New Normal, New Opportunities: Build a Great Startup in 2023 with the FI Washington DC 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 Washington DC program! The hybrid program consists of virtual weekly sessions and monthly in-person events to connect with the mentors, investors and the ecosystem players.

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

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 the global FI platform, where you can learn from top entrepreneurs:

* What is Entrepreneur DNA? Insights from 15 Years of Social Science Research: 1:00pm, Apr 29, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/343615 * Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession * Co-Founders Connect: Find a Business Partner Online: 8:00pm, May 01, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/343632 * How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas (Interactive Online Event): 1:00pm, May 08, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/343639 * Innovation Series: Connecting Corporates & Startups with Open Innovation: 12:00pm, May 09, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/345278 * Startup Founders' Guide to Building an Effective Go-To-Market Strategy: 1:00pm, May 15, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/345494 * How to Build a Fundable Start-up Brand: 1:00pm, May 20, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/343650 * Employee to Entrepreneur: How to Make the Transition to Startup Founder: 8:00pm, May 22, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/343840 * Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 8:00pm, May 27, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/345502 * How to Quickly Establish Safe, Reliable, and Compliant AI Startups: 1:00pm, May 29, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/343849 * What is Entrepreneur DNA? Insights from 15 Years of Social Science Research: 1:00pm, Jun 03, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/343489 * Ask an Investor Anything: Q&A with a Venture Capitalist: 8:00pm, Jun 05, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/343860 * How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 8:00pm, Jun 10, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/345627 * Employee to Entrepreneur: How to Make the Transition to Startup Founder: 1:00pm, Jun 12, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/345638 * Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 1:00pm, Jun 17, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/345657 * How to Take a Value Proposition to Finding Product Market Fit: 1:00pm, Jun 24, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/343675 * Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 1:00pm, Jun 26, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/345154 * Employee to Entrepreneur: How to Make the Transition to Startup Founder: 8:00pm, Jul 01, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/345686 * How Founders Beat Anxiety for Peak Performance : 1:00pm, Jul 03, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/345706 * How to Acquire your First 100 B2C Customers: 1:00pm, Jul 08, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/344466 * Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 8:00pm, Jul 15, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/345732 * Startup Fundraising Q&A: Meet Investors from the FI Venture Network: 1:00pm, Jul 17, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/345754 * What is Entrepreneur DNA? Insights from 15 Years of Social Science Research: 8:00pm, Jul 22, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/343997 * How to Build a Personal Brand: The Startup Founders Guide to Thought Leadership: 1:00pm, Jul 24, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/343180 * How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas : 1:00pm, Jul 29, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/345770 * Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 8:00pm, Aug 05, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/345780 * What is Entrepreneur DNA? Insights from 15 Years of Social Science Research: 1:00pm, Aug 12, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/344144 * What is Entrepreneur DNA? Insights from 15 Years of Social Science Research: 8:00pm, Sep 09, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/344243 * Startup Fundraising Q&A: Meet Investors from the FI Venture Network: 1:00pm, Sep 16, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/345893 * How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 1:00pm, Sep 23, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/343596 * Startup Fundraising Q&A: Meet Investors from the FI Venture Network: 8:00pm, Oct 14, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/345923 * Employee to Entrepreneur: How to Make the Transition to Startup Founder : 1:00pm, Nov 04, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/343381 * Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 8:00pm, Nov 18, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/344732 * What is Entrepreneur DNA? Insights from 15 Years of Social Science Research: 8:00pm, Nov 25, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/345475 * What is the DNA of an Entrepreneur? Insights from 15 Years of Research: 1:00pm, Dec 04, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/345382 * Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 1:00pm, Dec 09, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/344844 * How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 1:00pm, Dec 16, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/344963

See all upcoming events

The Washington DC program is led by some of the region's top startup leaders, including Brian Bassett (Director, Simple Thread), Guc Ozenci ( Managing Partner, Axent Ventures).

In addition, some of Washington DC'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 Washington DC Founder Institute includes:

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
Arcui Usoara: Founder/CEO, Iaculus
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
Craig Snodgrass
Cynthia Gilmer
Dan Hnatkovskyy: CEO and Co-Founder, Propertymate
Dan Myers: Co-Founder & Partner, 42Phi Ventures
Daniel Kroepfl: Vice President, TELE Controls Inc.
Daniel Shires: Consultant, Independent
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
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.
Jomy Methipara: Business and intellectual property (IP) Attorney, Dickinson Wright
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: Innovation & Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Catalyst, 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: Principal, SSCP
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