The New Normal means New Opportunities: today, the world needs more entrepreneurs to help lead the way in building a brighter future for all.
The Founder Institute, the world’s most proven network to turn ideas into fundable startups, and startups into global businesses, is excited to announce that it is officially launching its newest chapter in Wisconsin. While the Silicon-Valley based network has chapters in over 200 cities worldwide, entrepreneurs in Wisconsin can finally now take advantage of the Founder Institute's proven processes to build an enduring company that can survive and thrive in the years to come in an uncertain world.
Applications to the first ever Wisconsin Founder Institute are now open, and anyone interested in building a technology company can apply at FI.co/apply/madison.
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 Wisconsin, where you can learn from top entrepreneurs all from the comfort of home:
- FI Alumni Panel: Meet Portfolio Companies and Ask Questions: 12:00pm, Oct 20, 2025 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/380716
- Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
- Building Local Economies That Attract Venture Capital: 11:00am, Oct 21, 2025 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/380094
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 12:00pm, Oct 27, 2025 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/380177
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 7:00pm, Nov 10, 2025 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/380182
- How to Unlock Your Region’s Entrepreneurial Potential for Economic Growth: 12:00pm, Nov 12, 2025 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/380027
- Ask an Investor Anything: Q&A with Kirby Winfield: 12:00pm, Nov 17, 2025 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/380187
- Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 12:00pm, Nov 24, 2025 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/380192
- Build Your 2026 Startup Operations Plan: 12:00pm, Dec 01, 2025 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/381739
- Hiring for Startups: How to Build Your Team Early: 12:00pm, Dec 08, 2025 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/380852
- Founder Showcase: Startup Pitch & Networking Event, with Jenny Fielding: 11:00am, Dec 10, 2025 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/380959
The experts that have been critical in bringing the Founder Institute to Wisconsin include local startup leaders Jason Jacobsohn (Managing Partner, Propellant Ventures).
Opportunities are flourishing in Wisconsin. There's now a growing ecosystem of support here for entrepreneurs - and Founder Institute can increase any aspiring technology entrepreneur's chances of success in Wisconsin, by providing the necessary founder mindset, structure, and network - with a direct link to Silicon Valley!
In addition, many of the region's top founders, CEOs, advisors, and investors have signed on to mentor participating entrepreneurs in the Wisconsin 2023 Founder Institute program, including:
- 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 Lambert: Venture Capital Manager, mHUB
- Alex Gorsuch: Co-founder, CTO, Ascent Integrated Tech
- Alex Glenn: Founder, Automated.af
- Andrew Loulousis: Vice President of Strategy and Venturing, TechNexus Venture Collaborative
- Andrew Lee: CEO, Esper
- 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 Schnitzer: Program Manager, Techstars Chicago
- Brad Spirrison: CEO, Grown In
- 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 Sorensen: Founder & CEO, Lake Forest Venture Management
- Chris Foltz: Global Entrepreneur-In-Residence, Founder Institute
- 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 Rosen: CEO, Acrelic Group
- David Douglas: Founder & CEO, Yolobe Inc.
- David Kirshenbaum: Founder/Connector in CHief, www.MeadeConnect.com
- David Culver: Co-Founder, VentureSHOT
- David Zaretsky: CEO, Chief Scientist & Co-Founder, Snips Media
- 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 C&S 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 Jacobsohn: Managing Director, Propellant Ventures
- Jason Randolph: Senior Vice President Marketing & Strategic Growth, Tradier
- Jean Bordelon: Vice President of Data Management, Bounteous
- Jed Abernethy: Corporate Innovation and Startup Executive, Entrepreneur / Digital Transformation
- Jeff Lyons: Operating Director, City Capital Advisors, LLC
- Jeff Weber: Founder, Chalenj
- Jeff Hyman: Chief Talent Officer, Strong Suit Executive Search
- Jeffrey Coney: Executive Coach and Mentor
- Jeremy Baras: Director of Business Development, Startup Space
- Jill Miller: CEO, Lunum
- Joe Lee: CEO, Inverse
- Joe Bezdek: Co-founder, DivX, Inc.
- Joe Born: CEO, Aiwa Corp.
- John Dallas: CEO, Enclave Academy and Hillview Partners Network LLC
- John Ernst: Chief Growth & Technology Officer, Founder, Advisor, Entrepreneur, Executive
- 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: SVP Americas & General Counsel, advantageclub.ai
- Meghan Hoover: CEO, SceneSave
- Michael Carney: President, MWC Accounting
- Michael Kelly: CEO, DeveloperTown
- Michael Lamb: Co-Founder & President, nativeMSG
- Michael Carruth: President/Founder, Fiodan Corporation
- Michael Kramer: Founder and CEO, ManageHub, Inc.
- Mike Moyer: Founder, Fair and Square Ventures, LLC
- Mike Kritzman: Founder & CEO, SkillNet
- Mike Anguiano: Founder, SupplyHive
- 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, DigitalGroundUp Inc. and Digital4Startups 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, and the results speak for themselves: FI Alumni have raised over 1.9BN in funding, and are building impactful businesses across 200+ cities and 100+ countries all across the globe (see the FI 50 Report here).
Join us in Wisconsin to get funded and build a global business.
Apply to the Wisconsin 2023 Founder Institute today, or learn more at FI.co/overview.
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