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. Our 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.
If you could use a structured process that tells you what to focus on when, and a lifetime of support from Colorado's top investors and entrepreneurs, then apply to the Colorado Fall 2022 Founder Institute today.
A Little About Your Colorado Program
Denver had the highest year-over-year growth in startup funding with $1.2 Billion raised in Q1 of 2021. -Built In
Colorado is your local Founder Institute chapter since 2010. We live here and we want to grow along with you. Leverage our deep connections in the startup ecosystem to propel your business forward.
Meet Your Directors:
Craig Swiatek: Craig is an experienced growth leader leading innovation teams within a corporate incubator in addition to early stage ventures. He is a trusted advisor who is passionate about making a difference in the world, seeing the potential in all founders and helping them find success. As an investor, Craig is adept at uncovering potentially lucrative ventures.
Diane Bailey: An early-stage advocate and serial startup founder with one exit, Diane brings deep experience in mobile, B2B, and SaaS. Her cut-through-the-chaos moxie combined with infectious optimism has been key to driving founder success.
Meet the Team:
Alex Cooper, Entrepreneur-In-Residence: Co-founded three Fintech technology start-ups, two of which achieved Inc. 500 status and were sold to public companies
Meet your Legal Team:
Bold Legal: Not “just a law firm” Bold is committed to helping startup founders along their whole journey. FI grads receive deferred cost to set up their Delaware C-Corp.
Upcoming Events
We will be hosting several free startup events in Colorado over the coming weeks, where you can learn from top entrepreneurs all from the comfort of home:
- Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
Top Mentors
Some of Colorado's top entrepreneurs will be participating as mentors in the program, including:
- Aaron Fitzgerald: CEO , Mars Materials
- Adam Burrows: Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Range Ventures
- Adeo Ressi: CEO, Decile Group / VC Lab
- Adolfo Perez Duran: CTO, cataworx
- Alex Shockley: President, Journey.AI
- Alex Cooper: Fintech Innovator, Business Development Dynamo, GTM Strategist, Payments Geek, IronCEO, Mindset Coach, Ingo Money
- Allison Seabeck: Executive Director, The Warehouse Business Accelerator
- Andrea Perdomo: Director Economic Inequality Initiative, Uncharted
- Anke Corbin: Founder, CEO, Globig
- Arjun Pillai: Founder & CEO, Insent.ai
- Asa Goldstein: Founder & CEO, BrandShine Creative Services
- Ashlee Cloud: Head of People Operations, Atoms
- Becca Williams: Founder, Thought Distillery
- Ben Stacey: CEO, Pitchverk
- Blair Simpson: Principal, Frontier Venture Capital
- Bo Brustkern: Co-Founder & CEO, LendIt Fintech
- Bob Goodman: Founder, Focused Strategy LLC
- Bonnie Trowbridge: Executive Director, Drive Clean Colorado
- Bradley Brown: CTO, Onemata
- Brian Brown: Investor/Owner, Visionary Holdings, LLC
- Brian Pontarelli: Founder and CTO, FusionAuth
- Brian Armstrong: Managing Director, Ensemble Innovation Ventures
- Briar Prestidge: Founder and CEO, Prestidge Group
- Brooks Van Norman: CEO & Founder, Brooksfield Technologies
- Caroline Gash: Managing Director, IrishAngels Inc.
- Cassandra John: CFO, Allumia
- Cesar Gonzalez: Startup CEO Coach, Thrive Impact
- Chad Johnson: Co-Founder/Architect, Thrive Workplace - WilliamChad LLC
- Chris Foltz: Global Entrepreneur-In-Residence, Founder Institute
- Christine Hernandez: CEO, Bold Leader Collective
- Christopher Sweat: Founder, StemFlow
- Cindy Skalicky: CEO, On Point Communications, LLC
- Daniel O'Brien: CEO, MediaShift Technologies
- David Markowski: VP, Sales and Customer Success, Everactive
- David Silverstein: Founder & CEO, Amaze PBC
- David Kendall: Founder, CEO & Attorney, Bold Legal LLC
- David Mandell: Co-Founder, Managing Director, Massive
- David Pickeral: Head of Strategy, Sheeva.ai
- Dax Craig: C-Founder and President, Pie Insurance
- Don Golden: CEO, Precision Sample LLC
- Edward Chiang: CEO, Moment Energy
- Elaina Mc Millan: Belief Coach, Speaker, Hypnotherapist
- Elliott Lyons: Founder & CEO, EnVision App, Inc
- Eric Laughlin: CEO, Tailwind Imaging
- Erica Feucht: CEO, Pit Liquor
- Eyal Amir: CEO, Parknav
- Gary Gaessler: SaaS Community Builder, Nylas, Co-Founder of CloudElements
- Greg Edwards: Chief Software Architect, Gregory Edwards Inventions
- Greg Narain: Founder, Founder Craft
- Hanny Sunarto: CEO/Co-founder, Mike's Naturals
- Ingrid Alongi: General Partner, Stage Fund
- Ja Colantonio: Technology Scout, Baltimore Air Coil
- Jaclyn Fu: Co-Founder & CEO, Pepper
- Jacqueline Wicks: Founder, PEERtrainer, Inc
- Jake Wells: Entrepreneur / EOS Implementor, Level 11 Consulting
- James Waldrop: Advisor, James Waldrop Consulting
- James Trevey: CTO, Forge Nano
- James Fleetwood: President, GAINTECH Capital
- Jamison Shelton: Program Director, World Trade Center
- Jen Seregos: Founder, Athena Digital
- Jerry Jacobson: CEO, PatientNOW
- Jim Franklin: Instructor, University of Colorado, Boulder
- Jim Dunn: Partner, D Partners
- Joel Flom: Founder & Principal, Dialogue
- John Allen: COO, Tilled, Inc.
- John Grispon: Founder and Sales Coach, Early Revenue
- John Moore: Director of Startup Support, Morrow
- John Scull: Managing Director, Southern Cross Venture Partners
- John Francis
- John Ladaga: Co-Founder, Sturppy
- John Eckhardt: Principal, BearPeak Technology Group
- Jon Nordmark: Co-Founder & CEO of Iterate.ai, Co-Founder & 10-Year CEO of eBags.com
- Jonathan Greechan: Co-Founder & CEO, Founder Institute
- Joseph Salvador: Founder and CEO, Energy Spark Inc.
- Josh Berg: Managing Director, Magna Technology
- Julian Busch: Director, Denver Angels
- Julien Denaes: Co-Founder , Alpin
- Karl Dakin: Principal, HO2
- Kate Caldecourt: Strategy & Organizational Design Partner, Strategy Architect
- Kelly Watters: Founder & CEO, Western Rise
- Kevin Kudra: Executive Director, Rockies Venture Club
- Koko Zarov: VP, Enterprise Data Sales, Onemata
- Kristie Hunziker: Head of People Operations, Cloud Elements
- Kristin Miller: Founder, InMotion Albums
- Lang Mei: CEO, informu
- Laura Fox: General Manager, Citi Bike, at Lyft Bikes and Scooters, Lyft
- Leah Garcia: Founder & CEO, Nulastin
- Logan Grizzel: Partner, MUUS Climate Partners
- Luke Norris: Founder, Exec-Chairman, Faction Inc.
- Mac Kyle: VC Associate, Skyview Ventures
- Mara Rada: Chief Operations and Strategy, Loon (loonbio.com)
- Marc Nager: Partner at Greater Colorado Venture Fund, Co-Founder of Startup Weekend
- Marcus DeVane: Program Manager, Dell for Entrepreneurs
- Mark Geene: CEO & Co-Founder, Cloud Elements
- Mark Newhouse: General Partner, Innosphere Fund
- Mark Tegtmeier: CEO & Design Director, Trailmerge
- Mark Salsberry: CEO, Modern
- Martín Martinez: Founding & Executive Director, Founder Institute Texas
- Matt Mandell: Principal, PayNerd.com
- Matt Frary: CEO/Founder, Digital Good
- Matt Holmes: Founder & CEO, Handshaking.com
- Matt Chambers: Founder, CEO, Loxo
- Matt Bloomstedt: Managing Partner, SpringTime Ventures
- Mayur Vyas: CFO, Finconoso
- Michael Frederick: CEO and Fund Manager, Flatirons Development
- Mike Freeman: CEO, Innosphere Ventures
- Mike Connolly: COO, Dope Mom Life
- Mike Rosenberg: CEO, Prieto Battery
- Nathan Sleadd: Chief Advisor, 8th Moment
- Natty Zola: Partner, Matchstick Ventures
- Nelly Yusupova: Founder, TechSpeak.co
- Nick Albanese: Director of Market Research, Westly Group (Cleantech VC)
- Noah Wallach: Founder, Hope OS
- Oza Klanjsek: Lead Director Architecture, CVS Health
- Pat Riley: CEO, Global Accelerator Network
- Peter Bryant: Managing Partner, Clareo
- Peter Adams: Managing Director, Rockies Venture Fund
- Peter Byrne: President, driveEDR
- Rahul Razdan: CEO, Raz Institute
- Randall Hartman: Founder, Interactive Director, Groundwrk
- Ray Hutchins: CEO, Cybersecurity Llc
- Rich Maloy: Managing Partner, SpringTime Ventures
- Richard Fallah: Founder, Vbout.com
- Rob Rusher: Managing Partner, Mountain Office
- Russell Brand: CEO & Founder, Responsible Solutions Limited
- Ryan Micheletti: Head of Global Operations, Founder Institute
- Ryan Gibson: Founder, Content Lift
- Sameer Sortur: Founding Partner, SquareCircle Ventures
- Sandro Sacerdoti: Member & Attorney, Bold Legal LLC
- Scott Yates: Co-Founder, CEO, BlogMutt
- Scott Rohrbaugh: Founder, Orca EV
- Scott Doniger: CMO, Growth Warrior Capital
- Scout Tweedie Yates: Regional Manager , The Founder Institute HQ
- Serene Papenfuss: Principal, Kickstart
- Shawn Olds: Co-Founder & CEO, boodleAI
- Shea Gerhardt: Founder & CEO, Buderflys
- Sneha Lundia Agrawal: Founder & CEO, Step2Growth
- Sonya Guram: Deputy Director - Business Funding & Incentives, Colorado OEDIT
- Spencer Ingram: Managing Director, Colorado Angel Network
- Stephen Meade: Founder & CEO, MonetaPro
- Stephen Clevett: President and COO, Volta Mobility
- Steve Jovanelly: CEO/CTO, Adattivo
- Steve Meyer: CEO, Mainstreet Mobility
- Steven Rooney: CEO, Intelligent Vehicle Briefs
- Taj Adhav: Founder, Leasecake
- Taylor Mc Lemore: Managing Director, Techstars
- Teresa Densmore: Manager, The Commons on Champa
- Tim Krebs: Founder, Pantanal Management
- Todd Kleinhans: CEO, Zone of Hope
- Todd Emaus: Executive Coach, Evolution Service Corp
- Tom Schreiber: CEO, Perch Mobility
- Trevor Longino: Founder & CEO, CrowdTamers
- Vanessa Clark: CEO, Atomos Space
- Vanessa Mc Crann: Community Engagement Manager, Startup Colorado
- Will Sacks: Founder & CEO, Fulcrum Venture Accelerator
- YJ Lin: Program Manager, Dell for Entrepreneurs
- Yoav Shalev: Founder & CEO, SHALEV
- Zach Nies: Managing Director, Techstars Sustainability
- Ze Shan Malik: Founder, Brandathon
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.
Apply to the Colorado Fall 2022 Founder Institute today, or learn more at FI.co/overview.
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