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 Pittsburgh - Philadelphia Spring 2025 program!
If you could use a structured process and a lifetime of support from Pittsburgh's top investors and entrepreneurs to build a startup, then apply to the Pittsburgh - Philadelphia Spring 2025 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 Pittsburgh, where you can learn from top entrepreneurs:
- Get Feedback on Your MVP from Product Experts & Find Early Users: 1:00pm, Dec 16, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/362112
- Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
- Founder Showcase: Startup Pitch & Networking Event, with Jonathan Greechan (CEO of FI): 1:00pm, Dec 18, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/362145
- Crowdfunding & Equity Crowd Financing: Raising Capital the Modern Way: 11:30am, Dec 19, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/363606
- Startup Funding AMA & Founder Institute Info Session, with Jonathan Greechan (CEO, Founder Institute): 1:00pm, Dec 30, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/362180
- Startup Funding AMA & Founder Institute Info Session, with Jonathan Greechan (CEO, Founder Institute): 8:00pm, Jan 02, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/362207
- How to Go from 0 to 1: Scaling and Exiting Your Startup with Mark Balovnev: 1:00pm, Jan 06, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/363242
- Co-Founder Networking: Find a Technical Co-Founder: 1:00pm, Jan 08, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/362237
- FI Pittsburgh – Philadelphia Spring 2025 Graduation: Meet the New Portfolio Companies: 6:00pm, Jan 08, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/364137
- Startup to Scale-Up: Mastering Sales & Branding with Mark Kosoglow: 1:00pm, Jan 13, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/362273
- How to Build, Fundraise, and Exit Your Startup: AMA with Tim Grassin: 5:00am, Jan 15, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/363364
- What is the DNA of an Entrepreneur? Insights from 15 Years of Research: 8:00pm, Jan 22, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/361836
- How to Align Your Brand Messaging with Your Startup Mission: 1:00pm, Jan 27, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/363037
- FI Alumni Panel: Meet Portfolio Companies and Ask Questions: 1:00pm, Jan 29, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/363519
- Employee to Entrepreneur: How to Make the Trasition to Startup Founder : 8:00pm, Feb 03, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/363661
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 1:00pm, Feb 05, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/363871
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 1:00pm, Feb 10, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/364047
The Pittsburgh program 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 Pittsburgh'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 Pittsburgh Founder Institute includes:
- Aaron Karp: Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Founder Institute
- Abby Sugar: CEO, Play Out Apparel
- Abdellah Aouf: Chief Executive Officer, GO PLATFORM
- Abe Kwon
- Albert Whale: Founder & CEO, IT Security Solutions
- Alfred Poor: Keynote speaker and virtual event expert, The Health Tech Futurist
- Amrish Macedo: Co-Founder, Intempio
- Arcui Usoara: Founder/CEO, Iaculus
- Barbara Anne Gardenhire-Mills, MSEL, PCC, CELC, CPQC®: Founder & Owner, Purpose-Filled Solutions & Evolutions®
- Ben Stacey: CEO, Pitchverk
- Ben Williams
- Bill Rivkin: Virtual Relationship Manager |non-dilutive funding, Citizens Bank
- Bobbi Muscara: CEO - Director of Education, Ledger Academy
- Brad Messer: ., .
- Brian Griffiths
- Carl Starkey: Co-Founder & CEO, AWSM Sauce Co
- Cassie Tate
- Chris Foltz: Entrepreneur In Residence, Responsible Solutions Ltd
- Chris Morris
- Craig Eppler: Founder & CEO, Eppler Capital Funds
- Daniel Nelson: Recovering Accountant, Startup Economics
- Daniel Rosenthal: Partnerships Manager, StartEngine
- Daniel Ritterman: CEO & Founder, MainLineDelivery (acquired by Square)
- Daria Duda: Product Marketing, Consultant
- David Stengle: CEO & Founder , Board++
- David Nast
- Deep Parmar: Founding Partner, Caramel Advisors LLC
- Deka Dike: Founder & CEO, Omatochi
- Don Samoil: Managing Partner, Trusted Scale
- Don Pancoe: Chief Blinker, Blinkenlights Technologies
- 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
- Frank Jacquette
- Franklin Kamnang Ngansop: Cofounder , 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
- Isabelle Kent
- Jasmin Sethi: CEO, Sethi Clarity Advisers
- Jason Reiser: ., .
- Jedidiah Weller: CEO, OpenForge
- Jeffrey Garwood: VP Architecture Financial Services and Healthcare, Salesforce.com
- Jess Edelstein
- Jesse DiLaura
- Joe Daniels: Partner, Co-Chair - Emerging Companies, Partner & Co-Chair, Emerging Companies Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough
- 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
- Jon Zaikowski: Assistant Director, New York Angels
- Jon Wonnell: CEO, Transformative Sciences LLC
- June W Choi: Managing Partner, Serval Ventures
- Karen Robinson: Pitch Deck & Data Room Advisor, Karen Robinson Consulting
- Karina Sotnik: Founder/CEO, WorldUpstart
- Mac Goswami: Senior Portfolio/Program Manager, Fiserv Inc
- Maggie Dillon: CEO, Empress Security Insights, LLC
- Mara Schwartz
- Martina Truche: Healthcare Innovator , Space Medicine Enthusiast
- Matiullah Rahmaty: Founder/President , BrightPoint Consulting Services
- Max Thalheimer: Co-Founder & CEO, Fynd
- Michael Bertoni: Founder and CEO, SaaS Talent
- Michael Spidaliere: Principal, First Time Founder Capital
- Michelle Peters: Co-Founder & CEO, Supplino
- Mike Doyle
- Morgan Doyle: Associate Director - Buisness Development, Corporate Tax Incentives (CTI)
- Nadia Al-Banna, PHD, MBA: Senior Director of Product and Business Development, Allarta Life Science
- Nadine Campbell: Founder, ACE Entrepreneurs
- 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
- 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
- Rajat Kapur
- Rajiv Madhok: Founder, Oorja
- Ramón Urteaga
- Randy Fisher: CEO, Expand to New Markets
- Raoul Davis: CEO, Ascendant Group
- Ronda Siegel: Partner, RSiegel Consulting LLC
- Ryan Long: CPO & Founder, OnPurpose Studio
- Sameer Babbar: Director, SVB Group
- Sara Ledterman: General Partner, 3+ Ventures
- Scott Wittrock: Fractional CPO, Head for Product
- Seth Goldstein: Principal Creative Director, Goldstein Media LLC
- Shawn Gregoire
- Stacy Kimmel: Independant Consultant , FoodVisors LLC
- Stefanie Smith: Founder, Double S Consulting
- Stefanos Damianakis: President, Zaruko Advisors
- Stephan Thomas: Managing Partner, Artimon3D
- Stephen Spivak
- Tanya Williamson: Chief Visionary Officer , Tanya Williamson
- Tim Dodd: Founder, JTD Group
- Tovit Neizer: Chief Storyteller, Yellow Bricks
- Trevor Longino: Founder & CEO, CrowdTamers
- Tyler Bubin: GTM Leader: AI, Web3, B2B SaaS, Conduit.xyz
- 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
- Yves Le Breton
- Zach Messler: Founder, 26th Letter LLC (zachmessler.com)
- Zoe Qiao
- And many more to be announced.
Join us in Pittsburgh to build a great company in 2025.
Apply to the Pittsburgh - Philadelphia Spring 2025 Founder Institute today, or learn more at FI.co/overview.
