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:
- 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
- Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
- How to Go from 0 to 1: Scaling and Exiting Your Startup with Mark Balovnev: 2:00pm, ene 06, 2025 (America/Caracas): https://FI.co/e/363274
- Startup Funding AMA & Founder Institute Info Session, with Jonathan Greechan (CEO, Founder Institute): 9:00pm, ene 07, 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
- How to Build, Fundraise, and Exit Your Startup: AMA with Tim Grassin: 6:00am, ene 15, 2025 (America/Caracas): https://FI.co/e/363342
- What is the DNA of an Entrepreneur? Insights from 15 Years of Research: 9:00pm, ene 22, 2025 (America/Caracas): https://FI.co/e/361855
- How to Align Your Brand Messaging with Your Startup Mission: 2:00pm, ene 27, 2025 (America/Caracas): https://FI.co/e/363067
- FI Alumni Panel: Meet Portfolio Companies and Ask Questions: 2:00pm, ene 29, 2025 (America/Caracas): https://FI.co/e/363548
- Employee to Entrepreneur: How to Make the Trasition to Startup Founder : 9:00pm, feb 03, 2025 (America/Caracas): https://FI.co/e/363681
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 2:00pm, feb 05, 2025 (America/Caracas): https://FI.co/e/363899
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 2:00pm, feb 10, 2025 (America/Caracas): https://FI.co/e/364075
- Investor Valuation Basics: How to Assess Your Startup’s Worth with Neil Shah: 9:00pm, feb 24, 2025 (America/Caracas): https://FI.co/e/364457
- Startup Fundraising Q&A: Meet Investors from the FI Venture Network: 2:00pm, feb 27, 2025 (America/Caracas): https://FI.co/e/364341
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:
- Alberto Parra: CEO and Founder, BRIX (www.brix.net.br)
- Alberto Sadde: Founder, Meaningful
- Alberto Vicentelli: Founder & CEO, CarValue
- Alejandra Carreno Garzon: CEO and Founder, Meixter Ltd.
- Alejandra Perez: Founder, Investability
- Alejandra Copeland: Pitch Storytelling Expert, Ok Yes
- Alejandro Echeverría: Cofounder, Tugruero
- Alejandro Ernesto Romero Saenz, Lotux Ventures
- Alexandra Delsol: Partner, A2 Legal, S.C.
- Alfonso Riera: Director, Front Consulting Group
- Álvaro Miguel Cabrera: DIRECTOR, Founder Institute Valencia
- Ana Abdala: Growth | Product & Marketing Ops, Meaningful
- Andrea Fabianna D'andrea: Abogada, D'Advice Legal
- Andrés Mejía: Partner, LEGA Abogados
- Andrés Urquiola: CEO and Founder, Val-u
- Angela Ocando: Course Director, Platzi
- Antonio Figueroa: CEO and Founder, DonDemand.io
- Antulio Moya: Associate, SquareOne capital
- Aracelis Nass: Senior Business Program Manager, Microsoft
- Ariadna García: Founder & Chief Revenue Officer, WIBO
- Armando Goncalves: CEO and Founder, Apetoi
- Arnoldo Matheus: MBA Associate, 777 Partners
- Astrid Chedid: Regional Director for LAC and Spain, Annual Investment Meeting
- Boris Ackerman: CFO, Fanemotional
- Carlos Jimenez: CIO, AXS FUND
- Carlos Perez: CEO and Founder, Entrein
- Carlos Mosquera: CEO, Solidus Capital
- Carlos Heinze: Co-Founder and Director, Tu Gruero
- Carlos Echeverria: Co-Founder and Director, Fancision
- Carlos Riera: CEO and Founder, Pimedeit
- Carlos Jimenez: Founder & CEO, Usefull Agency
- Carlos Alberto Aguiló Santamaría: Co-Founder, ECOEM
- Carlos Eduardo Vargas: President of the Board, 1001 Ideas
- Carlos H. Brandt: CEO, Proemprendimiento
- Carolina Gómez: Co-Founder, Invertir en Chile
- Chintan Oza: Founder, Anantam Ecosystems
- Claudia Valladares: CEO and Cofounder, Impact Hub Caracas
- Cody Isabel: CEO, CBAi
- Dan Piestun: PhD, Founder, Director, AguaceR
- Daniel Roitbarg: Innovation Manager, FI Buenos Aires
- Daniel Rottenberg: Managing Partner, Private Investment Firm
- David Centeno: CEO, 123Pago
- David Carrasquilla: Founder, Ustartups
- Deep Moteria: Founder , Elluminati
- Delfina Guedimin: Global Market Intelligence Leader, Tecnológico de Monterrey
- Denisse Alvarez: Project Manager, Remeny Pharmaceuticals
- Diana Espino: Managing Partner, SquareOne capital
- Diego Borel: CEO and Founder, Geblix
- Diego Salas: Board Member, VP, Head of Strategic Finance, Yummy
- Eduardo Cannizzo: Senior Associate , Seedrs
- Elena Dolinski: Founder, UKANDOITGLOBAL
- Esther Bergel: Lawyer, Antequera Parilli & Rodríguez
- Federica Pérez: Product Manager, Karat Financial
- Federico Fernandez Dupouy: Entrepreneurship, Solar Energy, Finance & Investments, OTEPI RENOVABLES
- Fernando Ríos: Director, Startup Grind Caracas
- Fiorella Torres: CFO, Agros
- Franca Messina: CEO and Founder, BRANDINME
- Freddy Montes: Lead Frontend Developer, dotCMS
- Gabriel Monroy: CEO, Colektia
- Gabriel Reyes: Founder and CEO, SUPERCANAS
- Gerson Gómez: CEO and Founder, Ridery
- Guillermo Guzmán: GP, Indio VC
- Guillermo Fernandes: Founder & CEO, Blockpliance
- Gustavo Rivas: Entrepeneur, ERC
- Harry López Mendoza: Estratega de innovación, Lean Agile Coach y especialista en Human Centered Design, Consultor independiente
- Haymee I. Perez Cogle: Managing Director, Founder Institute Luanda
- Horacio Velutini: CEO, Fondo de Valores Inmobiliarios, S.A.C.A.
- HORACIO MORENO: S T A R T U P B U S I N E S S D E V E L O P M E N T , I N V E S T M E N T A N A L Y S T , E Q U I T Y O P T I O N S T R A D E R, Independent
- Jean Clauteaux: CEO and Founder, Uriji
- Jessica Olivan: Cofounder, Velara
- Jesús Delgado: Head of UX/UI, Munily App
- Jesús Patiño: Legal Counsel, CH4 Group
- Johana Duarte: CMO, Uriji
- Jose Acuña: Director, FI Caracas
- Jose Schmucke: CTO, e4Cash
- Jose Miguel Farias: Founder, Finbi
- José Rafael Gamero: Financial Security Operations, Nu Bank
- Jose Ramon Campos Castillo: CEO-Founder, Ozeanic Devices S.L.
- Juan Aguilera: CEO - Managing Partner Mexico, eSourceCapital
- Juan Carlos Fernández Alemán: CEO, Open Insurances
- Juan Carlos Ruiz: Founder, Oplus Blue
- Juan Carlos Berzins: Co-Founder, Atienda
- Juan Carlos Castillo: Partner, MENPA
- Juan Jose Franco: Co-founder and COO, Future_is
- Karen Colin: CEO, Startcly
- Laura Fornasari: Finance & Business Development Consultant and Business Angel, consultora independiente
- Lorenzo Camejo: Co-Founder and CTO, Fancision
- Lucylde Gonzalez: Public Affairs Expert, StartYou
- Luis Santiago: CEO, Pegasi Med
- Luis Derlon: Financial Representative, Northwestern Mutual
- Luis Fernando Moncada: CEO and Cofounder, InCresc
- Luz Aimara Morales: Directora General, Centro de Innovación y Emprendimiento UCAB
- Marcel Imery: New York Ambassador, Venecápital
- Marco Villegas: Director, FI Caracas
- Marcos Capote: Consulting Manager, OMNIS
- Maria Castro: CEO and Founder, Gigget
- Maria Luke: CEO and Cofounder, Fixme.es
- María Eugenia Chacón: CEO and Cofounder, Solventemos
- Mariana Velásquez: Founder - CEO, BRANDDU
- Mariana Jiménez Segura: Deal Flow, Amplifica Capital
- Mariana Suarez: CFO, Ridery
- María Victoria Díaz: CEO, Laboratorio de Innovación Digital
- Marisela Cuevas: CEO, NeuroBusiness LLC
- Martha Laura Lopez: Fund Manager, MAYAN CAPITAL FUND
- Matias Mindlin: CEO and Founder, Pinta Libre
- Miguel Melendez: Customer Support and Sales Representative, HQ Rental Software
- Miguel Pérez: CFO, Vikua
- Miguelangel Rivas Vargas: CEO, Mundiluz
- Mike Green: Co-Founder, sirrus7
- Nelson Palmero Durán: Cofundador - Director, catalejovirtual.com
- Nicolas Pacheco: CEO, Clabe Ganadera
- Noelia Rodriguez: ACS Services Sales Representative, Oracle
- Orlando Osorio: CEO & Founder, Meaningful
- Oscar Costero: President of the Board, Wikimedia Venezuela
- Paloma Lecheta: Regional Director - LatAm, Founder Institute
- Patricia Monteferrante: Coordinadora del Centro de Innovación y Emprendimiento, IESA
- Patsy Salgado: Product Owner, Kavak
- Pedro Berroteran: CEO and Founder, Quipus.App
- Pedro Ornelas: CEO - Cofounder/Mentor, Microlabs/Independent/Newchip
- Pedro Vallenilla: CEO and Cofounder, Cashea
- Rafael Tihanyi: Director of Revenue, Graphite Growth
- Ramon Scott: Founding Partner, InnovaRe Capital México SAPI
- Ramón Escovar: Partner, ESC+G
- Ramón Rodríguez: Co-Founder and Chief Investors Relations, RIDERY LLC
- Randy Cottin: Founder & CEO, Nesta.se
- Raul Perez Gurdian, Citi
- Rebeca Vidal: Ejecutiva Principal, CAF
- Reinaldo Valbuena: Co-Founder, Germinador
- Rene Guerrero: Líder de Innovación e Investigación y Desarrollo, Corporación Ventures
- Ricardo Castillo: Assistant Corporate Controller, Facebook
- Ricardo Fierro: Founder & CEO, PuntoGo
- Ricardo Pedreti: Wholesale Director, Telefonica Vivo
- Roberto Vargas: CEO, Betriax
- Roberto Dumerauf: CEO, Came Pagos
- Roberto Pérez: Marketplace Associate, Finalis
- Rodrigo Franco: Operations Manager, Folionet
- Rodrigo Lepervanche: Partner, Victum Legal
- Rolando Cruzado: President & Founder, PDMA Peru
- Romina Acosta: Consultor - Coach Organizacional - Mentor, Consultora RA
- Rosario B Casas: Co Founder, XR Americas, LLC / Business Creative Partners SAS
- Rosmilar Ceballo: CEO, Atina Energy Services
- Rossanna Ceccato: CEO, REDRESS
- Samuel Gómez Milano: CEO, CoinGroup
- Sandy Gómez: Director, FI Caracas
- Santiago Cervantes: Head of Operations, One Game Studio
- Sebastian Delmont: Principal Engineer, Artemis
- Silvana Liscano: Head of Research , Lunchclub
- Simon Chamorro: CEO-CoFounder, Valiu
- Simon Rausseo, BAM Mentors
- Susie Jaramillo: President and CCO, Encantos
- Thiago Garcia: CEO & General Partner, 10X Partners
- Thomas Bardinet: Director, Private Investment Firm
- Vanessa Navarro: Lawyer, Antequera Parilli & Rodríguez
- Victor Charles: COO/CFO and Founder, Coco
- Víctor Hernández: CVO & CEO, HelloSabi
- Wilbert Moreno: CEO, Celeritech
- Yanira Caraza: COO, Startupeable
- Yenni Peña: VP of Operations, Pygma
- 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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