Over the last four years, the Founder Institute (the world's largest entrepreneur training and startup launch program) has helped launch over 110 new companies in Southern California, across both our Los Angeles and San Diego Chapters.
With great traction and results across Southern California, we recently began hosting a series of free startup events in Irvine to gauge interest in a new Orange County program.
As a result of strong demand, we have some very exciting news - we are officially announcing the launch of the Orange County Founder Institute!
Applications to the program are open now, and anyone interested in launching a technology company is welcome to apply to the Orange County Founder Institute at http://fi.co/apply/orange_county.
In order to celebrate the launch, the Orange County Founder Institute will host a “Pre-Curriculum” of free startup events for the general public. Click here to see the full list of startup events in Orange County.
Many of the Graduates for the Los Angeles and San Diego Founder Institute programs were coming from the OC, so launching a local chapter has been in consideration for quite some time. Now that we have a strong team in place, we're confident that an Orange County program can fill a need for startup training and mentorship in between LA and SD."
- Adeo Ressi, Founder & CEO of the Founder Institute
Through the Founder Institute’s four-month program, promising entrepreneurs “learn by doing” and launch a company with structured training, expert feedback, and support from experienced startup CEOs. Since the program is part-time, it is also a great opportunity for full-time professionals to test and build their ideas before making “the leap” from employee to entrepreneur and quitting their jobs. Founder Institute Graduate companies include fast-rising startups across 6 continents like Udemy, Realty Mogul, Itembase, goplaceit, Appota, and many more.
Leading the Founder Institute's efforts in Orange County are two leaders of the local startup scene - Aman Singha, and Henri Duong.
Aman Singha has worked with startups since 1997, as a corporate lawyer, then moving on to venture capital and private equity, as well as executive management.
I believe the Founder Institute will provide a platform for people who are wishing to take the plunge into entrepreneurship but have not had a clear path. FI can add to the startup ecosystem in Orange County by collaborating and adding to the initiatives that already exist." - Aman Singha
Henri Duong was worked with startups since 2003. He has held multiple Director and Co-Founder roles in digital advertising agencies, online social networks, online video and e-commerce.
I wish there was something like FI back when I was starting up here in OC. I would have saved so much travel time to Silicon Valley and beyond. Having a platform that provides core startup lessons and direct mentorship from local and relevant tech CEOs is a much needed experience here in Orange County. I’m thrilled to be a part of giving back to my hometown." - Henri Duong
Many successful entrepreneurs have also pledged their support to mentor new entrepreneurs in the Orange County program, including;
- Adeo Ressi: Founder/CEO, Founder Institute
- Anderee Berengian: Managing Director, RezVen Partners
- Andrew Immerman: CTO, TrustCommerce
- Anoj Willy: Director Product Development, Trace3
- Anurag Bist: Founder, Ashmar
- Bart Greenberg: Partner, Haynes & Boone
- Brendon Kensel: President, MediaShift
- Bryan Elliot: CEO, TheGoodBrain.com
- Carey Ransom: CMO, Payoff
- Chris Hawkins: Founder, SignNow
- David Gerken: COO, AnyMeeting
- Fred Thiel: CEO & Chairman, Local Corporation
- George Kurtz: President/CEO, CrowdStrike
- Hong Bui: CEO, Polkast
- Jason James: President, Regents & Park
- Jeff Jackel: CEO, BuzzMob
- Jeff Curie: CEO, Bitvore
- Josh Stomel: CEO, Neohire
- Kimberly Kovacs: Executive Vice President, Solium
- Malcolm Lewis: Founder & CEO, RefGo
- Matthew Hannus: Chairman, Sleepy Giant
- Pete Deutschman: CEO, The Buddy Group
- Rajeev Kapur: CEO, Sonic Emotion
- Russell Stern: CEO, Solarflare Communications, Inc
- Sarah Miller: CEO, Axis Entertainment
- Tim Chan: Founder | CEO
- And many more to be announced.
Anybody who is interested in launching a technology company is welcome to apply. The Final Application Deadline is on November 2nd, but those who apply by the Early Application Deadline on October 19th are eligible for a variety of scholarships - including the Female Founder Fellowship, which is offered to the best overall female applicant.
In only 15 years of operation, over 7,500 graduate companies across 200 cities have used the Founder Institute to validate their idea, develop their plans, refine their product, build an advisory board, prepare for seed funding, and more.
