Today, the Founder Institute, the world's premier pre-seed startup accelerator, is excited to announce that we are now accepting applications for the Cincinnati - Midwest Winter 2026 program!
If you could use a structured process and feedback from Cincinnati's top entrepreneurs to build a startup, then apply to the Cincinnati - Midwest Winter 2026 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 8,900 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 Cincinnati, where you can learn from top entrepreneurs and hear more about the program:
- How Aspiring Founders can Use AI to Test Ideas & Move Faster: 7:30pm, Mar 23, 2026 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/393873
- Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
- [Restricted] VIP Pitch Lounge: Get Feedback from Global Investors & Advisors (Private Event): 11:00am, Mar 24, 2026 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/389072
- Startup Funding in Chicago: Hear from Experts: 6:00pm, Mar 25, 2026 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/392106
- What Startup Ecosystems Get Wrong, and How to Fix Them: 11:30am, Mar 30, 2026 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/394274
- Solo-Founder 101: How Anyone Can Start a Business Using AI: 11:00am, Mar 31, 2026 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/392568
- From Idea to Startup Team: Meet Your Future Co-Founder: 7:00pm, Apr 06, 2026 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/392201
- Stuck Without a Startup Idea? Build One That Fits You: 7:00pm, Apr 07, 2026 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/390145
- How Multiple Pivots positioned Checkbox as the ‘Legal Front Door’ for Corporations: 7:00pm, Apr 13, 2026 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/389482
- Real Startup Lessons From FI Alumni Across the World: 11:00am, Apr 14, 2026 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/390736
- Turn Your Expertise Into an Audience on LinkedIn: 11:00am, Apr 27, 2026 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/392432
- How to Overcome the Fear of Starting Your Own Company: 11:00am, Apr 28, 2026 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/394037
- How to Choose the Right Startup Idea Before You Build: 7:00pm, May 18, 2026 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/390307
- Inside the Founder Institute: Real Stories From Alumni: 11:00am, Jun 02, 2026 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/390468
- Startup Advisors 101: How to Find Advisors and Maximize their Impact: 7:30pm, Jun 08, 2026 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/388444
- Turn Startup Hesitation Into Action: A Founder Mindset Framework: 7:00pm, Jun 15, 2026 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/393219
- Stop Guessing, Start Raising: An Investor Q&A : 7:00pm, Jul 06, 2026 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/392838
- Stop Overthinking and Build a Great Startup Idea: 11:00am, Jul 20, 2026 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/390606
- From Idea to Action: The Startup Mindset : 7:30am, Aug 10, 2026 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/393342
- Meet FI Alumni Founders: High-Growth Startups Panel : 11:00am, Aug 10, 2026 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/391158
- Build a Startup Idea Investors Won’t Ignore: 7:00pm, Aug 18, 2026 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/391273
- What Makes Investors Say Yes: Startup Funding AMA: 11:00am, Sep 01, 2026 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/392959
- Break the Idea Loop and Decide What to Build: 7:00pm, Sep 21, 2026 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/391553
- From Idea to Traction: Lessons From Global FI Alumni: 7:30pm, Oct 05, 2026 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/390882
- From Dreamer to Doer: Build the Founder Mindset: 11:00am, Oct 13, 2026 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/393472
- From Founder to Funded: Interactive Q&A with Top Startup Investor: 11:00am, Nov 03, 2026 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/393098
- From “Maybe” to Momentum: Building a Great Startup Idea: 7:00pm, Nov 17, 2026 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/391423
- From First Idea to First Funding: Global Alumni Stories: 11:00am, Dec 01, 2026 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/391044
The Cincinnati program is led by some of the region's top startup leaders, including Jason Jacobsohn (Managing Partner, Propellant Ventures).
In addition, some of Cincinnati'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 Cincinnati Founder Institute includes:
- Abdellah Aouf: Chief Executive Officer, GO PLATFORM
- Ablorde Ashigbi: CEO, 4Degrees
- Adeo Ressi: CEO, Decile Group / VC Lab
- Aditya Nath: Head of Sales NA, Mobilisights, A Stellantis Company
- Aidan Salvi: Founder, Angel Investor, Advisor, Technologist, Multiple
- AJ DeLeon: CEO, Innovare
- Alex Gorsuch: Co-founder, CTO, Ascent Integrated Tech
- Alex Lambert: Venture Capital Manager, mHUB
- Alex Glenn: Founder, Automated.af
- Andrew Lee: CEO, Esper
- Andrew Loulousis: Vice President of Strategy and Venturing, TechNexus Venture Collaborative
- Andy Cwik: Co-Founder & CEO, hubub
- Ashish Rangnekar: CEO & Co-Founder, BenchPrep
- Aviv Shalgi: CEO, Solar Simplified
- Bart Carlson: CEO, Azuba
- Ben Stacey: CEO, Pitchverk
- Benjamin Seidman: Co-Founder, Mella Pet Care
- Blake Allsmith: CEO, Jumpdocs.com
- Bob Gillespie: Managing Partner, REACH Commercial
- Bob Matteson: CEO, Relivable
- Brad Spirrison: CEO, Grown In
- Brad Schnitzer: Program Manager, Techstars Chicago
- Brian Lee: Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer, Roamli
- Cate Brady: Founding Director, Bulk AG Innovations
- Charles Kwon: Managing Partner, Concitor
- Chereesca Bejasa: CEO, Zenevate, LLC
- Chris Foltz: Global Entrepreneur-In-Residence, Founder Institute
- Chris Sorensen: Founder & CEO, Lake Forest Venture Management
- Christina Holloway: Executive Coach, Compass Enterprises LLC
- Cory Warfield: Chief Connection Officer, Coryconnects
- Craig Zingerline: Founder and CEO , Growth Minded
- Dan Ushman: Founder and CEO, TrendSpider
- Daniel Roberts: Founder, Scout Alarm
- David Hurst: CEO, Orbital Transports
- David Douglas: Founder & CEO, Yolobe Inc.
- David Kirshenbaum: Founder/Connector in CHief, www.MeadeConnect.com
- David Rosen: CEO, Acrelic Group
- David Zaretsky: CEO, Chief Scientist & Co-Founder, Snips Media
- David Culver: Co-Founder, VentureSHOT
- Derick Jiwan: Innovation and Business Development Manager, WinField United at Land O' Lakes
- Desiree Vargas Wrigley: Chief Innovation Officer & Executive Director of TechRise, P33
- Don Bora: Principal Technology/Owner and Co-Founder, Eight Bit Studios
- Eddie Patzsch: Co-Founder, PartnerPortal.io
- Eric Broughton: CEO, OK2Charge
- Fernando DeLeon: Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer, Innovare
- Franklin Kamnang Ngansop: Co-Founder, Vitamin CS Coaching
- Garry Cooper: CEO/ Co-Founder , Rheaply
- Gary Gaessler: SaaS Community Builder, Nylas, Co-Founder of CloudElements
- Gavenraj Sodhi: Senior Product Manager, Hitach Vantara
- Gavin Martin: Founding Partner, onPurpose Growth
- Genevieve Thiers: Founder, Sittercity
- George Powell: Founder, CEO, Easy Beauty
- George Khalife: Vice President, U.S. Capital Formation, Toronto Stock Exchange
- Gigi Kizhakkechethipuzha: Founder, ImpelHub
- Greg Jaros: Founder & CEO, PocketKnock
- Heather Holmes: CEO & Founder, Genivity
- Jacqueline Kuehl: Managing Director, Digital Marketing Concentration, DePaul University
- James Napier
- Jason Randolph: Senior Vice President Marketing & Strategic Growth, Tradier
- Jason Jacobsohn: Managing Director, Propellant Ventures
- Jean Bordelon: Vice President of Data Management, Bounteous
- Jed Abernethy: Corporate Innovation and Startup Executive, Entrepreneur / Digital Transformation
- Jeff Hyman: Chief Talent Officer, Strong Suit Executive Search
- Jeff Lyons: Operating Director, City Capital Advisors, LLC
- Jeff Weber: Founder, Chalenj
- Jeffrey Coney: Executive Coach and Mentor
- Jeremy Baras: Director of Business Development, Startup Space
- Jill Miller: CEO, Lunum
- Joe Born: CEO, Aiwa Corp.
- Joe Bezdek: Co-founder, DivX, Inc.
- Joe Lee: CEO, Inverse
- John Ernst: Chief Growth & Technology Officer, Founder, Advisor, Entrepreneur, Executive
- John Dallas: CEO, Enclave Academy and Hillview Partners Network LLC
- June W Choi: Managing Partner, Serval Ventures
- Karim Djerboa: Business Development Specialist, MAVENTERSE
- Katie Hench: Co-Founder, Infiniteach
- Kelly Fitzsimmons: Co-Founder, Custom Reality Services
- Kevin Taylor: Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship, Stetson University
- Kim Rubenstein: Cofounder, Chief Research + Product, Compatibility
- Kord Kutchins: Development Advisor, ESO HUB
- Laurence Hayward: Venture Partner, Independence Equity
- Lavina Ramkissoon: AI Ethics and Technology Policy, African Union
- Louis Morales: President, The Catnip Times
- Maaike Doyer: Founder, Epic Angels
- Marisa Bryce: CEO, Lightning Snow
- Mark Phinick: B2B Deal Coach, Let's Make It Rain
- Mark Achler: Managing Director, Math Venture Partners
- Marsha McVicker: Founder & CEO, Lyla
- Marshall Stanton: Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer, Catalina Marketing Corporation
- Matt Mandell: Principal, PayNerd.com
- Matthew Miller: Director, Product Strategy & UX, Digital Intent
- Matthew Willis: Head of Americas, Benifex
- Meghan Hoover: CEO, SceneSave
- Michael Lamb: Co-Founder & President, nativeMSG
- Michael Carruth: President/Founder, Fiodan Corporation
- Michael Carney: President, MWC Accounting
- Michael Kramer: Founder and CEO, ManageHub, Inc.
- Michael Kelly: CEO, DeveloperTown
- Mike Kritzman: Founder & CEO, SkillNet
- Mike Anguiano: Founder, SupplyHive
- Mike Moyer: Founder, Fair and Square Ventures, LLC
- Mindi Knebel: Founder & CEO, Kaizan Health
- Mohammad Hossein Tavangar: Director , Founder Institute Germany
- Moshe Mikanovsky: Product Director, Rootquotient
- Neil Kane: Founder & President, Illinois Partners, LLC
- Nicholas Freeman: Co-founder & Chief Growth Officer, Innovare
- Nicole Loftus: Founder & CEO, Pop Venture
- Parminder Batra: CEO, TraknProtect
- Patricia Riskind: Head of Global Healthcare, Qualtrics
- Peter Tapling: Managing Director, PTap Advisory, LLC
- Phil Leslie: Investor, Advisor
- Pinaki Saha: Founder & CEO, Anshar Labs
- Prateek Mathur: CEO, Activated Scale
- Rajanish Karki: Founder, Beats Bazar
- Rajesh Voddiraju: Founder & Group President, HealthiPASS Inc
- Reva Minkoff: Founder and President, Digital4Startups Inc. and DigitalGroundUp Inc.
- Rinku Patel: Co-Founder & CEO, Polysight
- Rod Hart: Founder & Principal Advisor, LayLine Innovation Advisors
- Ronald Franczyk: CTO & Partner, Red Foundry
- Ross Kimbarovsky: Founder and CEO, crowdspring
- Ryan Jeffery: MR, gener8tor
- Sagar Pande: Co-founder, Blaze Power
- Sanjaykumar Patel: Founder -Patent & Trademark Attorney, EXCELON IP - Patent & Trademark Attorneys
- Scott Issen: President & CEO, Future Founders
- Shaniqua Davis: CEO and Founder, Noirefy
- Shawn Park: Founders Team Associate, P33
- Sina Roshan: Cofounder & CPO, Peekage (Techstars 2020)
- Stephen Meade: Founder & CEO, MonetaPro
- Sukhi Singh: Managing Director, SSS Ventures
- Ted Greene: Partner, Old Willow Partners
- Timothy Kelley: CEO, TeleRay
- Tino Go: Founder & CEO, Baru
- Tokiah Kennedy: Head of Platform (S4P), Spotify
- Tom Giles: Founder, Megatron Ventures
- Ujjwal Gupta: Cofounder & COO, BenchPrep
- Vern Chan: Certified Startup Coach, Your Pivot
- Vladimir Pletyukhin: Founder and Creative Director, Launch Deck
- William Mortimore: CEO, Project Foundry
- William Furlong: Founder & CEO, SquareStack
- Yarin Gaon: Strategy & Marketing Specialist, Y.G.
- 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 Cincinnati to build a great company in 2019.
Apply to the Cincinnati - Midwest Winter 2026 Founder Institute today, or learn more at FI.co/overview.
