
The Austin Founder Institute, the local chapter of the world's largest pre-seed startup accelerator, is proud to announce the newest Alumni from the Austin Spring Virtual 2021 program.
Over 120 people applied to the program, and after an intense four months of aggressive business-building sprints and constant evaluation and feedback from investors and mentors, just six companies were able to make it through.
Each of these Founders have demonstrated a high level of perseverance and creativity, and their businesses have been thoroughly vetted and supported by a panel of Austin's top startup experts and investors.
And now, without further ado, we proundly present the newest portfolio Alumni of the Founder Institute Austin program:
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Adulting101
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Good Glucose
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Gyle
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Intuily
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Meet Jane
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One January
The Austin Spring Virtual 2021 program would not have been possible without help, because it truly takes a city to raise a startup. We would first like to thank the Local Leaders of the Austin Founder Institute: Elisa Sepulveda, Harold Hughes, Martin MartinezPaul O'Brien. Our Local Leaders play an incredibly important role in building the local Founder Institute program, and creating an environment and network in Austin that is conducive to building to great companies.
In addition, the Austin Spring Virtual 2021 Austin Spring Virtual 2021 program was supported by some of Austin's top technology organizations, including:
Some of Austin’s top startup mentors helped our founders in the program, including:
- Aaron Ali: CEO, Helix
- Aaron Chavez: Managing Partner, Argent Strategies
- Abdellah Aouf: Chief Executive Officer, GO Platform
- Abe Chu: Co-founder & CMO, NextSeed
- Abhi Dobhal: Founder/ COO/CFO , Warehouse Republic
- Abhishek Kumbhat: Dr, SapidBlue Technologies
- Adam Weinroth: CMO & Advisor, Various Startups
- Adeo Ressi: CEO, Decile Group / VC Lab
- Aeryn Cagle
- Aki Ohashi: Vice President, Evolution Ventures
- Albert Baez: President, Blended Sense
- Amanda Lettmann: CEO, COO & Co-Founder, Kardia Ventures/ SimpleDisability, Inc.
- Amanda Eakin, Sputnik ATX
- Amos Schwartzfarb: Managing Director, Techstars Austin
- Andrew Millet: Founder, Process Pro Consulting
- Andy Fruhling: SVP, Nokia
- Andy Hart: Advisor, a Mana Project
- Anita Roberts, Silicon Hills Capital
- Anu Pansare: CEO, Volyx
- Arturo Piña: President, ProductCamp Austin
- Ashley Jennings: Managing Director , Texas Innovation Center - Technology Commercialization at UT Austin
- Ashley Connell: CEO & Founder, Prowess Project
- Ben Chaib
- Bill Blackstone: EVP of Operations, Galvanize
- Bob Bridge: Founder and Executive Director, SWAN Impact Network
- Bora Laci: Assistant Director of Programs, SMU Tower
- Bre Cruickshank: Founder & CEO, Radical Girl Gang
- Brett Beckett: Vice President - Finance & Strategy, Realogy - Independence Title
- Brian Hammer: Founder & CEO, Residual Media
- Brian Childress: Architect, Technical Advisor, Calendly
- Brian Sparkes: Head of Communications, Bay Angels
- Candace Ohm: Founder, Canz.Art
- Candice Digby: Partnerships and Events Director, Vapor IO
- Cara McCarty: CEO, Betterleave
- Caroline Healey: Director , Antler
- Charles Martin: Co-Founder , Flux Bucket
- Chintan Oza: Founder, Anantam Ecosystems
- Chris Perez: Sr. Strategist, Digital Experience, Ascend Marketing
- Chris Palmisano: COO, Rocket Dollar
- Chris Turnley: Chief Revenue Officer
- Chris Smurthwaite: Founder, VC Insider
- Christiana Yebra: CEO, Vouch
- Corey Rose: Vice President, Global Technology & Innovation, Opportunity Austin
- Cs Freeland: Co-Founder, Texas Venture Association
- Dana Rygwelski: Founding Director, MassChallenge Texas
- Dana Marruffo: Owner, Buzz Public Relations, LLC
- Dana Abramovitz: Founding Team, SXSW
- Daniel Alvarez: Vice President, Disruptive Technology & Disruptive Commerce, JPMorgan Chase & Co
- Daphne Bernicker: CEO, HumanAim
- Dave Heimnuck: CEO / Founder, Hidrent
- David Kobierowski
- David Robinson Jr.: Founding Member, Blueprint Local
- David Franklin: Founder & CEO, knowRX
- David Gibson
- David Mandel: Managing Partner, Managing PartnerManaging Partner Emerging Ventures Fund
- David Valentino: Managing Director, Austin Venture Association
- David Hendrawirawan: Founder, Data Integrity First
- Dean Cruse: Principal, DC Marketing
- Dennis Dayman: Startup Advisor & Seed Investor, Bluewater International, LLC
- Dennis Menendez, Founder Institute Austin
- Diane Yoo: Managing Partner, Medingenii Capital
- Dianthe Skurko: Principal, GVC Partners
- Dustin Byington, Two12
- Edward Madongorere: Co-Founder, CEO, Moon
- Emma Borochoff: Head of Marketing, 8fig
- Emmit Schultz: Founder & CEO, Savi, Inc.
- Eric Fishhaut: President, Gelber & Associates
- Eric Samdahl: CEO / Founder, GHSD Group
- Eric Salwan: Co-founder, Firefly Aerospace
- Erin Pitts: Founder / Creative Partner, The Label Collective
- Fabian Geyrhalter: Founder and Principal, FINIEN
- Fawsi Asare: Founder & CEO, Feedia
- Frankie Arvelo: Startup Counsel, Arvelo PLLC
- Gennadiy Goldenshteyn: Managing Partner, First Principles, LLC
- Guc Ozenci: Tech-Entrepreneur | Mentor | Director | Investor, Founder Institute | Axent Ventures
- Guy Parker: Chief Strategy & Creative Officer, Ambient Way
- Harrison Wells: VC, Notley
- Hazel Chappell: CEO | Founder, ishca health Inc
- Heath Butler: Founder/Managing Partner, Gestalt Growth Advisors
- Heather Buffo: Venture Growth & Partnerships, Republic
- Heidi Leach: Vice President, Emerging Tech & Disruptive CommerceVice President, Emerging Tech & Disruptive Commerce, JP Morgan
- Horacio Rodriguez Rilo: Founder, Boop
- Howard Freidman: Managing Partner, Bluechip Jets
- Hugh Forrest: Chief Programming Officer, SXSW
- Ian Bidot, Jon Brumley Texas Venture Labs
- Ignacio Castro: Managing Director, Founder Institute Boston
- Ivelin Ivanov: co-founder, FI Web 3
- Jacqueline Hughes: Founder, Austin Startup Week
- Jaleh Daie, Ph.D: Chairman/Founder, AgFoodHealthSpan (AFH Vertical), Band of Angels
- James Phelan: Co-Founder & CCO, Village Insights
- Janice Omadeke: CEO, The Mentor Method
- Jasmin Brand: Founder / CEO, Her Texas
- Jasmin Brand: CEO and Founder, Her Texas
- Jason Taylor: Executive Director
- Jason Assir: Principal Consultant, Opex Digital Consulting
- Jason Scharf: Creator and Co-Host, Austin Next
- Jason W. Taylor: President & Founder, CodeLaunch Accelerator
- Javy Martinez: Managing Director | Startup Advisor | Event Host, Founder Institute North Texas
- Jeff Eversmann: Mentor, FI
- Jenaro Diaz: Founder & CIO, Minero
- Jodie Slater Hastings: Co-Founder , The Slate
- Joe Daniels: Partner, Co-Chair - Emerging Companies, Partner & Co-Chair, Emerging Companies Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough
- Joe Beard: Founder / CEO, Advisor
- Joey Jones: Co-Founder/Chief Revenue & Compliance Officer, CurveBlock Ltd
- Jonathan Libby: Partner Development Manager, Tableau
- Jose Padilla
- Jose Angel Ortega: Investor, VC
- José Luis Silva Vázquez: Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Dux Capital
- Joseph Liu: Venture Partner, Wise Ocean
- Juan Thurman: Managing General Partner, SWAN Impact Fund
- Juan Martinez: Founder, HyveCity
- Judy Tsuei: Founder, Wild Hearted Words
- Justin Mc Kenzie: Vice President, Bandera Electric Cooperative
- Ken Pomella: CEO, RevStar
- Kendall Gallagher: Head of Sales , Skaled
- Kennie Matthews: Chairman & CEO, M Infrastructure, Inc.
- Kevin Sharp: General Partner, WIV Ventures
- K.J. Royal: Founder, Join Sprints
- Kristie Whites: FOUNDER & CEO, Serving Social
- Kristy Alballero: Co-Founder & COO, IOOGO
- Kwame Boler: Co-Founder & CEO, Spritz
- Kyle Wiggins, Assembly
- Laura Kamrath: CEO, Zebra Marketing Solutions
- Lauren Washington: Co-Founder, Black Women Talk Tech/Fundr
- Leigh Christie: CEO and Executive Director, BEAM Angel Network
- Levi McMellian: CEO | Founding Partner | Managing Director, CFO4Life
- Lily Turner: Manager, Global Technology & Innovation, Opportunity Austin
- Lito Rodriguez: Partner, DWX Par
- Lucas Chaya Del Pino: Dell for Entrepreneurs Lead, DELL Technologies
- Malcolm Woods: Founder - Alumni, FareUpThere
- Manvinder Oberoi: Vice, Infrablock
- Mara Rada: CEO & Chief of Strategy, Feral (thinkferal.com)
- Marcos Rodriguez: Mentor Investor, Rodriguez Capital Holdings LLC
- Marcus Carey: CEO, ThreatCare
- Maria Burgos: Founder & CEO, Trendy Seconds
- Maria Pienaar: Principal, First Principles
- Mariana Muntean: Founder & CEO, Cinevva
- Mariano Gonzalez: Founder and General Partner, MGV Capital Group
- Mario Soave: Founder, CleverFi
- Marlon Montgomery: Director of Technology & Product , Globant / MediaTech.ventures
- Martín Martinez: Executive Director, Founder Institute Texas
- Maryna Burushkina: Founder, GrowthChannel
- Matt Brown: HEAD OF TECH & GLOBAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, Galaxy Venture Capital
- Mauricio Delgado: Co-founder and CPO, Nada
- Maxim Nazarov: Investment Director , FinSight VC
- Melisa Pinto-Rivera, MS: Consultant/ Founding Partner , Stella Sophia Global
- Melissa Unsell-Smith: Co-founder and President, https://rectifydata.com
- Mellie Price: Executive Director, Texas Venture Labs, University of Texas at Austin
- Mercedes Bankston: Founder, Funderstar LTD
- Miao Yan: Corporate Development Manager-Renewable Energy, NOV
- Michael Morton: CEO, Morton Consulting Group
- Michelle Witt: Principal, Propelled Marketing
- Mike Breck: Principal, Acuity Thinking
- Mike Solow: Partner
- Molly Walsh: Director, Founder Institute Dallas
- Nakevia Miller: Founder, Nakevia Designs
- Narek Gevorgyan
- Natasha Gorodetsky: Founder&Head of Product, Product Pursuits
- Nathan Ryan: CEO and Co-Founder, Blue Sky Partners
- Neha Sampat: Founder, CEO, Contentstack
- Nelly Yusupova: Founder, TechSpeak.co
- Nelly Yusupova: Founder, TechSpeak.co
- Nick Hahn: President & Founder, Creative Liberation
- Nikola Korac: CEO, Downstream IT Solutions
- Noah Wallach: Founder, Hope OS
- Oleg Lysiak: Partner Success Manager, Honeycomb Software
- Omar Zaki: Founder, Qima Ventures
- Paola Origel: Co-Founder & Managing Partner, ChainLink Capital
- Paul O'Brien: CEO, MediaTech Ventures
- Pavan Kumar: Founder, 3pmVentures
- Peter Busch, Meet Jane
- Prerna Sharma: Associate Partner , Antler
- Q Manning: Head of Design, SmartAC.com
- Rafael Kartaszynski: CEO, Tech Edge Developers
- Rahul Agarwal: Principal Technical Product Manager, Hasura
- Rajesh Gopi, TWO12
- Ram Prasad: Fractional CPO/CTO, Delence
- Richard Delgado: Partner, ERA Capital Partners
- Riley Knox: Founder, Accelerate3D
- Robert Balderas: Founder & CEO, Bob's Containers
- Rogelio De los Santos: Cofounder and Managing Partner, Dalus Capital & FI Monterrey
- Roger Heaston: President & CEO, Refinition
- Roland Peña: SVP Global Tech & Innovation, Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce
- Saima Siddiqui: Director of Product Management, Joyride.com
- Sally Aiello: Business Development, Walmart
- Samuel Riehn: Chief Executive Officer, SBIR Advisors Inc.
- Scott G. Cornelius: VP, Refinition
- Sean Bauld: Founder & Chief Experiment Officer, spxk
- Sebastien Long: Founder & CEO, Lodgeur
- Shane Brechmann: Founder & CEO, Topmost Ventures
- Shashank Aiisvari: Founder, Aiisvari
- Shelby Stephens: Founder & CEO, GrowthMatch
- Shlomi Podgaetz: Director/CEO, Rizasmart Consulting
- Shree Moorthy: Senior Vice President, Vertex Software
- Sloan Foster: Principal , Envisage Associates
- Sneha Lundia Agrawal: Founder & CEO, Step2Growth
- Sophia Clark: Founder & Creative Director, Galiatea
- Stephanie Lopez: Vice President, JPMorgan Chase & Co
- Stephanie Mc Kee Zielinski: Host & Producer, INSIDE.COM
- Steve Jennis: Founder and CEO, Jennis Consulting Group
- Tarun Gulati: Founder & CEO, Adios
- Thom Singer: CEO, Austin Technology Council
- Tiana Laurence: GP, Laurence Innovation
- Tim De Silva: Founder & CEO, Culture Pilot
- Tony Banning: Chairman, Smash Digital Media
- Trey Ikard, WIV Ventures
- Ty Audronis: Founder/ ceo, Tempest Droneworx
- Ty Audronis: CEO, Tempest Droneworx
- Tyler Durman: CEO & Founder, Ignition Growth Consulting
- Ugochi Owo: CEO, Flindel
- Unnat Bak: CEO, Revscale
- Valliappan Narayanan: Director of Engineering, AT&T
- Vidhi Data, She Raises Capital
- Vivek Dixit: Managing Partner , 369 Growth Partners
- William Douglas: CEO, OpticWise
- Wogbe Ofori: Founder, Wrx Companies
- Yagub Rahimov: Founder, Tested Web
- Yemi Oluseun: Founder/ CEO - Fintech, SaaS Business Growth, Automation & Change Management, The Change Hive
- Yj Lin: Senior Program Manager, Dell
- YJ Lin: Program Manager, Dell for Entrepreneurs
In the Founder Institute's pre-seed accelerator program, early-stage entrepreneurs and teams build their business alongside a critical support network of local startup experts that share equity in their success, and through a structured and challenging business-building process that has helped alumni raise over $1.75BN.
After Graduation, the new Austin Founder Institute Portfolio Companies now have a fast-growing company that has been fully validated by experienced startup founders, with access to the Founder Institute's global network and post-graduate support programs to continue building their business.
Leaders of the world’s fastest-growing startups have used the Founder Institute to raise funding, building a co-founding team, get into seed-accelerators, generate traction, recruit a team, build a product, transition from employee to entrepreneur, and more. Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 200+ cities and 100+ countries, the Founder Institute’s mission is to Globalize Silicon Valley and empower talented and motivated entrepreneurs to build companies that will create one million new jobs.
The next Austin Founder Institute program is being planned now. If you are interested in being notified when applications open, visit FI.co/apply/austin.
Alumni of the Founder Institute are creating some of the world's fastest growing startups, having raised over $1.75BN in funding, and building products people love across over 200 cities worldwide.
See the most recent news from our Grads at FI.co/news, or learn more about their stories at FI.co/journey.