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 South Carolina. While the Silicon-Valley based network has chapters in over 200 cities worldwide, entrepreneurs in South Carolina 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 South Carolina Founder Institute are now open, and anyone interested in building a technology company can apply at FI.co/apply/columbia.
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.
To celebrate the launch, the Founder Institute will host several free online startup events in South Carolina, where you can learn from top entrepreneurs all from the comfort of home:
- Startup Funding AMA & Founder Institute Info Session, with Jonathan Greechan (CEO, Founder Institute): 1:00pm, Dec 30, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/361308
- Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
- Startup Funding AMA & Founder Institute Info Session, with Jonathan Greechan (CEO, Founder Institute): 8:00pm, Jan 02, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/361315
- How to Go from 0 to 1: Scaling and Exiting Your Startup with Mark Balovnev: 1:00pm, Jan 06, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/363261
- Co-Founder Networking: Find a Technical Co-Founder: 1:00pm, Jan 08, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/361623
- Startup to Scale-Up: Mastering Sales & Branding with Mark Kosoglow: 1:00pm, Jan 13, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/361008
- How to Build, Fundraise, and Exit Your Startup: AMA with Tim Grassin: 5:00am, Jan 15, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/363347
- What is the DNA of an Entrepreneur? Insights from 15 Years of Research: 8:00pm, Jan 22, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/361848
- How to Align Your Brand Messaging with Your Startup Mission: 1:00pm, Jan 27, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/363053
- FI Alumni Panel: Meet Portfolio Companies and Ask Questions: 1:00pm, Jan 29, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/363536
- Employee to Entrepreneur: How to Make the Trasition to Startup Founder : 8:00pm, Feb 03, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/363672
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 1:00pm, Feb 05, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/363887
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 1:00pm, Feb 10, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/364064
The experts that have been critical in bringing the Founder Institute to South Carolina include local startup leaders Angela Coxe (Beaufort Digital Corridor), Jess OBrien (Beaufort Digital Corridor Foundation), Rich Conte.
Opportunities are flourishing in South Carolina. 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 South Carolina, 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 South Carolina 2023 Founder Institute program, including:
- Adrian Pelkus: Artificer, Inventing with Adrian, LLC
- Allen Amsler: CEO, McCrory Construction Company
- Angela Coxe: Program Manager, Beaufort Digital Corridor
- Ben Rex: CEO, CyberWoven
- Bobby Cone: IT Strategy and Solutions, MPC, LLC
- Brandon Noel: Entrpreneur, Data Droplets Inc.
- Brandon Gantt: Founder & CEO, SAPi
- Carrie Turner: Director of Marketing, Central South Carolina Alliance
- Chad Hardaway: Deputy Director, Office of Economic Engagement, University of South Carolina
- Chandler Kellogg: Director of Growth Marketing, hotbutton.io
- Chase Heatherley
- Chris Praet: President, Progress Carolina
- Chris Heivly: Managing Director, Build The Fort
- Chuck Bland: VP Enterprise Accounts, VitalConnect Inc
- Chuck Hannon: Startup Mentor, Don Ryan Center for Innovation
- Daniel Andrews, Network In Action
- Daniel Andrews: Networking concierge, Network In Action
- David Campbell: COO, Chernoff Newman
- Dean Schuster: Co Founder, truematter
- Dirk Brown: Director, McNair Institute for Entrepreneurism and Free Enterprise, University of South Carolina
- Dwayne Sutton
- Ed Jopeck: President, Next Third Ventures
- Emma Morris: CEO, The Morris Group
- Eric Siano: Managing Director, Fractional CMO, Blue Leopard LLC
- Eric Thome: Director, Venture South
- Gary Baldwin: Co-Founder, Medical Access Partners
- Grace Belangia: CEO and Co Founder, Make Startups
- Jamie Dement: Director of Technology & Cybersecurity Initiatives, SC Competes
- Jason Williamson: Business Unit Leader, Thorlabs
- Jason Loia: Chief Growth Officer, Webscale Networks
- Jay Vierling: CEO and Founder, AEV Capital
- Jennifer Randall Collins: CEO, Liquorum Holdings
- Jess O'brien: Executive Director, Beaufort Digital Corridor
- Jim Stritzinger: CEO, Revolution D, Inc
- Joe Floyd: Co-Founder & CEO, Swaggy
- John Denise: CEO, Advanced Automation Consulting Inc
- John Busch: CEO, Blue Heron INternational
- John Saleeby: Growth Advisor, University of South Carolina
- John DaWalt: Senior Vice President, Merrill Lynch
- Katherine Butkevich: Founder | CEO, Realign Advisors
- KEVIN WILLIAMS: CEO, Cognizant Leadership
- Lasenta Lewis Ellis: CEO, LLE Construction
- Laura Boccanfuso: CEO, Van Robotics
- Lee Macilwinen: Investment Manager, SCRA
- Lila Anna Sauls
- Lorraine Wiseman: Vistage Chair/ President and CEO , Vistage Worldwide, Inc./ Leading the Wise Way Inc.
- Marlon Walters
- Matt D'angelo: Client Services Partner, IFS North America
- Peter Schwartz: CEO Chair, Vistage
- Ram Reddy: CEO, MyTecSoft
- Raquel Padgett: Executive Director, EforAll Lowcountry
- Rick Case: Founder, CaseFactor
- Russell Cook: Managing Director, Comporium Ventures
- Rusty Farrell: Partner, President, True Matter, LLC
- Sam Johnson: Advisor, Greengate Strategy
- Sam Hancock: President, American Stainless
- Satish Cherukumalli: CEO/Founder, TrakItNow, Inc.
- Serephina Ha: Managing Director, Founder Institute - Los Angeles
- Sergio Aparico
- Tamika Washington: Owner, The Converspace
- Thaddeus Jones
- Tia Williams Nelson
- Tim Johnson: Co-Founder, CEO, Longship Legal, LLC
- Tommy Crutchfield: Director, Imedion, Inc.
- Wade Caughman: DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT, JAMS+STARK
- 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 $1.85BN 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 South Carolina to get funded and build a global business.
Apply to the South Carolina 2023 Founder Institute today, or learn more at FI.co/overview.
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