Rethink What's Possible: Applications Now Open to Founder Institute Philadelphia Virtual 2022

Rethink what's possible: the world needs more entrepreneurs to lead the way in creating a better future, for everyone.

Whether you have already launched a startup or are still in the idea-phase, now is the time to act. As the globe moves incrementally toward the eventual post-pandemic future, today it remains filled with reshuffled industries and new problems in need of solutions. As we continue into 2022 and beyond, each and every entrepreneur has the opportunity to play a part in helping shape that better future.

That's why we are excited to announce applications are now open for the Philadelphia Virtual 2022 program.

If you could use a structured process and a lifetime of support from Philadelphia's top investors and entrepreneurs to build something meaningful, then apply to the Philadelphia Virtual 2022 Founder Institute today.

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

Philadelphia Events:

Smart Outsourcing for Startups & SMBs: Powered by a B2B marketplace: 1:00pm, Sep 18, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/378307
Pitch Your Ideas to Philadelphia Investors & Experts, Online: 6:00pm, Sep 24, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/378128
Philadelphia Startup Event – Wait…you can do that with AI?!: 1:00pm, Sep 26, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/378807
Speed Mentoring: Get Feedback and Network with Top Philadelphia Mentors: 6:00pm, Oct 08, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/378130
[Restricted] Join Us for Special In-Person Event Oct 13: 5:30pm, Oct 13, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/370452
Founders Alley Philadelphia 2025: 11:00am, Oct 28, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/378672

Global or Regional Events:

Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 1:00pm, Sep 22, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/377498
Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 1:00pm, Oct 06, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/377832
Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 1:00pm, Oct 27, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/377669
How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 8:00pm, Nov 10, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/378920
Ask an Investor Anything: Q&A with Kirby Winfield: 1:00pm, Nov 17, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/379421
Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 1:00pm, Nov 24, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/379552

See all upcoming events

Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 200+ cities worldwide, the Founder Institute is designed to help you build an enduring business that can survive and thrive in the “new normal.” We do this by giving you a clear process combined with constant feedback from a devoted network of international entrepreneurs and investors. Participants in the 4-month core program also get access to a lifetime of support through the Founder Institute's industry-leading free post-programs.

The Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia's top investors, entrepreneurs, and CEOs will be participating as mentors in the program, providing expert feedback and evaluation. The list of startup mentors for the Philadelphia Founder Institute includes:

Abdellah Aouf: Chief Executive Officer, GO PLATFORM
Albert Whale: Founder & CEO, IT Security Solutions
Alfred Poor: Keynote speaker and virtual event expert, The Health Tech Futurist
Arcui Usoara: Global Board Advisor and Brand Strategist, Founder, Iaculus
Barbara Anne Gardenhire-Mills, MSEL, PCC, CPQC®, CELC: Founder & Owner, Purpose-Filled Solutions & Evolutions
Ben Stacey: CEO, Pitchverk
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
Bobbi Muscara: CEO - Director of Education, Ledger Academy
Bonnie Ravina: Startup Advisor, Connector, Market Readiness , Full Circle: 360 Marketing
Chris Morris
Christian Behl: International Business Development, Cognition IP
Chuck Sacco
Daniel Nelson: Recovering Accountant, Startup Economics
Daniel Ritterman: CEO & Founder, MainLineDelivery (acquired by Square)
Daria Duda: Product Marketing Strategy Consultant, OutsideIN
David Lasus: CEO, Heart + Paw
David Stengle: CEO & Founder , Board++
David Postolski: Partner, Gearhart Law
Deep Parmar: Founding Partner, Caramel Advisors LLC
Deka Dike: Founder & CEO, Omatochi
Dipa Tapadar: Tech & Data Leader | GenAI & AI/ML | Program/Portfolio Mgmt | ERP/CRM Transformation | Life Sciences, Pharma, Higher Ed, Cognizant Technology Solution
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
Elena Mlotok: General Manager, Head of EU Newsstand, Amazon
Ellen Weber: Executive Director, Robin Hood Ventures
Eric Torigian: CEO and Managing Director, Advisory Services, CHRO Solutions
Flyn Penoyer
Francisco Marinaro: Ceo & Chariman, Afront Digiatl LTD
Frank Jacquette
Franklin Kamnang Ngansop: Co-Founder, Vitamin C&S Coaching
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 Mester: President, Idea Communication Networks, Inc.
Heather Lawver: Founder & CEO, Ceemo
Helen De La Rosa: FI Mentor, Founders Institute
Ike Nwabufo
Isabelle Kent: CEO, Startup Leaders
Jacob Barhak: Sole Proprietor, Software Developer, and Computational Disease Modeler, Jacob Barhak Analytics
Jedidiah Weller: CEO, OpenForge
Jerah Siegal
Joan Popolo
Joel Ginsparg: Managing Partner, Firelight Partners, LLC
John Weathers: Business Development & Research Consultant | Board Member | Co-Founder & Director, Vizmoo.com | BenchK12.com | The Cultural Bridge Project
John Gamba
Jon Zaikowski: Assistant Director, New York Angels
Jon Wonnell: CEO, Transformative Sciences LLC
Jon Kirchner
June W Choi: Managing Partner, Serval Ventures
Justin Bean
Karen Robinson: Pitch Deck & Data Room Advisor, Karen Robinson Consulting
Kostas Karolemeas: Founder, CEO, Allcancode
Leon Degtar, Degtar Consulting
Mac Goswami: Senior Technical Program Manager, Fiserv Inc
Mario Casabona: Angel Investor, Casabona Ventures
Martina Truche: Healthcare Innovator , Space Medicine Enthusiast
Matiullah Rahmaty: Founder/President , BrightPoint Consulting Services
Max Thalheimer: Co-Founder & CEO, Fynd
Melissa Li: Managing Partner and Head of Community, Dorm Room Fund
Mellie Chow: Venture Partner, Archangel Axion
Mellie Chow: Venture Partner, Axion Fund
Michael Bertoni: Founder and CEO, SaaS Talent
Michael Spidaliere: Principal, First Time Founder Capital
Michelle Peters: Co-Founder & CEO, Supplino
Mohammed Kashif: Senior Quality Assurance Automation Engineer, Department of Motor Vehicles
Nadia Al-Banna, PHD, MBA: Innovation Management Expert/Founder, , Value-N-Action Consulting
Nadine Campbell: Founder, ACE Entrepreneurs
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
Pete Biggam: Director / Mentor / Advisor, Founder Institute
Peter Chmiel: Owner, Cutting Edge Consulting
Raghu Rao: CEO, Splitbyte Inc
Raj Sahu: Founder and CEO at , Utobo Inc
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
Ronda Siegel: Partner, RSiegel Consulting LLC
Ryan Long: CPO & Founder, OnPurpose Studio
Ryan Hummel
Sameer Babbar: Director, SVB Group
Sanjaykumar Patel: Founder -Patent & Trademark Attorney, EXCELON IP - Patent & Trademark Attorneys
Sara Ledterman: General Partner, 3+ Ventures
Scott Wittrock: Fractional CPO, Head for Product
Seth Goldstein: Principal Creative Director, Goldstein Media LLC
Shaun Gold: Entrepreneur, storyteller, GP at Improve Ventures, Improve Ventures
Sina Roshan: Cofounder & CPO, Peekage (Techstars 2020)
Soujanya Mukka: Founder and CEO , MyB2BNetwork
Stefanie Smith: Founder, Double S Consulting
Stefanos Damianakis: President, Zaruko Advisors
Stephan Thomas: Managing Partner, Artimon3D
Stephen Spivak
Sushma Rajagopalan
Tanya Williamson: Chief Visionary Officer , Tanya Williamson
Tim Dodd: Founder, JTD Group
T.J. Butler: Founder, 45 Solutions
Tovit Neizer: Chief Storyteller, Yellow Bricks
Trevor Longino: Founder & CEO, CrowdTamers
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
Zach Messler: Founder, 26th Letter LLC (zachmessler.com)
Zoe Qiao

And many more to be announced.

Since 2009, the Founder Institute has helped over 8,100 Alumni raise over 1.9BN funding, get into seed-accelerators, generate traction, recruit a team, build a product, transition from employee to entrepreneur, and more (see the FI 10 Year Impact Report here).