Build a Great Startup in 2023 with the FI Austin Startup Accelerator

The Founder Institute, the world’s most proven network to turn ideas into fundable startups, is excited to announce that we are now accepting applications for the Austin program!

If you could use a structured process and a lifetime of support from Austin's top investors and entrepreneurs to build a startup, then apply to the Austin Founder Institute today.

About the FI Austin Program:

Since 2017, the Founder Institute Austin Chapter is the longest running FI program in the State of Texas, helping launch over 80 companies during that span. Notable graduates include GoalProfit (Acquired), Accelerate3D, knowRX, FocalPoint Procurement, Cinevva, Prowess Project, and many more. To date, alumni from the FI Texas chapters have rasied a total of $25M in pre-seed and seeed capital, and have been accepted into later-stage accelerators like Techstars, Draper Startup House/Draper University, SputnikATX, MassChallenge, and more.

In 2023, the FI Austin chapter officially transitioned back to in-person programming for the Spring and Fall Cohorts in partnership with the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce (read the press release here), a major first for any chapter globally since 2020. In partnering with the GACoC, Founder Institute Austin graduates recieve special perks including weekly access to in-person FI sessions at the Chamber Headquarters in downtown Austin, priority access to the Dell for Startups Program, discounted badges to the South by Southwest Conference and Music Festival (SXSW), exclusive access to special events like the Austin A-List Awards, Austin Startup Week, Austin Startup Ecosystem Summit, Texas Venture Crawl, and much more.

Grads [Photo: The FI Austin Spring 2023 Class, taken at the Austin Graduation Showcase on May 17th 2023, featuring special guest, Hugh Forrest, Co-President & Chief Programming Officer at SXSW]

Please note: This program will be run 100% in-person, weekly at the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce in Downtown Austin, Texas, with proper local safety precautions in place. Learn more here.

About Founder Institute

Since 2009, our highly-structured accelerator programs have helped entrepreneurs at the earliest stages grow quickly, know what to do next, and make connections with the largest community of startup advisors.

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.

To celebrate the launch, the Founder Institute will host several free online startup events in Austin, where you can learn from top entrepreneurs:

Austin Events:

FI Austin Fall 2024 Graduation Demo Day: 6:00pm, Dec 12, 2024 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/355158
Ask-Me-Anything with FI Texas Executive Director, Martín Martinez & 2025 Sneak Peak: 12:00pm, Dec 17, 2024 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/355153
Zoom Meet & Greet with Austin Directors & Alumni: 6:00pm, Jan 14, 2025 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/355151
Founder Institute Texas Presents: The State of Texas VC 2025: 6:00pm, Jan 29, 2025 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/355152

Global or Regional Events:

Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 12:00pm, Dec 02, 2024 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/358025
What is the DNA of an Entrepreneur? Insights from 15 Years of Research: 12:00pm, Dec 04, 2024 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/358033
Venture Trailblazers, featuring Ilya A. Strebulaev from Stanford: 11:00am, Dec 05, 2024 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/359401
Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 12:00pm, Dec 09, 2024 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/358040
Enterprise Sales 101 for Startup Founders: Closing Big Deals: 12:00pm, Dec 11, 2024 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/358419
Get Feedback on Your MVP from Product Experts & Find Early Users: 12:00pm, Dec 16, 2024 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/358047
Founder Showcase: Startup Pitch & Networking Event: 12:00pm, Dec 18, 2024 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/358054
Startup Funding AMA & Founder Institute Info Session, with Jonathan Greechan (CEO, Founder Institute): 12:00pm, Dec 30, 2024 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/360171
Startup Funding AMA & Founder Institute Info Session, with Jonathan Greechan (CEO, Founder Institute): 7:00pm, Jan 02, 2025 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/360284
Co-Founder Networking: Find a Technical Co-Founder: 12:00pm, Jan 08, 2025 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/361547
Startup to Scale-Up: Mastering Sales & Branding with Mark Kosoglow: 12:00pm, Jan 13, 2025 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/360930
What is the DNA of an Entrepreneur? Insights from 15 Years of Research: 7:00pm, Jan 22, 2025 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/361782

See all upcoming events

The Austin program is led by some of the region's top startup leaders, including Admin Austin, Martín Martinez (Executive Director, Founder Institute Texas), Riley Knox (-, -), Shane Brechmann (Director, Founder Institute Austin).

In addition, some of Austin's top investors, entrepreneurs, and CEOs will be participating in the program, providing them with expert feedback and evaluation. The list of startup mentors for the Austin Founder Institute includes:

Aaron Ali: CEO, Helix
Aaron Chavez: Managing Partner, (un)conventional ventures
Abdellah Aouf: Chief Executive Officer, GO PLATFORM
Abe Chu: Co-founder & CMO, NextSeed
Abhi Dobhal: Founder/ COO/CFO , Warehouse Republic
Abhishek Kumbhat: Dr, SapidBlue Technologies
Adam Weinroth: CMO & Advisor, Various Startups
Adeo Ressi: CEO, Decile Group / VC Lab
Aeryn Cagle
Aki Ohashi: Vice President, Evolution Ventures
Albert Baez: President, Blended Sense
Alexandru Bogdan: Co-CEO, Linnify
Amanda Lettmann: CEO, COO & Co-Founder, Kardia Ventures/ SimpleDisability, Inc.
Amanda Eakin, Sputnik ATX
Amanda Patterson: CEO, RocketFuel Labs
Amos Schwartzfarb: Managing Director, Techstars Austin
Andrew Millet: Founder, Process Pro Consulting
Andy Hart: Advisor, a Mana Project
Anita Roberts, Silicon Hills Capital
Anu Pansare: CEO, Volyx
Arturo Piña: President, ProductCamp Austin
Ashley Jennings: Managing Director , Texas Innovation Center - Technology Commercialization at UT Austin
Ashley Connell: CEO & Founder, Prowess Project
Becky Taylor: Interim Executive Director, Austin Technology Incubator
Ben Stacey: CEO, Pitchverk
Ben Chaib
Bob Bridge: Founder and Executive Director, SWAN Impact Network
Bora Laci: Assistant Director of Programs, SMU Tower
Bre Cruickshank: Founder & CEO, Radical Girl Gang
Brendan Kennedy: Co-President: Austin , Stanford Angels & Entrepreneurs Texas
Brett Beckett: Vice President - Finance & Strategy, Realogy - Independence Title
Brian Hammer: Founder & CEO, Residual Media
Brian Childress: Architect, Technical Advisor, Calendly
Brian Sparkes: Head of Communications, Bay Angels
Brianna Mc Kernon: Chief of Staff, Aspen Insights
Candace Ohm: Founder, Canz.Art
Candice Digby: Partnerships and Events Director, Vapor IO
Cara McCarty: CEO, Betterleave
Caroline Healey: Director , Antler
Catalin Briciu: Co-Founder | Co-CEO, Linnify
Chad Barrett: Business Performance Adviser, Insperity
Charles Martin: Co-Founder , Flux Bucket
Chintan Oza: Founder, Anantam Ecosystems
Chris Palmisano: Investor, Sano Ventures, LLC
Chris Turnley: Chief Revenue Officer
Chris Smurthwaite: Founder, VC Insider
Christiana Yebra: CEO, Vouch
Corey Rose: Vice President, Global Technology & Innovation, Opportunity Austin
Cs Freeland: Co-Founder, Texas Venture Association
Dana Rygwelski: Founding Director, MassChallenge Texas
Dana Marruffo: Principal, Buzz Public Relations, LLC
Dana Abramovitz: Founding Team, SXSW
Daniel Alvarez: Vice President, Disruptive Technology & Disruptive Commerce, JPMorgan Chase & Co
Daniel Hernandez: Founder & CEO, Palaterra
Daphne Bernicker: CEO, HumanAim
Dave Heimnuck: CEO / Founder, Hidrent
Dave Blake: Owner, Spirit Pieces
David Kobierowski
David Robinson Jr.: Founding Member, Blueprint Local
David Franklin: Founder & CEO, knowRX
David Gibson
David Mandel: Managing Partner, Managing PartnerManaging Partner Emerging Ventures Fund
David Valentino: Managing Director, Austin Venture Association
David Hendrawirawan: Founder, Data Integrity First
Dean Cruse: Principal, DC Marketing
Dennis Dayman: Startup Advisor & Seed Investor, Bluewater International, LLC
Dennis Menendez, Founder Institute Austin
Diane Yoo: Managing Partner, Medingenii Capital
Dianthe Skurko: Principal, GVC Partners
Dr. Nikki Siso: Founder, The Conscious Collective
Dustin Byington, Two12
Ed Latson: CEO & President, Opportunity Austin
Edward Madongorere: Co-Founder, CEO, Moon
Emma Borochoff: Head of Marketing, 8fig
Emmit Schultz: Founder & CEO, Savi, Inc.
Eric Fishhaut: President, Gelber & Associates
Eric Samdahl: CEO / Founder, GHSD Group
Eric Salwan: Co-founder, Firefly Aerospace
Erin Pitts: Founder / Creative Partner, The Label Collective
Ezinne Udezue, WP Engine
Fabian Geyrhalter: Founder and Principal, FINIEN
Francesco Cassinerio: Mentor, Founder Institute Texas
Frankie Arvelo: Startup Counsel, Arvelo PLLC
Franklin Kamnang Ngansop: Cofounder , Vitamin C&S Coaching
Gabriel Rucker: Co-Founder & CEO, Founding Titans
Garrett Dailey: Co-Founder; CEO, Lucid Consulting
Gennadiy Goldenshteyn: Managing Partner, First Principles, LLC
Ghazi Saddem: CEO, Ghazi Saddem Consulting
Gray Mc Dowell: Certified Business Performance Advisor, Insperity
Guc Ozenci: Tech-Entrepreneur | Mentor | Director | Investor, Founder Institute
Guy Parker: Chief Strategy & Creative Officer, Ambient Way
Harrison Wells: VC, Notley
Haynes Dallas: CEO, Managed Facility Solutions (MFS),
Hazel Chappell: CEO | Founder, ishca health Inc
Heath Butler: Founder/Managing Partner, Gestalt Growth Advisors
Heather Buffo: Venture Growth & Partnerships
Heidi Leach: Vice President, Emerging Tech & Disruptive CommerceVice President, Emerging Tech & Disruptive Commerce, JP Morgan
Horacio Rodriguez Rilo: Founder, Boop
Howard Freidman: Managing Partner, Bluechip Jets
Hugh Forrest: Chief Programming Officer, SXSW
Ian Bidot, Jon Brumley Texas Venture Labs
Ignacio Castro: Managing Partner, 128vc
Ivelin Ivanov: Mentor, FI
Jacqueline Hughes: Founder, Austin Startup Week
Jaleh Daie, Ph.D: Chairman/Founder, AgFoodHealthSpan (AFH Vertical), Band of Angels
James Phelan: Investment & Growth, The Cannon
Janice Omadeke: CEO, The Mentor Method
Jasmin Brand: Founder / CEO, Her Texas
Jasmin Brand: CEO and Founder, Her Texas
Jason Taylor: Executive Director
Jason Assir: Principal Consultant, Opex Digital Consulting
Jason Scharf: Creator and Co-Host, Austin Next
Jason Rigolli
Jason Rigolli: Mahdlo, CRO
Jason W. Taylor: President & Founder, CodeLaunch Accelerator
Javier Arriagada: Founder & CEO, Straton Investments
Javy Martinez: Managing Director | Startup Advisor | Event Host, Founder Institute North Texas
Jeff Eversmann: Mentor, FI
Jenaro Diaz: Founder & CIO, Minero
Jodie Slater Hastings: Co-Founder , The Slate
Joe Daniels: Partner, Co-Chair - Emerging Companies, Partner & Co-Chair, Emerging Companies Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough
Joe Beard: Founder / CEO, Advisor
Joey Jones: Co-Founder/Chief Revenue & Compliance Officer, CurveBlock Ltd
John Bianchi: CEO, The Omega Agency
Jonathan Libby: Partner Development Manager, Tableau
Jose Padilla
Jose Angel Ortega: Investor, VC
José Luis Silva Vázquez: Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Dux Capital
Joseph Liu: Venture Partner, Wise Ocean
Joyce Durst: CEO & Co-Founder , Acceleration Growth Partners
Juan Thurman: Managing General Partner, SWAN Impact Fund
Juan Martinez: Founder, HyveCity
Judy Tsuei: Founder, Wild Hearted Words
June W Choi: Managing Partner, Serval Ventures
Justin Mc Kenzie: Vice President, Bandera Electric Cooperative
Katie Russel: Executive Director, Central Texas Angel Network
Kelly Caviglia: Director - Head of Startup Banking, Bridge Bank
Ken Pomella: Business Coach & Consultant, Ken Pomella, LLC
Kendall Gallagher: Head of Sales , Skaled
Kennie Matthews: Chairman & CEO, M Infrastructure, Inc.
Kevin Sharp: General Partner, WIV Ventures
K.J. Royal: Founder, Join Sprints
Kristie Whites: FOUNDER & CEO, Serving Social
Kristy Alballero: Co-Founder & CFO, IOOGO
Kwame Boler: Co-Founder & CEO, Spritz
Kyle Wiggins, Assembly
Laura Kamrath: CEO, Zebra Marketing Solutions
Lauren Washington: Co-Founder, Black Women Talk Tech/Fundr
Lauren Postler: Founder & Managing Partner, Solution Focused
Levi McMellian: CEO | Founding Partner | Managing Director, CFO4Life
Lily Turner: Manager, Global Investment & Innovation, Opportunity Austin
Lito Rodriguez: Partner, DWX Par
Liz Deering: Owner, Haven
Logan Jennings: Managing Partner, Global Profit Advisors
Lucas Chaya Del Pino: Entrepreneur - RE investor, CHL Rentals
Malcolm Woods: Founder - Alumni, Meander Travel
Mara Rada: Chief Operations and Strategy, Loon (loonbio.com)
Marc Nathan: Senior Director of Market Development, Michael Best & Friedrich LLP
Marcos Rodriguez: Mentor Investor, Rodriguez Capital Holdings LLC
Maria Pienaar: Principal, First Principles
Mariana Muntean: Founder & CEO, Cinevva
Mariano Gonzalez: Founder and General Partner, MGV Capital Group
Mario Soave: Founder, CleverFi
Marlon Montgomery: Director of Technology & Product , Globant / MediaTech.ventures
Martín Martinez: Founding & Executive Director, Founder Institute Texas
Maryna Burushkina: Founder, GrowthChannel
Matt Brown: HEAD OF TECH & GLOBAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, Galaxy Venture Capital
Mauricio Delgado: Co-founder and CPO, Nada
Maxim Nazarov: Investment Director , FinSight VC
Melisa Pinto-Rivera, MS: Founder, Creativa Impact Capital
Melissa Unsell-Smith: Co-founder and President, https://rectifydata.com
Mellie Price: Executive Director, Texas Venture Labs, University of Texas at Austin
Mercedes Bankston: Founder, Funderstar LTD
Miao Yan: Global Product Manager-Alternate Energy, Xylem
Michael Morton: CEO, Morton Consulting Group
Michelle Witt: Principal, Propelled Marketing
Mike Breck: Principal, Acuity Thinking
Mike Solow: Partner
Molly Walsh: Director, Founder Institute, Miami Florida
Muhammad Hamza Altaf, Soop.io
Najiba Wajiha Mahboob: CEO, Toureela
Nakevia Miller: Founder, Nakevia Designs
Narek Gevorgyan
Natasha Gorodetsky: Founder&Head of Product, Product Pursuits
Nathan Ryan: CEO and Co-Founder, Blue Sky Partners
Navin Jagannath: Principal, KRP Consulting
Neha Sampat: Founder, CEO, Contentstack
Nelly Yusupova: Founder, TechSpeak.co
Nelly Yusupova: Founder, TechSpeak.co
Nick Hahn: President & Founder, Creative Liberation
Nikola Korac: CEO, Downstream IT Solutions
Noah Wallach: Founder, Hope OS
Oji Udezue, Typeform
Oleg Lysiak: Partner Success Manager, Honeycomb Software
Omar Zaki: Founder, Qima Ventures
Pablo Vidal Arean: CMO, VC Lab
Paola Origel: Co-Founder & Managing Partner, ChainLink Capital
Paul O'Brien: CEO, MediaTech Ventures
Pavan Kumar: Founder, 3pmVentures
Peter Busch, Meet Jane
Prerna Sharma: Associate Partner , Antler
Q Manning: Head of Design, SmartAC.com
Rafael Kartaszynski: CEO, TechEdge Developers
Rahul Agarwal: Principal Technical Product Manager, Hasura
Rajesh Gopi, TWO12
Ram Prasad: Fractional CPO/CTO, Delence
Richard Delgado: Partner, ERA Capital Partners
Riley Knox: Founder, Accelerate3D
Robert Balderas: Founder & CEO, Bob's Containers
Rogelio De los Santos: Cofounder and Managing Partner, Dalus Capital & FI Monterrey
Roger Heaston: President & CEO, Refinition
Roland Peña: SVP Global Tech & Innovation, Opportunity Austin
Saima Siddiqui: Director of Product Management, Joyride.com
Sally Aiello: Business Development, Walmart
Samuel Riehn: Chief Executive Officer, SBIR Advisors Inc.
Sara Davidson: Managing Partner, Undeniable Ventures
Scott G. Cornelius: VP, Refinition
Sean Bauld: Founder & Chief Experiment Officer, spxk
Sean Voigt: Founder & Managing Director, Mount Koya Capital & Advisors
Sebastien Long: Founder & CEO, Lodgeur
Shane Brechmann: Founder & CEO, Topmost Ventures
Shelby Stephens: Founder & CEO, GrowthMatch
Shlomi Podgaetz: Director/CEO, Rizasmart Consulting
Shree Moorthy: Senior Vice President, Vertex Software
Sloan Foster: Principal , Envisage Associates
Sneha Lundia Agrawal: Founder & CEO, Step2Growth
Sophia Clark: Founder & Creative Director, Galiatea
Stefan Brunner: Angel Investor , CTAN
Stephanie Lopez: Vice President, JPMorgan Chase & Co
Stephanie Mc Kee Zielinski: Host & Producer, INSIDE.COM
Sterling Smith: CEO, Sandbox Commerce
Steve Jennis: Founder and CEO, Jennis Consulting Group
Tarun Gulati: Founder & CEO, Adios
Taylor Johnson: Partner, Performance Coach, The Liminal Collective
Thom Singer: CEO, Austin Technology Council
Tiana Laurence: GP, Laurence Innovation
Tim De Silva: Founder & CEO, Culture Pilot
Tony Banning: Chairman, Smash
Trey Ikard, WIV Ventures
Ty Audronis: Founder/ ceo, Tempest Droneworx
Ty Audronis: CEO, Tempest Droneworx
Tyler Durman: CEO & Founder, Ignition Growth Consulting
Ugochi Owo: CEO, Flindel
Unnat Bak: CEO, Revscale
Valentina Gomez: CX-UX-UI Designer, Yonderinteractive
Valliappan Narayanan: Director of Engineering, AT&T
Vidhi Data, She Raises Capital
Vivek Dixit: Managing Partner , 369 Growth Partners
Wesley Grottesman: Partner, Brand Foundry Ventures
William Douglas: CEO, OpticWise
Wogbe Ofori: Founder, Wrx Companies
Yagub Rahimov: Founder, Polygraf AI
Yemi Oluseun: Growth & GTM For FinTechs, The Change Hive
Yj Lin: Senior Program Manager, Dell
YJ Lin: Program Manager, Dell for Entrepreneurs