Today, the Founder Institute, the world's premier pre-seed startup accelerator, is excited to announce that we are now accepting applications for the Austin Fall 2025 program!
If you could use a structured process and feedback from Austin's top entrepreneurs to build a startup, then apply to the Austin Fall 2025 Founder Institute today.
Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 200+ cities worldwide, the Founder Institute provides high-potential entrepreneurs and teams with the critical support network and structured process needed to build an enduring company. Since 2009, the program has helped over 9,000 Graduates raise over 2BN funding, get into seed-accelerators, generate traction, recruit a team, build a product, transition from employee to entrepreneur, and more.
To celebrate the launch, the Founder Institute will host several free startup events in Austin, where you can learn from top entrepreneurs and hear more about the program:
Running the Founder Institute's efforts in Austin are local startup leaders Martin Martinez (Founder, A-Player Media, Inc.), Paul O'Brien (Founder, MediaTech Ventures), and Elisa Sepulveda (General Manager, Riveter).
In addition, some of Austin's top entrepreneurs, CEOs, and investors will be participating in the program, providing them with expert training, feedback, and evaluation. The list of 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
- 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
- Alexander Alt: Founder | Angel Investor, Holstein Technology Ventures
- Amanda Lettmann: CEO, COO & Co-Founder, Kardia Ventures/ SimpleDisability, Inc.
- Amanda Eakin: VP Marketing, SaveDay
- Amanda Patterson: CEO, RocketFuel Labs
- Amanda Shareghi: Founder & Principal , Ventured PR
- Andy Hart: Advisor, a Mana Project
- Anita Roberts, Silicon Hills Capital
- Ankit Chopra: Director, Financial Planning & Analytics, Neo4J
- Ankit Talwar: Director Product Management AI , Dell
- Anu Pansare: CEO, Volyx
- Arturo Piña: President, ProductCamp Austin
- 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
- 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
- Brian Schuster: Co-founder, Lucid Consulting
- Candace Ohm: Founder, Canz.Art
- Cara Abbott: CEO, Betterleave
- Caroline Healey: Director , Antler
- Chalique Seabron
- Chintan Oza: Founder, Anantam Ecosystems
- Chris Palmisano: Investor & COO, Sano Ventures, LLC
- Chris Turnley: Chief Growth/Revenue Officer, Growth Force Advisors
- Chris Smurthwaite: Founder, VC Insider
- Christiana Yebra: CEO, Vouch
- 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 Gibson
- David Mandel: Managing Partner, Managing PartnerManaging Partner Emerging Ventures Fund
- David Hendrawirawan: Founder, Data Integrity First
- Dennis Menendez, Founder Institute Austin
- Diane Yoo: Managing Partner, Medingenii Capital
- Dianthe Skurko: Principal, Forma Prime VC
- Dr. Nikki Siso: Founder, The Conscious Collective
- Ed Latson: CEO & President, Opportunity Austin
- Edward Madongorere: Co-Founder, CEO, Moon
- Eric Fishhaut: President, MKB Services
- Eric Samdahl: CEO / Founder, GHSD Group
- Erin Pitts: Founder / Creative Partner, The Label Collective
- Francesco Cassinerio: Mentor, Founder Institute Texas
- Frankie Arvelo: Startup Counsel, Arvelo PLLC
- Franklin Kamnang Ngansop: Co-Founder, Vitamin CS Coaching
- Gabriel Rucker: CEO & Founder, Titen AI
- Garrett Dailey: Founder & CEO, Lucid
- Gary Forni: Chairman, Central Texas Angel Network
- Gennadiy Goldenshteyn: Managing Partner, First Principles, LLC
- Ghazi Saddem: CEO, Ghazi Saddem Consulting
- Gigi Kizhakkechethipuzha: Founder, ImpelHub
- Guc Ozenci: Program Director, FI Washington DC
- 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
- Horacio Rodriguez Rilo: Founder, Boop
- Ignacio Castro: Managing Partner, 128vc
- Ivelin Ivanov: Venture Advisor, Founder Institute
- Jacob Schoenberg: CEO & Founder, Grantx
- James Phelan: Co-founder and CEO / Shareholder, ZPTTLR Inc. / The Cannon
- Jasmin Brand: Founder / CEO, 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 Stauffer: Principal Consultant, ArcNav Consulting
- 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
- Jodie Slater Hastings: Co-Founder , The Slate
- Joe Daniels: Partner, Co-Chair - Emerging Companies, Partner & Co-Chair, Emerging Companies Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough
- Joe Merrill: Partner, Sputnik ATX / Linden Ventures
- Joe Beard: Founder / CEO, Advisor
- Joey Jones: Founder/CEO/Chief Compliance Officer, RWA Ventures Ltd
- Joey Crapster: Mentor, FI
- John Bianchi: CEO, The Omega Agency
- Jonathan Libby: Partner Development Manager, Tableau
- 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
- Judy Tsuei: Founder, Wild Hearted Words
- June W Choi: Managing Partner, Serval Ventures
- Justin Mc Kenzie: Vice President, Bandera Electric Cooperative
- Ken Pomella: Business Coach & Consultant, Ken Pomella, LLC
- Kendall Gallagher: Head of Sales , Skaled
- Kennie Matthews: Chairman & CEO, M Infrastructure, Inc.
- Kristy Alballero: Co-Founder & CFO, IOOGO
- Kyle Wiggins, Assembly
- Lana Ashby Rowder, lookingGLASS Lifestyle
- Laura Kamrath: CEO, Zebra Marketing Solutions
- Levi McMellian: CEO | Founding Partner | Managing Director, CFO4Life
- Lito Rodriguez: Partner, DWX Par
- Liz Hernandez: Regional Sales Director, Hubbell
- Logan Jennings: Managing Partner, Leonis Enterprises
- Lucas Chaya Del Pino: Entrepreneur - RE investor, CHL Rentals
- Luke Thorssen, Vlogmi
- 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
- Marc Adesso: Capital Markets Attorney, Baker Botts L.L.P.
- Marcos Rodriguez: Mentor Investor, Rodriguez Capital Holdings LLC
- Maria Pienaar: Principal, First Principles
- Mariana Muntean: Founder & CEO, Cinevva
- Mariana Gonzalez: Startup Banking, Silicon Valley Bank
- Mariano Gonzalez: Founder and General Partner, MGV Capital Group
- Mario Soave: Founder, CleverFi
- Mark Wasiljew: Fractional Head of Partnerships, Breakmark Consulting
- Marlon Montgomery: Director of Technology & Product , Globant / MediaTech.ventures
- Mason Mote: Founder, Managing Partner & General Counsel, Pearl River Companies
- Matt McGuire: Founder, Product Operations Advisor, Venture Begins
- Mauricio Delgado: Co-founder and CPO, Nada
- 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
- Miao Yan: Global Product Manager-Alternate Energy, Xylem
- Michelle Witt: Principal, Propelled Marketing
- Mike Sherbakov: General Partner, The Veteran Fund
- Mike Solow: Partner
- Molly Walsh: Director, Founder Institute, Miami Florida
- Muhammad Hamza Altaf, Soop.io
- Naina Agarwal: Mrs, Apple
- Najiba Wajiha Mahboob: CEO, Toureela
- Nakevia Miller: CEO, Fractional CMO, iN Possibliliti | Marketing + Branding
- Narek Gevorgyan
- Nathan Ryan: CEO and Co-Founder, Blue Sky Partners
- Nelly Yusupova: Founder, TechSpeak.co
- Nelly Yusupova: Founder, TechSpeak.co
- Nikola Korac: CEO, Downstream IT Solutions
- Oksana Malysheva: Managing Partner & CEO, Sputnik ATX
- Oleg Lysiak: Partner Success Manager, Honeycomb Software
- Olivia Mac Donell: Founder & CEO, TAP INtegration
- Omar Zaki: Founder, Qima Ventures
- Pablo Vidal Arean: CMO, VC Lab
- Paola Origel: Co-Founder & Managing Partner, ChainLink Capital
- Paola Retes: VP, LiveOak Ventures
- Paul O'Brien: Author, Startup Ecosystems
- Pavan Kumar: Founder, 3pmVentures
- Peter Busch, Meet Jane
- Prerna Sharma: Associate Partner , Antler
- Rafaella Thorssen, Vlogmi
- Rahul Agarwal: Principal Technical Product Manager, Hasura
- Ram Prasad: Fractional CPO/CTO, Delence
- Richard Delgado: Partner, ERA Capital Partners
- Robert Balderas: Founder & CEO, Bob's Containers
- Roger Heaston: President & CEO, Refinition
- Roland Peña: SVP Global Tech & Innovation, Opportunity Austin
- Sachin Shah
- Saima Siddiqui: Director of Product Management, Joyride.com
- Samuel Riehn: Chief Executive Officer, SBIR Advisors Inc.
- Scott G. Cornelius: VP, Refinition
- Sean Voigt: Founder & Managing Director, Mount Koya Capital & Advisors
- Sebastien Long: Founder & CEO, Lodgeur
- Shelby Stephens: Founder & CEO, GrowthMatch
- Shlomi Podgaetz: Director/CEO, Rizasmart Consulting
- Sloan Foster: Principal , Envisage Associates
- Sneha Lundia Agrawal: Founder & CEO, Step2Growth
- Sophia Clark: Founder & Creative Director, Galiatea
- Stefan Brunner: Angel Investor , CTAN
- Sterling Smith: CEO, Sandbox Commerce
- Steve Jennis: Founder and CEO, Jennis Consulting Group
- Tarun Gulati: Founder & CEO, Contemplate
- Taylor Johnson: Partner, Performance Coach, The Liminal Collective
- Tiana Laurence: GP, Laurence Innovation
- Tim De Silva: Founder & CEO, Culture Pilot
- Tony Banning: Chairman, Smash
- Trey Ikard: Managing Partner, 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
- William Douglas: CEO, OpticWise
- Wogbe Ofori: Founder, Wrx Companies
- Yagub Rahimov: Founder, Polygraf AI
- Yemi Oluseun: Growth & GTM For FinTechs, The Change Hive
- And many more to be announced.
The Founder Institute is designed for founders and teams all throughout the pre-seed stage, including aspiring founders with a full-time job, solo founders, teams, and founders of established companies that are pre-funding. The Founder Institute's mission is to "Globalize Silicon Valley" and create sustainable startup ecosystems that will create one million new jobs worldwide.
Join us in Austin to build a great company in 2019.
Apply to the Austin Fall 2025 Founder Institute today, or learn more at FI.co/overview.
