Now is the time to rebuild: in 2021, the world needs entrepreneurs to lead the way in creating a brighter future for all.
As a result, the Founder Institute, the world’s largest pre-seed startup accelerator, is excited to announce that it is officially launching its newest chapter in Venezuela. While the Silicon-Valley based program has chapters in over 200 cities worldwide, early-stage entrepreneurs in Venezuela can finally now take advantage of the Founder Institute's renowned structure, mentor support, and network to build an enduring company that can survive and thrive in the “new normal” or 2021 and beyond.
Applications to the first ever Venezuela Founder Institute are now open, and anyone interested in building an impactful technology company can apply at FI.co/apply/caracas.
The Founder Institute provides high-potential entrepreneurs and teams with the support network and structured growth process needed to get to traction and funding, and build something that matters. So whether you already have a business or are still in the idea-phase, now is the time to act.
Since 2009, the Founder Institute has helped over 7,500 Alumni raise over $1.85BN funding, get into seed-accelerators, generate traction, recruit a team, build a product, transition from employee to entrepreneur, and more (see the FI 10 Year Impact Report here).
To celebrate the launch, the Founder Institute will host several free online startup events in Venezuela, where you can learn from top entrepreneurs and hear more about the program from the comfort of your home:
- What is Entrepreneur DNA? Insights from 15 Years of Social Science Research: 9:00pm, nov 25, 2024 (America/Caracas): https://FI.co/e/358324
- Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
- How to Build a Product-Driven Go-to-Market Strategy : 2:00pm, nov 26, 2024 (America/Caracas): https://FI.co/e/359592
- Ask an Investor Anything: Q&A with Jacob Jackson: 2:00pm, nov 27, 2024 (America/Caracas): https://FI.co/e/358336
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 2:00pm, dic 02, 2024 (America/Caracas): https://FI.co/e/358343
- What is the DNA of an Entrepreneur? Insights from 15 Years of Research: 2:00pm, dic 04, 2024 (America/Caracas): https://FI.co/e/358361
- Venture Trailblazers, featuring Ilya A. Strebulaev from Stanford: 1:00pm, dic 05, 2024 (America/Caracas): https://FI.co/e/358780
- Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 2:00pm, dic 09, 2024 (America/Caracas): https://FI.co/e/358377
- Enterprise Sales 101 for Startup Founders: Closing Big Deals: 2:00pm, dic 11, 2024 (America/Caracas): https://FI.co/e/358488
- Get Feedback on Your MVP from Product Experts & Find Early Users: 2:00pm, dic 16, 2024 (America/Caracas): https://FI.co/e/358390
- Founder Showcase: Startup Pitch & Networking Event: 2:00pm, dic 18, 2024 (America/Caracas): https://FI.co/e/358404
- Startup Funding AMA & Founder Institute Info Session, with Jonathan Greechan (CEO, Founder Institute): 2:00pm, dic 30, 2024 (America/Caracas): https://FI.co/e/360252
- Startup Funding AMA & Founder Institute Info Session, with Jonathan Greechan (CEO, Founder Institute): 9:00pm, ene 02, 2025 (America/Caracas): https://FI.co/e/360337
- Co-Founder Networking: Find a Technical Co-Founder: 2:00pm, ene 08, 2025 (America/Caracas): https://FI.co/e/361631
- Startup to Scale-Up: Mastering Sales & Branding with Mark Kosoglow: 2:00pm, ene 13, 2025 (America/Caracas): https://FI.co/e/361017
The experts that have been critical in bringing the Founder Institute to Venezuela include local startup leaders José Acuña, Marco Villegas and Sandy Gómez.
In addition, many of the region's top founders, CEOs, advisors, and investors have signed on to mentor new entrepreneurs in the Caracas Virtual 2021 Founder Institute program, including:
- Adeo Ressi: CEO, Decile Group / VC Lab
- Alan Colmenares: Cofounder and CEO, Tappsi / Tpaga / EthicalMe
- Alberto Parra: CEO and Founder, BRIX (www.brix.net.br)
- Alejandro Abdel Aziz: Founder & CEO, Nextonia
- Alejandro Gutiérrez: Co-founder, LinkU Ventures SAS
- Alejandro Gutierrez: CFO y desarrollo de negocios, Puntopay
- América Castiblanco: Directora de Emprendimiento, Innpulsa Colombia
- Ana Maria Ortegón: Socia Gerente, OMAS
- Ana María Prieto: Asociada, Brazil Venture Capital
- Andres Hernandez: Strategist and Writer, Andreherca
- Andres Angel: CEO, Nominapp
- Andres Vejarano Calderon: Socio, Abogado, Director, Invictum Capital, ANDI del Futuro, Kairos
- Andres Cano: CEO, ACANOF SAS
- Andrés Londoño: Head of performance, Platzi
- Andrés Bello: Director de Emprendimiento, Fundación Bolívar Davivienda
- Andrés Barreto: Managing Director , Techstars Boulder
- Andrés Veléz: Founding CEO, Tributi
- Andrés Marcucci: Analista, Torrenegra Accelerator
- Andrés Felipe Pantoja Castrillón: CoFounder, Legal Mentors
- Andrés Felipe Méndez: Cofounder, Génesis Holding
- Anfer Molina: CoFounder & CEO, Tuptip
- Angel Celis Botto: Co-Founder, Liftit
- Ángela Castillo Llinás: Co-Founder, HelloGuru
- Beatriz Dager: General Partner, ChiX Future Ventures
- Berg Moe: Owner, Berg Moe Media
- Bernardt Vogel: Sr.Associate, VU Venture Partners
- Bibiana Ardila: Co-Founder, Taller A
- Byron Hernández: Head of IT Services, Instaleap
- Camilo Jimenez: CTO , InstaLeap.io
- Camilo Gómez: CEO, Phylo Legal
- Carina Batz: Directora Área de Proyectos y Servicios, Cámara Colombo Alemana
- Carlos Guayara: CEO, TRII
- Carlos Ortegon: CTO, LOOPAY
- Carlos Alberto Sánchez Retiz: Coordinador de Aceleración, Torrenegra Accelerator
- Carlos Alberto Valderrama: CEO, Grupo Marco
- Carlos Andres Valencia Nieto: Machine learning Project Leader | Product Manager, Mercadolibre
- Carlos Felipe Gutierrez Camacho: Managing Partner & Co-Founder, INVX, SIMMA
- Carlos Ivan Zubieta Leon: Cto & founder Agrapp, Agrapp
- Catalina Quintana: Founder, Leancase
- Caterine Castillo: CEO, NEIVOR
- Cecilia Ezquerro: Associate, 500 Globals
- Charlie Cliff: CTO
- Chintan Oza: Founder, Anantam Ecosystems
- Christian Fresen: Partner, RAD. Estrategias Legales
- Christian Daube: Co-Founder, Coach & COO, Torrenegra Accelerator
- Conrad Egusa: CEO, Publicize
- Daniel Escobar: Team Manager , Wolox
- Daniel Otero: CEO and Founder , Muvo
- Daniel Cardona: Mentor, Defence Academy Chennai
- Daniel Puentes: Associate Founder, Partners Academy
- Daniel Toro: Co-Founder, LinkU Ventures SAS
- Daniel Restrepo: CEO, Taller A
- Daniela Restrepo: VP, PUBLICIZE
- Darío Lanchuske: CPO, Omni Bank
- David Orrego: Ex Chief Growth Officer, Rocketfy.co
- David Aponte: CEO & Cofounder, Financial Lab & Taxes
- David Camargo: CTO, Bright Financial
- David Carvajal: Founder, Cannvest
- David Wilson: Principal, Franklin Advisory
- David Diaz: CLC, Mesfix SAS
- Diego Rodriguez Castillo: Founder - CEO, Linxe
- Diego Caicedo: CEO, OmniBNK
- Diego Alejandro Muñoz: Co founder y CMO , Tukarga.com
- Eddie Arrieta: CEO, MultiLigual Media
- Eduardo Hernández, Magma Partners
- Eduardo Rivera: CEO, LOOPAY
- Eduardo Maldonado: Co-founder and Board Member, GDX Travel
- Edward Cullen: Founder & CEO, Crescite
- Elena Dolinski: Founder, UKANDOITGLOBAL
- Elodie Senatore: CEO, Heraclea
- Enrique Pons: Founder, Talago & Fincruit
- Enrique Echavarria: CEO, WeAreDataLab
- Erik Díaz: GP, Blackchiip VC
- Fabian Esteban Lopez Morales: Emprendedor incansable, GraciaLab
- Felipe Rivera Reina: Head Entrepreneur
- Felipe Alvarez: CEO , HOBBY CREATIVO
- Felipe Garzon: City Coordinator, Acámica
- Felipe Santamaria: Managing Director, Rockstart Colombia
- Felipe Cano: CoFounder, LinkU Ventures SAS
- Fernando Núñez: VP, PUBLICIZE
- Francisco Uriarte: Puerto Rico, ESP Group
- Gabriel Calderón: CEO, Tu Orden
- Gabriel Castillo Szpoganicz: Founder & CEO, Doc Doc
- Gregorio Londoño: Director, Red de Ángeles Inversionistas
- Guillermo Guzman: General Partner, Indio VC
- Guillermo Ramirez: Managing partner, Oxbridge Capital Partners (VC)
- Gustavo Marquez: CEO, Athena Inversion de Impacto
- Hans Christian Boehlke: Commercial Director, Celumania.com
- Iván Ariza: CEO, cargamos.com
- Javier Castro
- Jean Bernier: CEO y Founder, AnniQ & SQT
- Jehudi Castro Sierra: Asesor Presidencial, Tecnología
- Jennifer Poole: CRO, Publizice
- Jennifer Timm: Head of Consulting, Agora Partnerships
- Jeremy Bruck: Managing Partner, Data Valuation & Monetization
- Jeronimo Silva: Director Ejecutivo , BICTIA
- Jessica Mercedes: Country Manager, Holberton School Colombia
- Jorge Alvarado: CEO, Abbitec
- Jorge Quintero: VP of Growth , VECI
- Jorge Quiroga
- Jorge Hernan Nieto Botero: Founder & CEO, Expedit Capital
- Jose Caparroso: Business reporter & cross-platform coordinator, Forbes
- Jose Ovalle: Investor, StartOp
- Jose Betancur: Director, Nodo
- José Miguel Velasco: Head of Startup Acceleration, Corporación Ventures
- Joseph DiTomaso: CEO, AllTheRooms
- Jose Rafael Donado Vallejo: CEO, S
- Juan Angarita: CRO, HoyTrabajas.com (YC W22)
- Juan Colmenares: Growth Lead, Graphite Growth
- Juan Camilo Vallejo: Co-founder, Co-CEO, & PM, Valienta
- Juan Carlos Suarez: CEO, Qenta
- Juan Carlos Monroy: Director área de Mercadeo Digital, Departamento de Mercadeo , EAFIT
- Juanita Esguerra: Abogada Senior, Sodexo
- Juan Manuel Lopera: CEO, TOMi Digital
- Juan Pablo Alvarez: Country Managing Director, EnvíoClick
- Juan Sebastian Muñoz: Head of Sales, Simetrik Inc
- Juan Sebastián Castrillon: Founder, Estratek
- Julia Figueiredo: Director Latam, Silicon Valley Bank
- Julián Arango: Founder & CEO, Workia, Inc
- Julián Vergara Albán: Digital Talent Acquisition , Lulo Bank
- Karen Mesa: Entrepreneurship & Innovation consultant, Independent
- Khaliq Yar Haidary: CEO, Netzone, Ltd.
- Laura Rudd: CEO, BabyTopia
- Laura Jimenez Tatis: Financial Mentor, Leancase
- Laura Lopera: Coordinadora I+D, Sura
- León Papu: Founding Partner, Marathon Lab
- Leonardo Gaitan, Autoparti
- Lorena Sanchez Garcia: Erudit AI, COO & Board Member
- Luis Betancourt: Digital Marketing Advisor, Luisbetancourt.co
- Luis Barrios: CEO, ARKANGELES
- Luis Felipe Giraldo: Gerente de Expansión, Sociedad Operadora de Franquicias Colombia
- Luis Naranjo Duplat: CMO - Growth Hacker, Kairos
- Mads Schmidt Petersen: CEO , HippoBuild (Y Combinator W22)
- Maika Hoekman: Director, Torre Social
- Maira Betancur: Jefe de Investigación y Patentes, Grupo Bolivar
- Manuel Bardales: Co-Founder, Movitext
- Manuela Sánchez Villamarín: Co-founder & Growth, Laika
- Mara Rada: Chief Operations and Strategy, Loon (loonbio.com)
- Marc C Lange
- Marcela Lopez: Estratega de Marketing, Alexander Torrenegra
- Marco De Biasi: Managing Partner, Latin American Angels Society
- Margarita Martinez, Blackshiip VC
- Maria Camila Gonzalez: CEO, Sarta SAS
- Maria Camila Salazar Castro: CEO, Vivir a conciencia
- Maria Camila Ortegon: Asesor Jurídico, Taller A Abogados
- Maria Isabela Muñoz: Partner, MAS Equity Partners
- Marian Villa: Co-Founder & President, PionerasDev
- Mariana Velásquez: Founder - CEO, BRANDDU
- Mariano Doncel M.: Business Accelerator Leader and Professor of EAN University , Universidad EAN
- Maria Paula Murcia: Directora, TopCruiters
- Maribel Corrales: Regional Manager , Holberton School - Colombia
- Marlowe Mackenzie: Goal Operations Partner, Canva
- Maryori Vivas: LatAm Director, Vermilion LLC
- Mateo Trujillo: Product Lead, RappiPay
- Michael Luzner: CEO
- Nadia Stand: Co Founder, The SASI CO
- Nelson Irias: CEO, DataLabs
- Nicolai Eslava Barajas: CEO, Estratek Ventures
- Nicolas Contreras: CEO, PappCorn
- Nicolás Poveda: CEO & CoFounder
- Oscar Andres Arango: CEO & Director, Yampi & Seniors Club
- Pablo Molina: CEO, Mirapaltecho
- Pablo Navarro: Partner, Marathon
- Pablo Ramirez: CEO y Founder, Litmoi
- Pablo Molina Candel: CTO, CoverWallet
- Pedro Lopez Sela, FrissOn Capital
- Pilar Fernandez Hermida: Founder i-Expand (We help Health Tech companies go global), i-expand
- Rafael Tihanyi: Director of Revenue, Graphite Growth
- Raíssa De Mello João: Cofounder & CEO, Vaki
- Ramón Rodríguez: Co-Founder and Chief Investors Relations, RIDERY LLC
- René Lomelí: Partner, 500
- Ricardo Mejia B.: Co-Founder, PappCorn
- Rodrigo Alfonso: Co-founder, Sekure
- Rosario B Casas: Co Founder, XR Americas, LLC / Business Creative Partners SAS
- Ryan Micheletti: Head of Global Operations, Founder Institute
- Samuel Grossman: Partner, IRIE VC
- Sandra Rubio: CEO, IMIX
- Sandy Gómez: Director, FI Caracas
- Santiago Aparicio, FitPal
- Santiago Rojas: Local Leader
- Santiago Quimbaya Barreto: Investment Analyst, Ventures Corporation
- Santiago Garzón: CTO, StartOp
- Santiago Suarez: CEO & Partner, Addi & YCombinator
- Sebastian Leon: Founder, Facebook
- Sebastian Caro: CEO, Tocaro Capital
- Sebastián Jaramillo: LATAM Commercial Director, Rappi
- Sebastián Gallo: Head of Operations, Torre
- Sergio Pachón: Co Founder, Kiwi Campus
- Sergio Espinosa Rivera: CTIO, Akadia Life
- Shirlhey Sánchez: CEO & Co-Founder, Colombia Proptech
- Simon Chamorro: CEO-CoFounder, Valiu
- Sjoerd Martens: Head Of Account Management at Publicize , Publicize
- Talha Bin Shuja: Startup and Business Consultant, High Hope International
- Tomás Ríos: CEO, Starter
- Uri Melamed: Managing Director , EyP S.A.S. / Irie VC
- Valentina Giraldo Henao: Founder, LaValentina Design
- Walied Albasheer: Managing Partner, Intuitio Ventures
- William Duran: Investment Director, Enter Capital
- Yasu Guerra, Sky Ride Group, S.A
- Yatan Blumenthal Vargas: Co-founder, Berlin Hardware Accelerator
- Yemi Oluseun: Growth & GTM For FinTechs, The Change Hive
- Zully De La Rosa: CTO, Finaktiva
- 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 organization's mission is to "Globalize Silicon Valley" and build sustainable startup ecosystems that will create one million new jobs worldwide.
Join us in Venezuela and help build the future.
Apply to the Caracas Virtual 2021 Founder Institute today, or learn more at FI.co/overview.
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