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The Philadelphia Founder Institute, the local chapter of the world's largest pre-seed startup accelerator, is proud to announce the newest Alumni from the Philadelphia program.

After meticulous selection process and intense four months of aggressive business-building sprints, constant evaluation, and feedback from investors and mentors, just 5 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 Philadelphia's top startup experts and investors.  

And now, without further ado, we present the Alumni of the Philadelphia program: 

  •  InPerson+ - a company that opens doors for first-generation students and professionals towards jobs and a better life, and creates opportunities to grow.
  • Zero Waste Loop - a B2B platform that connects waste producers and recyclers with the waste management companies needed to transport this waste.
  • BioDome - A sustainable urban farming association using BioDomes on apartment buildings to grow fresh produce for tenants via a weekly subscription service
  • Beternal-  a media and private message storage to make sure when you are gone your media and memories will last forever.

The Philadelphia program would not have been possible without help, because it truly takes a city to raise a startup.

The graduation will take place on February 7, 2024.

Philadelphia Local Directors 

We would first like to thank the Local Directors of the Philadelphia Founder Institute: Bill Rivkin (Business Banking Virtual Relationship Manager VP, Citizens), Daria Duda (Marketing Advisor, Self), Don Samoil (Chapter Leader, FI Keystone), Philly Admin (A, A). Our Local Leaders play an incredibly important role in building the local Founder Institute program, and creating an environment and network in Philadelphia that is conducive to building to great companies.

In addition, the Philadelphia program was supported by some of Philadelphia's top technology organizations, including:


Some of Philadelphia’s top startup mentors helped our founders in the program, including:

* Abdellah Aouf * Alfred Poor * Arcui Usoara * Ben Stacey * Bill Rivkin * Daniel Nelson * Dustin Betz * Joel Ginsparg * Jon Zaikowski * Matiullah Rahmaty * Max Thalheimer * Melissa Li * Nadia Al-Banna, PHD, MBA * Nadine Campbell * Nathan Mancine * Noah Wallach * Ozan Sonmez * Pete Biggam * Peter Chmiel * Rich Heckelmann * Ronda Siegel * Sara Ledterman * Stefanie Smith * Stefanos Damianakis * Stephan Thomas * Tim Dodd * Tovit Neizer * Trevor Longino * Xan Hong * Zach Messler

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 2BN. 

After Graduation, the new Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia Founder Institute program is being planned now. If you are interested in being notified when applications open, visit FI.co/apply/philadelphia.

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Alumni of the Founder Institute are creating some of the world's fastest growing startups, having raised over 2BN 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/graduates


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