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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 Washington DC's top investors and entrepreneurs, then apply to the Washington DC Fall 2022 Founder Institute today.

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

  • Ask an Investor Anything: Q&A with a Venture Capitalist: 1:00pm, Apr 15, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/338416
  • Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
  • Building a Fundable Start-up Brand: 1:00pm, May 20, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/338829
  • Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 8:00pm, May 27, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/339422
  • How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 8:00pm, Jun 10, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/339744
  • Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 1:00pm, Jun 17, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/339959
  • How to Turn your Value Proposition into a Product Market Fit: 1:00pm, Jun 24, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/341499
  • Employee to Entrepreneur: How to Make the Transition to Startup Founder: 1:00pm, Jul 01, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/340271
  • Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 8:00pm, Jul 15, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/341283
  • Startup Fundraising Q&A: Meet Investors from the FI Venture Network: 1:00pm, Jul 17, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/341383

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 Washington DC accelerator is led by some of the region's top startup leaders, including Brian Bassett and Guc Ozenci. In addition, some of DC and the region's top entrepreneurs will be participating as mentors in the program, including:

  • Abdellah Aouf: Chief Executive Officer, GO Platform
  • Abid Masood: Founder, Buddio
  • Alan Ocana: Founder & CEO, Consolhub and BBC CARGO
  • Allan Wilson: Founder & Managing Director, Flat Rock Solutions
  • Allyson Redpath: Board Member, Westchester Land Trust
  • Amelia Friedman: Co-founder, Hatch
  • Andres Jordan: Founder, Factor6, LLC
  • Angela Long: Managing Director & Brand Strategist, Brand Wagon Digital
  • Angela Olanike Akinbohun: Founder, Inventor, Pandora 21 Consultants
  • Anne Rosenblum: Business Investment and Capital Attraction Manager, Fairfax County Economic Development Authority
  • Anuj Agrawal: Chief Marketing Officer, Earth Networks
  • Ario Keshani: Startup Advisor, AWS
  • Ashtan Moore: Co-Founder, Model B
  • Aydin Bolkar: VP of International Operations, Alarm.com
  • Benjamin Young: CEO, Sworkit
  • Bill Stokes: Founder & Chairman, Washington Network Group (WNG)
  • Bo Wang: Vice President, Juggernaut Capital Partners
  • Brant Cooper: Author | CEO | Founder, Moves the Needle
  • Brent Halliburton: Brent Halliburton - VP of Products, Verve Wireless (Washington DC FI) , Verve Wireless
  • Brian Bassett: Director, Simple Thread
  • Brian Childress: Architect, Technical Advisor, Calendly
  • Brian Christie: CEO, Brainsy
  • Bryan Duarte: Managing Partner, BlackTech Capital
  • Cameron Powell: CEO + Partner, High Performance Story + Gregor Wynne Arney PLLC
  • Carlos De Paula: Founder & Managing Director, Acadia Partners
  • C. Derek Campbell: CEO, Blue Holding Oceans
  • Chintan Oza: Founder, Anantam Ecosystems
  • Chris Haug: Founder and CEO, 360° Venture Management Group
  • Christie Thompson: Partner, Campfire & Co.
  • Christopher Wink: Publisher and CEO , Technically Media
  • Christopher Rogers: Partner, Lumia Capital
  • C'pher Gresham: Founder, Front Row
  • Cq Huynh: Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs
  • Cynthia Gilmer
  • Dan Hnatkovskyy: CEO and Co-Founder, Propertymate
  • Dan Myers: Co-Founder & Partner, 42Phi Ventures
  • Daniel Kroepfl: Vice President, TELE Controls Inc.
  • Danielle Tate: Founder & CEO, MissNowMrs.com & Elegant Entrepreneur
  • Dave Mc Carthy: Executive Director, Potential Energy DC
  • Dave Hall: CEO, DLH Technology Advisors
  • Dave Feldman: Executive Director, Bethesda Green
  • David Giannini: Chairman and CEO, Cirrusworks, Inc.
  • David Roberts: CEO, Anovium
  • David Pickeral: Head of Strategy, Sheeva.ai
  • Debra Cancro: SVP Data Products, Bigtincan
  • Ed Harrell: Managing Partner, Harrell Capital Partners LLC
  • Ed English: Chief Product Officer, Higher Logic
  • Elizabeth B-Amissah
  • Ellis Rosenberg: Vice President, Sales, WellDoc, Inc
  • Emily McMahan: Partner, Academy Investor Network
  • Eric Koefoot: Founder & CEO, PublicRelay, Inc.
  • Erna Redzepagic: Social Impact Accelerator, Halcyon
  • Esmael Dinan: Founder & CEO, Offino
  • Eylem Senyuz: Director, Truist Wealth
  • Frances Reimers: Principal , Firestarter
  • Fred Cohen: Founder and CEO, Angel to Exit
  • Frederic Gumbinner: Managing Partner , G2 Development Partners
  • Gabriela Oporto: Founder, Selia
  • Geneviève Nixon-Weems: Founder and CEO, Geneviève Global
  • Gira Wieczorek: Managing Partner / Co-Founder, Aleberry
  • Guc Ozenci: Tech-Entrepreneur | Mentor | Director | Investor, Founder Institute
  • Guillermo Ortiz De Zarate: President, Lineup Teams
  • Gül Branco: People and Culture Transformation Leader, Branco Development Group
  • Hank Yuan: Venture Partner, VU Ventures | , Venture Associate, Republic
  • Hannah Kim: Shwappe, Founder & CEO
  • Hatice Murphy: Director, Infuze International
  • Henry Hunter: ceo, Incidr
  • Hooman Kazerani: Sr VP, ICF
  • Howard Eisenberg: Founder , EuroSort
  • Isabel Pablo: Founder, GK Innovations Lab
  • Iskender Uguz: Head of Small Business Lending and Decision Sciences, Capital One
  • Jamil Ramsey: Founder and CEO, Snap Contacts
  • Jeb Ory: Startup Advisory (exited founder), N/A
  • Joe Daniels: Partner, Co-Chair - Emerging Companies, Partner & Co-Chair, Emerging Companies Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough
  • Johan Holmberg: Senior Associate, Second Century Ventures
  • John Holaday: Chairman and CEO, DisposeRx Inc.
  • Josh Rosenthal: Founder & CEO, CloudSploit
  • Joshua M Frankel: VP of Marketing, LogicBoost Labs
  • June W Choi: Managing Partner, Serval Ventures
  • Justin Etheredge: Partner, Simple Thread
  • Kaitlin Capobianco: Senior Manager, Fellow Community and Recruitment , Halcyon
  • Kathie Brady: CEO Group Chair, Vistage
  • Keith Segerson: CEO, P3 Innovation Strategies
  • Ken Gordon: Co-founder and CEO, VALR
  • Kevin Fulmer: Director, Alex Brown Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation
  • Kiki Ramsey: Founder, Kiki Ramsey International
  • Kuzeyhan Ozdemir: Lean Startup Mentor, Founder Institute
  • Kyle Brown: Founder - CEO
  • Laura Clark: VP, Brand Development , MeatMe Pet Food
  • Laura Shibut: Program Manager, Lighthouse Labs RVA
  • Leena Palav: Board Member, Strategy Advisor, COO, Med devices, health tech
  • Leonardo Garcia: Senior IoT & 5G Solutions Consultant, AT&T
  • Lisa Friedlander: Founder Board Member, Citrine Angels
  • Lisa Garcia: Business Commercialization Consultant and Coach, Lisa K. Garcia, LLC
  • Liz Sara: Managing Director, Best Marketing, LLC
  • Liz Ward: Head, Zebox America
  • Liza Rodewald: Co-founder, Instant Teams
  • Loni Faraci: Director of Product , Co-Star
  • Marc Trost: Founder, M&T CPA PLLC
  • Marco Rubin: Senior Investment Director, VIPC
  • Marcos Filho: Full-time MBA student, University of Michigan Ross School of Business
  • Mark Kass: Senior Counsel , Crowell & Moring LLP
  • Mashea Ashton: Founder and CEO , Digital Pioneers Academy
  • Matt Mandell: Principal, PayNerd.com
  • Matt Hanson: Co-Founder, PAX Momentum
  • Maura O'brien Ali: CEO and Managing Director, American Growth Solutions
  • Max Kryzhanovskiy: President, MOS Creative
  • Melissa Akkaway: Partner, The Particulars
  • Michael Riemer: Advisor, ABJJ Consulting
  • Michelle Pham: Counsel, Crowell & Moring LLP
  • Mirza Baig: Partner, Aldrich Capital Partners
  • Murat Karabulut: Senior Solutions Architect
  • Nadine Zerrini: Corporate Innovation Leader, Harvard University
  • Naresh Verma: Analyst - Mentor - Coach - Product Design, Data Visualization, Yoova
  • Natcha Thawesaengskulthai: Global Chief Innovation Officer, Chulalongkorn University
  • Navroop Mitter: CEO, ArmorText
  • Neil Kleinberg, DiliVer
  • Neil Shah: Founder & CEO, ThinkNimble
  • Nicola Corzine: Executive Director , Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center
  • Nii Simmonds: Global Advisor, The Knowledge Pledge
  • Nimish Jalan: COO, Big Red Group
  • Nitin Pradhan: Founder and CEO , ScaleUP
  • Noah Wallach: Founder, Hope OS
  • Olivier Meganck: Founder & CEO, TheList.wtf
  • Onur Kutlu Gago: Founder & Growth Coach, Tale
  • Patrick Bryant: CEO, CODE/+/TRUST
  • Patty Simonton: Strategic Initiatives Manager, Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation
  • Paul Singh: Chief Hustler, Results Junkies
  • Peter Ettinger
  • Pierre Gomez: Program Manager, Systems and Technology Research (STR)
  • Rajesh Rai: Partner, Montane Ventures
  • Rajiv Madhok: Founder, Oorja
  • Ram Boreda: VP, Egnyte
  • Randy Reade: Co-founder, Washington ArchAngels
  • Richard Rothstein: CEO, Rothstein Consulting
  • Rokas Beresniovas: Head of Growth, Commercial and Small Business Leading, NIH Federal Credit Union
  • Ronit Avni: Founder , Just Vision
  • Rosemarie Truman: Founder and CEO, Ignite Social Impact
  • Sam Feigi: Partner, Crowell & Moring LLP
  • Sameer Sortur: Founding Partner, SquareCircle Ventures
  • Sammy Popat: Campus Connector, University of Maryland
  • Sandeep Aneja: Founder & Managing Partner, Kaizenvest
  • Sandy Vasan: Founder , outcomes.work
  • Sanjay Prasad: Founder/ CEO, SurgiPrice/ SurgiConnect
  • Sarah Bassett: Research Director , US. House of Representatives, Committee on Financial Services (minority-side staff)
  • Sean Makulowich: Founder/CEO, IdeaFire™
  • Seema Alexander: CEO, Disruptive CEO Advisory
  • Sever Totia: Partner, 3TS Capital Partners
  • Shahed Amanullah: Managing Director, Frost Capital
  • Shani Peled: Founder & Managing Partner, TechnoArt
  • Simon Okeke: CEO, Jet Star Logistics
  • Şirin Köprücü: Principal, Strategic Straits
  • Solomon Asad: Venture Partner, Forward Deployed VC
  • Spencer Hansen: Director of User Experience & Design, Simple Thread
  • Sriram Gollapalli: Managing Director, Long Angle
  • Stanley Mc Chrystal: Founder , McChrystal Group
  • Stephen Lehman: Chairman and CEO , CoFounders Lab
  • Stephen DiLorenzo: Partner, Carter, DeLuca & Farrell LLP
  • Steve Ryan: Counsel, Crowell & Moring LLP
  • Steven A. Rodriguez: Venture Catalyst, STVNRCO
  • Sumit Saraf: Managing Partner, IHQ Ventures LLC
  • The Bob Kolodney, HBS Alumni Angels
  • Tien Wong: Founder and CEO, Lore
  • Tom Smith: Co-founder, Truss
  • Tony Amer: Managing Partner, TRANSFORMity
  • Tovit Neizer: Chief Storyteller, Yellow Bricks
  • Tyrone Taylor: President, Capitol Advisors on Technology, Former NASA Director
  • Ufuk Demirci: Global Head, Venture Funds, IFC
  • Vikram Dhawan: Founder & CEO, KnoetiK Solutions Inc.,
  • Wa'il Ashshowwaf: Co-Founder & CEO, Unstuck Labs
  • Wayne Lifshitz: Sr Director, Chemonics
  • Yemi Oluseun: Founder/ CEO - Fintech, SaaS Business Growth, Automation & Change Management, The Change Hive
  • YouMon Tsang: Founder and CEO, ChurnZero
  • Yvonne Quahe: Trainer, Facilitator, Coach and Author, WBFN
  • Zac Blanco: Senior Manager, Keiter

  • And many more to be announced.

Since 2009, Founder Institute’s highly-structured accelerator programs have helped over 7,000 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 $1.75BN in funding, and are building impactful businesses across 200+ cities and 100+ countries all across the globe. (see the FI 50 Report here).

Join us in DC to get funded and build a global business. 

Apply to the Washington DC Fall 2022 Founder Institute today, or learn more at FI.co/overview.  

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