Build the Future: Applications Now Open to Founder Institute Pittsburgh 2023

Founder First, Founder Always. Join us in 2022: Founder Institute is the #1 place in the world to turn ideas into fundable startups, and startups into global businesses.

Today’s economic 'New Normal' is full of reshuffling industries, and new problems in need of solutions - now is a time for entrepreneurs to act.

Whether you need to test and validate early hypotheses before making a large financial commitment to your startup idea, or you are ready to push your startup to the next level through aggressive weekly growth sprints to refine your vision, improve key metrics, and prepare for investor diligence, Founder Institute has the proven processes and network to help you do it.

If you could use a structured process that tells you what to focus on when, and a lifetime of support from Pittsburgh's top investors and entrepreneurs, then apply to the Pittsburgh 2023 Founder Institute today.

We will be hosting several free startup events in Pittsburgh over the coming weeks, where you can learn from top entrepreneurs all from the comfort of home:

Ask an Investor Anything: Q&A with Nathan Beckord: 1:00pm, May 12, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/372178
Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 1:00pm, Jun 02, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/372211
How to Build Your MVP Using Artificial Intelligence : 1:00pm, Jun 04, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/371389
Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 8:00pm, Jun 09, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/372255
FI Alumni Panel: Meet Portfolio Companies and Ask Questions: 1:00pm, Jun 23, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/371817
Startup Finance & Banking Basics: AMA with Grasshopper Bank: 1:00pm, Jun 25, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/372016
Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 1:00pm, Jun 30, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/371658
Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 1:00pm, Jul 07, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/372339

See all upcoming events

Make better, faster business decisions in 2022 by sharing your latest progress, challenges, and strategies for constant feedback and evaluation from our expert mentors and advisors, every step of the way–scale your team, develop new business opportunities, and recruit an amazing advisory board with the world's largest network of international startup founders, CEOs, advisors, and investors.

The Pittsburgh accelerator is led by some of the region's top startup leaders, including Bill Rivkin (Business Banking Virtual Relationship Manager VP, Citizens), Daria Duda (Marketing Advisor, Self), Don Samoil (Chapter Leader, FI Keystone), Philly Admin (A, A). In addition, some of Pittsburgh's top entrepreneurs will be participating as mentors in the program, including:

Aaron Price: cofounder, rocketfuel.cc
Aaron Karp: Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Founder Institute
Abby Sugar: CEO, Play Out Apparel
Abdellah Aouf: Chief Executive Officer, GO PLATFORM
Adam Chain
Adam House
Alan Rihm: Managing member, Entrevest
Albert Whale: Founder & CEO, IT Security Solutions
Alexander Summers: Founder, AI Edtech Startup
Alfred Poor: Keynote speaker and virtual event expert, The Health Tech Futurist
Ali Schaeffer-Lybacki: Universal Branch Manager, MEMBERS 1ST FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
Amrish Macedo: Co-Founder, Intempio
Andee Silverman: Chief Problem Solver, founderkeystone.com
ANDRES OLIVEROS GONZALEZ: Co-Founder, ASTROLAB
Andrew Soh: Founder & CEO, Fundigo
Anshuman Gwal: Managing Partner, Brightside Partners
Arcui Usoara: Founder/CEO, Iaculus
Arsy Khodabandelou: Founder, WoofHelp.com
Austin Cox
Aviv Shalgi: CEO, Solar Simplified
Barbara Anne Gardenhire-Mills, MSEL, PCC, CPQC®, CELC: Founder & Owner, Purpose-Filled Solutions & Evolutions
Ben Stacey: CEO, Pitchverk
Ben Kniffen: Chief Visionary Officer & Co-Founder, LinkedSelling
Ben Williams
Bhaskar Ahuja: CEO, Sand Hill Road Technologies Fund
Bill Rivkin: Virtual Relationship Manager |non-dilutive funding, Citizens Bank
Bill Goodwin
Bo Motlagh: Co-Founder, Managing Partner, UE Venture Studios
Bob Olsen
Bobbi Muscara: CEO - Director of Education, Ledger Academy
Bonnie Ravina
Brad Messer: ., .
Brian Slough
Brian Griffiths
Brynne TIllman: CEO, Social Sales Link
Carl Starkey: Co-Founder & CEO, AWSM Sauce Co
Cassie Tate
Celine Schulze: Co-Founder & CEO, Benezet-Bridge Ltd.
Chelsea Samuelson: Director of Growth, Entrepreneurship | Fund Manager, NJIT Venture Fund | at New Jersey Innovation Institute, New Jersey Innovation Institute
Chintan Oza: Founder, Anantam Ecosystems
Chris Foltz: Global Entrepreneur-In-Residence, Responsible Solutions Ltd
Chris Sprague: CEO, Chris M. Sprague
Chris Morris
Chris Couchoud
Christian Behl: International Business Development, Cognition IP
Christopher Flynn
Chuck Sacco
Craig Do'vidio
Daniel Nelson: Recovering Accountant, Startup Economics
Daniel Rosenthal: Partnerships Manager, StartEngine
Daniel Ritterman: CEO & Founder, MainLineDelivery (acquired by Square)
Daria Duda: Product Marketing Strategy Consultant, OutsideIN
Darnell Davis
David Chung: Regional VP Sales, VirnetX
David Hendrawirawan: Founder, Data Integrity First
David Foster
David Lasus: CEO, Heart + Paw
David Stengle: CEO & Founder , Board++
David Postolski: Partner, Gearhart Law
Debjit Saha: Co-Founder, HomeAbroad Inc.
Deep Parmar: Founding Partner, Caramel Advisors LLC
Deka Dike: CEO, Omatochi
Deka Dike: Founder & CEO, Omatochi
Derek Tyner
Don Samoil: Managing Partner, Trusted Scale
Don Pancoe: Chief Blinker, Blinkenlights Technologies
Drew Chapin: Partner, The Discoverability Company
Dustin Betz: Director of Operations, White Rose Ventures
Ed Keenan: Lead Principal, iO Associates
Elena Mlotok: General Manager, Head of EU Newsstand, Amazon
Elizabeth Planet
Ellen Weber: Executive Director, Robin Hood Ventures
Eric Torigian: CEO and Managing Director, Advisory Services, CHRO Solutions
Eric Griffin
Esther Hiamang, Paradigm Shift
Flyn Penoyer
Francisco Marinaro: Ceo & Chariman, Afront Digiatl LTD
Frank Vito: Corporate & Technology Attorney , OlenderFeldman LLP
Frank Jacquette
Franklin Kamnang Ngansop: Cofounder , Vitamin C&S Coaching
Garry Johnson
Gary Cohen: Owner, Practical Agility LLC
Geoffrey Kent: Founder and CEO, I left corporate America 24 years ago, and launched my current venture (Think Big with Geoffrey Kent) 4 years ago.
Greg Curry
Greg Mester: President, Idea Communication Networks, Inc.
Heather Lawver: Founder & CEO, Ceemo
Helen De La Rosa: FI Mentor, Founders Institute
Holly La Porte
Irene Verheijen
Isabelle Kent
Isaiah Jenkins
James Green: CEO, Cognome
Jasmin Sethi: CEO, Sethi Clarity Advisers
Jason Pont
Jay Aigner
Jedidiah Weller: CEO, OpenForge
Jennifer Marion
Jess Edelstein
Jesse DiLaura
Joan Popolo
Joe Daniels: Partner, Co-Chair - Emerging Companies, Partner & Co-Chair, Emerging Companies Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough
Joe Singer: Cofounder and CMO, MergedAnalytics
Joel Ginsparg: Managing Partner, Firelight Partners, LLC
John De Marco
John Weathers: Business Development & Research Consultant | Board Member | Co-Founder & Director, Vizmoo.com | BenchK12.com | The Cultural Bridge Project
John Gies: Business Growth Strategist, RAS - Squared
John Schnelle: Director of Sales, Early Charm Ventures
John Gamba
John Steele
Jon Zaikowski: Assistant Director, New York Angels
Jon Wonnell: CEO, Transformative Sciences LLC
Jon Tornetta: Founder, Meddkit
Josh Devon: CEO, Sublime Strategy
Josh Devon
June W Choi: Managing Partner, Serval Ventures
Justin Bean
Justis Mendez
Karen Robinson: Pitch Deck & Data Room Advisor, Karen Robinson Consulting
Karina Sotnik: Founder/CEO, WorldUpstart
Karolis Pranckevicius: CEO, Blue Orange
Karolis Panckevicius: Analyst, Blue Orange Agency
Ken Cheo
Kenny Avallon: Lead Technical Recruiter, Eric Gong & Company
Kiley Giebel: Managing Partner, Techstars
Kirill Satanovsky: Co-Lead, FI Santa Cruz
Kostas Karolemeas: Founder, CEO, Allcancode
Kumar Mehta: Author; Speaker; Consultant, Bridges Insight
Leon Degtar, Degtar Consulting
Leong Cheah: Founder & CEO, ae'lkimi Consulting FZ LLE
Libby Balsiger: Co-Founder, Campvs
Liz Vibber
Lynn Donaldson
Mac Goswami: Senior Technical Program Manager, Fiserv Inc
Maggie Dillon: CEO, Empress Security Insights, LLC
Mara Schwartz
Mario Casabona: Angel Investor, Casabona Ventures
Mark Style
Mark Mc Anallen
Mark Crouse, Cohesion Crafted
Martina Truche: Healthcare Innovator , Space Medicine Enthusiast
Matiullah Rahmaty: Founder/President , BrightPoint Consulting Services
Matt Salerno
Matt Star: Co-Founder / Head of Operations, Narrator
Matthew Jenkins
Matthew Saline: Owner, The Alternative Board
Max Thalheimer: Co-Founder & CEO, Fynd
Maya Nazareth, Alchemize fightwear
Melissa Li: Managing Partner and Head of Community, Dorm Room Fund
Mellie Chow: Venture Partner, Archangel Axion
Mellie Chow: Venture Partner, Axion Fund
Michael Piggott: CEO, Gamechat
Michael Parker
Michael Bertoni: Founder and CEO, SaaS Talent
Michael Spidaliere: Principal, First Time Founder Capital
Michael Canzoneri: Managing Partner, Rebel Consulting
Michael Liebowitz
Michael Cirino
Michael Kainatsky
Michelle Peters: Co-Founder & CEO, Supplino
Michelle Mallette: Head of Business Development, Stargrove Capital
Michelle Pujadas: Founder and Co-CEO, Zer0 to 5ive
Michelle Carfagno: CEO/Founder, The Greater Knead
Mike Simmons
Mo Zerban
Mohammed Kashif: Senior Quality Assurance Automation Engineer, Department of Motor Vehicles
Morgan Doyle: Associate Director - Buisness Development, Corporate Tax Incentives (CTI)
Nadia Al-Banna, PHD, MBA: Senior Director of Product and Business Development, Allarta Life Science
Nadine Campbell: Founder, ACE Entrepreneurs
Nareg Soghomonian
Natalya Bagrova: Co-Founder, Art Director, Brand Strategist , Suva Inc.
Nate Hecker: CEO, Big Idea, Inc.
Nathan Mancine: FI Mentor, LeanTaaS
Noah Wallach: Founder, Hope OS
Orly Zeewy: Brand Strategist, Zeewy Brands
Owen Occhetti: Consultant, Avant Technology Group
Ozan Sonmez: Co-Founder, Brutally Honest Group
Pam Knox: CEO/Chief Strategist, Pam Knox LLC
Patrick Thompson: Founder, Bootstrap First Incubator
Paul Mosenson: Owner, NuSpark Consulting and NuSpark Media
Paul Len: Founder, Citymove
Paul Toub
Pete Biggam: Director / Mentor / Advisor, Founder Institute
Peter Yeargin: Founder & CEO, Sage SEO
Peter Hornberger: Lecturer, Director of 'LaunchBox', Penn State University
Peter Chmiel: Owner, Cutting Edge Consulting
Raghu Rao: CEO, Splitbyte Inc
Raj Sahu: Founder and CEO at , Utobo Inc
Rajat Kapur
Rajiv Madhok: Founder, Oorja
Rajprasath Subramanian: Principal Enterprise architect and Start-up Advisor, SAP
Randy Fisher: CEO, Expand to New Markets
Raoul Davis: CEO, Ascendant Group
Rich Heckelmann: Marketing Specialist , Forward Vision Consulting
Richard Ward, MYXFUND
Robert Edelstein: Advisor / Owner , Inflection Point
Robert Hart
Robert Stinsa
Roger Yomba Ngue: Founder & CEO, Dhaxle Inc
Ronda Siegel: Partner, RSiegel Consulting LLC
Ryan Long: CPO & Founder, OnPurpose Studio
Ryan Alcorn: Co-founder & CEO, GrantExec
Ryan Frankel
Ryan Hummel
Sameer Babbar: Director, SVB Group
Samir Fouzir: CEO, 3Genii
Sanjaykumar Patel: Founder & Principal IP Attorney, EXCELON IP - Patent & Trademark Attorneys
Sara Ledterman: General Partner, 3+ Ventures
Scott Shelko
Scott Wittrock: Fractional CPO, Head for Product
Sean Adams: Head of Sales & Partnerships, iorad
Seth Goldstein: Principal Creative Director, Goldstein Media LLC
Shashank Aiisvari: Founder, Aiisvari
Shaun Gold: Entrepreneur, storyteller, GP at Improve Ventures, Improve Ventures
Shawn Gregoire
Sherrill Mosee: Founder/CEO, Minkeeblue
Sina Roshan: Cofounder & CPO, Peekage (Techstars 2020)
Solomon Asad: Principal, SSCP
Soujanya Mukka: Founder and CEO , MyB2BNetwork
Stacy Rowan
Stacy Kimmel: Independant Consultant , FoodVisors LLC
Stefanie Smith: Founder, Double S Consulting
Stefanos Damianakis: President, Zaruko Advisors
Stephan Thomas: Managing Partner, Artimon3D
Stephen Spivak
Steven Turner: President, Flow Business Solution
Sushma Rajagopalan
Tanya Williamson: Chief Visionary Officer , Tanya Williamson
Theresa Deeney
Tiara Durham: Business Strategist | Ecosystem Builder | Board Trustee | Social Impact Advocate | Founder, Founders First Capital Partners
Tiffany Yau
Tim Dodd: Founder, JTD Group
T.J. Butler: Founder, 45 Solutions
Tovit Neizer: Chief Storyteller, Yellow Bricks
Trevor Longino: Founder & CEO, CrowdTamers
Trevor Geise: Founder, Boom Venture
Ty Jackson: Sports Tech Investor, SeventySix Capital
Vincent Perez: Strategic Management & Corporate Development, Penn State
Vipin Makhija: Founder, Mentor, Advisor, Kast
Vladimir Pletyukhin: Founder and Creative Director, Launch Deck
Wendy Moore: Founder & CEO, Eleve Talent
Xan Hong: Owner, Drive Phase Consulting
Yemi Oluseun: Growth & GTM For FinTechs, The Change Hive
Yousif Memon
Zach Messler: Founder, 26th Letter LLC (zachmessler.com)
Zave Smith: Co-Founder and CEO, xBound
Zoe Qiao

And many more to be announced.

Since 2009, Founder Institute’s highly-structured accelerator programs have helped over 7,500 entrepreneurs to grow quickly, know what to do next, and make key connections through the largest community of startup advisors in the world.

It all starts with our renowned ‘FI Core’ accelerator, which pushes founders at the idea and pre-seed stages to reach the milestones needed for investment and sustained growth. Alumni of FI Core then receive free access to our advanced ‘Founder Lab’ accelerators for years to come, and can get matched with prospective investors in the FI Venture Network - a collection of global funds actively investing in the earliest rounds of funding.

The results speak for themselves: FI Alumni have raised over $1.85BN in funding, and are building impactful businesses across 200+ cities and 100+ countries all across the globe. (see the FI 50 Report here).