startup companies that go through Founder Institute
- The experience of being part of an accelerator program
- Success metrics that investors want to see
- The tactics required to build a strong startup
Additional Resources:
Explore more Startup Events, meet Founder Institute Graduates from six continents, get inspired by the latest Graduate News and see what other Alumni say about Founder Institute on our Reviews page.
Explore more Startup Events, meet Founder Institute Graduates from six continents, get inspired by the latest Graduate News and see what other Alumni say about Founder Institute on our Reviews page.
About Founder Institute:
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.
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.
Speakers
Platinum Partners
Google
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