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 Los Angeles Spring 2026 program!
If you could use a structured process and a lifetime of support from Los Angeles's top investors and entrepreneurs to build a startup, then apply to the Los Angeles Spring 2026 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 Los Angeles, where you can learn from top entrepreneurs:
- Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 10:00am, Nov 24, 2025 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/383010
- Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
- How to Build Your 2026 Startup Operations Plan: 10:00am, Dec 01, 2025 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/383032
- Hiring for Startups: How to Build Your Team Early: 10:00am, Dec 08, 2025 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/383104
- Founder Showcase: Startup Pitch & Networking Event, with Jenny Fielding (Everywhere Ventures): 9:00am, Dec 10, 2025 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/383054
- How to Create Sustainable Economic Growth through Capacity Building: 10:00am, Dec 18, 2025 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/384592
- Co-Founder Networking: Find Your Perfect Match in 2026: 8:00am, Jan 06, 2026 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/383248
- Brainstorm a Great Startup Idea for 2026: Online Workshop: 5:00pm, Jan 20, 2026 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/384262
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 10:00am, Jan 26, 2026 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/383074
- Meet Global Alumni from Founder Institute: 10:00am, Feb 02, 2026 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/383915
- How to Adopt an Entrepreneurial Mindset: 5:00pm, Feb 09, 2026 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/383726
The Los Angeles program is led by some of the region's top startup leaders, including Serephina Ha (Managing Director, Founder Institute - LA).
In addition, some of Los Angeles'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 Los Angeles Founder Institute includes:
- Aaron Ross: Author, Predictable Revenue
- Aaron Abram: Entrepreneur with 1 exit & Advisor., Pricestack, Kangarootime, & Osurv
- Abdellah Aouf: Chief Executive Officer, GO PLATFORM
- Adeo Ressi: CEO, Decile Group / VC Lab
- Aeolan Kelly: CEO & Founder, Benchmark Equine
- Alan Cole: Alan Cole - CEO, GovX (San Diego FI), Gov X
- Alex Lightman: Alex Lightman - Chairman, Witkit (Kuala Lumpur FI) , Witkit
- Alex Deighton: Serial Entrepreneur & Startup Advisor
- Alex Dang: Senior Advisor and Former Partner, McKinsey & Company
- Allison Silvers: Early-Stage Investor; Startup Advisor, Tech Coast Angels
- Ally Fekaiki: Founder and CEO, Juno
- Alphonzo Terrell: Co-Founder and CEO, Spill
- Amanda Lettmann: CEO, COO & Co-Founder, Kardia Ventures/ SimpleDisability, Inc.
- Amy Chang: CEO, Delta Nutrassentials
- Andy Abramson: CEO, Comunicano, Inc
- Angela Lee: CEO & Co Founder, From Fat to Finish Line
- Angelo Di Leva: Founder & CEO , Simply I Do, Inc.
- Anson Wu: Creative Director, Grey Journal
- Anthony Mazzarella: CEO, MyLife.com
- Ar Tabrizi: Co-Founder , Human 1st Ventures
- Ariel McNichol: CEO & Co Founder, SmartSpark
- Ashtan Moore: Entrepreneur, Portfolio Manager
- Atilio Spaccarotella: General Partner, Swivel Ventures
- Benjamin Narasin: Founder & General Partner, Tenacity Venture Capital
- Bennett Batten: CEO, Lumpsucker Studios
- Bernardo Herzer: CEO / Founder, LEHR Inc.
- Brian Liu: Chairman & Co-Founder, LegalZoom.com
- Bridgit Lombard: CEO & Founder, Marea Partners
- Brock Pierce: Vice Chairman, Affinity Media
- Bryan Hall: Principal Architect (San Diego FI), Seismic
- Charlie Jackson: Founder, Silicon Beach Software
- Chas Rampenthal: General Counsel, LegalZoom.com
- Cheryl Yeoh: EIR, Silicon Valley Bank
- Chris Snook: Managing Partner/Venture Catalyst in Residence, Launch Haus
- Chris Bechtel: Managing Partner, Growth Engine Labs
- Christopher Harz: Vice President, VirtualAgility
- Cliff Boro: Managing Partner , The Team Group, LLC.
- Corey Coto: CEO, Kaizen Insights
- Cory Rosenberg: CEO & Co-Founder , Biista
- Courtney Nichols Gould: CEO & Co Founder, SmartyPants Inc.
- Craig Hagopian: CEO & Founder, Chalk Media Holdings, Inc.
- Dan Shapiro: Dan Shapiro - Founder, Sparkbuy (Seattle FI) , Stealth
- Daniel Landsman: Aerospike, Head of NA/MarTech/Gaming
- David Johnson: Co Founder & Chairman of the Board, From Fat to Finish Line
- Delilah Panio: Vice President, Capital Formation, TMX Group
- Derrick Oien: CEO & Founder
- Dhaval Waghulde: Lead Systems Engineer, Rivian
- Dimitri Villard: CEO, Live Longer, Inc.
- Dolly Singh: CEO & Founder, Thesis Couture
- Don Di Pietro: Co-Founder/COO, XIRKL Networks
- Don Swan: Private Equity Associate, Skyview Capital
- Donna Antebi: CEO
- Eddie Hartman: co-Founder, LegalZoom
- Edmond Banayan: Entrepreneur / CEO / VP of Biz Development / Board Observer / Investor / Mentor, See LinkedIn
- Elizabeth Topp: CEO & Co Founder, MOD - Meaningful Organizational Design
- Evan Rifkin: CEO, Burstly.com
- Fabian Geyrhalter: Founder and Principal, FINIEN
- Fabrice Gould: Founder & CEO, Diggen
- Francisco Dezen: Business Development , Vidya Technologies
- Frank Mastronuzzi: Founding Partner, Punch Financial
- Franklin Kamnang Ngansop: Co-Founder, Vitamin CS Coaching
- Fred Joyal: Fred Joyal - CEO & Co-Founder, Futuredontics (Los Angeles FI) , Futuredontics
- Gabe Zichermann: CEO, Failosophy
- Gaurav Bhattacharya: CEO & Co-Founder , Involve.ai
- George Bandarian Ii: Founder & Managing Partner, ValueScaler
- Gioia Messinger: Gioia Messinger - Founder and Chairman, Avaak, Inc. (San Diego/Orange County FI), LinkedObjects, Inc.
- Greg Hallinan: Founder & CEO, ModMedia, Inc
- Gregg Spiridellis: CEO, JibJab
- Hany Alhamidi: Founder, eMentoring
- Henri Duong: Founder, Principal, Enclave Web Group (EWG)
- Irving Hsu: Investor, Mayfield Fund
- Jad Meouchy: CTO, Angel Investor
- Jake Tan: Founder, ErgoTune
- Janet Todorova: Head of Expansion, Founder Institute
- Jason Calacanis: Entrepreneur, Angel Investor, Author, LAUNCH, All In, This Week in Startups
- Jason Nazar: Jason Nazar - Co Founder & CEO, Crew32
- Jason Pang: COO, Bodymatter, Inc.
- Jason Butcher: Founder & CEO, Orbit Capital
- Jay Samit: Former CEO, SocialVibe
- Jay Tsao: CEO & Founder, GM Technologies
- Jay Kossifos: Founder & CEO, Pay Close Attention, Brand & Venture Partners
- Jayla Siciliano: Founder, Bon Affair
- Jeffrey Paine: Founding Partner, Golden Gate Ventures, Singapore
- Jenny Pollock: Founder, Women and AI
- Jesse Dylan: CEO, Wondros
- Jilliene Helman: Co-Founder & CEO, Realty Mogul
- Jimmy Hendricks: Jimmy Hendricks - CEO & Co-Founder, , Light Post Digital & Deal Current Network
- Joe Betts Lacroix: CTO, Vium
- Joe Bezdek: Co-founder, DivX, Inc.
- Joe Bayen: CEO, Credit Plus
- John Girard: CEO, CIENCE
- Jon Carder: CoFounder and CEO , Empyr
- Jon Funk: Founder & President, Ocean Road Partners
- Jong Choi: Co-Founder & Managing Director, Chaperone Ventures
- Jordan Greenhall: Co-Founder & Former CEO, DivX
- Joseph Yeh
- Joshua Azran: Founder, Azran Financial APC
- Joshua Lee: Founder & CEO, Ardius (Acquired by Gusto)
- Justin Wu: Founder, Growth.ly
- Ken Rutkowski: CEO / Founder, METal
- Ken Ong: Senior Vice President, Salesforce.com
- Kevin Yamazaki: CEO & Founder, Sidebench
- Kim Walpole: CEO & Co Founder, Trials.ai
- Liz Gasser: Managing Partner, High Camp Ventures
- Lucy Beard: Lucy Beard - CEO & Founder, feetZ
- Madeline Fraser: CEO & Founder, Gemist
- Manoj Khani: CEO & Founder, Memorita
- Mara Rada: Chief Operations and Strategy, Loon (loonbio.com)
- Marcos Polanco: CEO, Deedit
- Mark Landay: Managing Director, Dynamic Synergy
- Mark Hellinger: Chief Marketing Officer, InvolveSoft
- Mark Wald: Managing Director, Supporting Strategies
- Mark Wasiljew: Fractional Head of Partnerships, Breakmark Consulting
- Matt Walker: Founder, DayPoint
- Michael Stemple: Mike Stemple - Founder, Inspirer , Inspirer
- Michael Green: President , Tech Coast Angels
- Michael Taus: Founder / CMO / TechStars Mentor, Rent.com, CrowdStreet, Rentable, ApartmentIQ, Amplion, FoundersPad
- Mike Fleck: Vice President, Security, CipherPoint (a Covata Ltd. company)
- Mike Sherbakov: General Partner, The Veteran Fund
- Nektar Baziotis: Founder, ICARUS
- Nick Cates: Founder & CEO, Showpads.com
- Nitsan Tucker: COO & Co-Founder, Truemance, Inc.
- Noah Wallach: Founder, Hope OS
- Nolan Bushnell: CEO and Founder, uWink
- Oded Noy: Founder & CEO, Social Approach
- PASCHAL OFFORDUM: Associate , Shujaa Capital
- Patrick Barry: Founder and CEO, Kinduce
- Philip Lieberman: Founder/CEO, Analog Informatics Corporation
- Rafael Kartaszynski: CEO, TechEdge Dynamics
- Ralph Simon: Chairman Emeritus & Founder, MEF
- Rebecca Sadwick: Founder & Managing Partner, Strategica Partners
- Reichart Von Wolfsheild: Chief Software Architect, CTO & Co-Founder, Qtask
- Rick Hernandez: Redefined Logistics, Head of Business Development
- Ricky Velasquez: Founder, Mooch (exited)
- Rishi Sharma: West Coast Lead , Newlin VC
- Robert Tercek: President, General Creativity Consulting
- Robin Lee: Investment Screening Director, Tech Coast Angels
- Ronen Olshansky: Co Founder , CrossCampus
- Ruslan Nazarenko: Head of Growth, Scale AI
- Ryan Kaltman: CEO, Brevity Inc
- Sam Saddigh: CEO / Founder, Knightsbridge Branding
- Sam Strasser: Founder & CEO, Treasure
- Sameer Sortur: Founding Partner, SquareCircle Ventures
- Sarah Song: Startup Advisor, Los Angeles, CA
- Saumya Bhatnagar: CTO & Co-Founder, Involve.ai
- Scott Painter: Co Founder, BrightHouse
- Scott Wayman: Founder & CEO, Kangarootime
- Sean Markin: CEO & Co Founder, Myvana
- Serephina Ha: Managing Director, Founder Institute - Los Angeles
- Sergey Sundukovskiy: Co-Founder, CTO and Chief Product Officer, Certemy
- Seth Shapiro: President
- Shaahin Cheyene: Founder and President, Podcastcola Inc.
- Shar Ghoudsifar: Founder & CEO, Helpkin
- Shuki Lehavi: CEO & Co-Founder, Gumiyo
- Simon Mainwaring: CEO, Mainwaring Creative
- Sina Roshan: Cofounder & CPO, Peekage (Techstars 2020)
- Siobhan Oldham: CEO & Founder , Azestfor, Inc.
- Snow Lee: Co-Founder & CEO, Runbear
- Steen Strand: Director, Snap
- Stephane Fymat: Founder & CEO, Smartplane Inc.
- Stephen Meade: Founder & CEO, MonetaPro
- Steve Hansen: CEO, WePlay
- Steve Lehman: Co-Founder, "C" Student Entertainment
- Stuart Oden: CEO, JLink
- Susy Pang: Director of Customer Operations, InvolveSoft
- Talha Basit: Co-Founder & CEO, Spiraldot Health
- Taryn Rose: CEO
- Taylor Milsal: Managing Director, Cotor Inc
- Taylor Cavanah: CEO & CO-Founder, Locai, Inc.
- Thom Kozik: CEO/Co-Founder, Eventual.app
- Tim Drees: Co Founder & Prior CEO
- Tim Suski: Co Founder, Rush Cycle
- Todd Terrazas: Founder, President, & Executive Director, AI LA
- Tom Marchesello: Investor Trend & Strategy Director, United States Fund
- Tom Andrus: GM & SVP
- Tony Karrer: Tony Karrer - CEO/CTO, TechEmpower (Los Angeles FI), TechEmpower
- Tony Greenberg: Chairman and Founder, RampRate
- Travis Schmidt: Founder, WorldFare
- Trevor Jensen: CEO, Bullibone
- Tyler Turner: Founder & CEO, Beauy Fox
- Vidya Dinamani: Co Founder & Principal, Product Rebels
- Vince Kohli: Serial Entrepreneur & Super Angel Investor, Deleted
- Walter O'brien: CEO, Scorpion Computer Services
- Wayne Bos: Chairman, Minergy
- Wesley St. Louis: Founder, CEO, HecTech
- William Quigley: CEO, OPSkins and WAX Token
- Yemi Oluseun: Growth & GTM For FinTechs, The Change Hive
- Yunus Sevimli: Co-Founder & CTO, Almond Fintech
- And many more to be announced.
Join us in Los Angeles to build a great company in 2025.
Apply to the Los Angeles Spring 2026 Founder Institute today, or learn more at FI.co/overview.
