The Founder Institute is proud to announce that Paul O’Brien has joined the organization as its new Head of Public Affairs. As a longtime advocate for startup ecosystems, entrepreneurship policy, and economic innovation, Paul brings a bold and necessary vision to FI - one in which Startup Development Organizations (SDOs) are not just participants in entrepreneurial growth, but leaders in the policy, education, and capital strategies that help determine whether founders succeed or fail.
As the world’s largest pre-seed accelerator, the Founder Institute has launched over 8,000 companies across more than 100 countries since its founding in 2009. But today, as AI redefines how we learn and what skills will be necessary for the future economy, and venture capital increasingly concentrates in a few regions, FI needs to take a more direct role in shaping public policy, university education, and startup economic development.
Paul steps into this role with a unique and timely focus. He’s spent decades identifying and addressing the systemic reasons startups and local ecosystems fail due to misaligned policy, underperforming startup programs, or institutional neglect of the realities of launching endurable businesses in today's economy. His work, in Austin and Silicon Valley, and globally, has emphasized that entrepreneurial development infrastructure should be as common in a city’s strategy as roads, broadband, and water.
At FI, we believe entrepreneurs are the greatest catalyst for societal change, and there are new entrepreneurs everywhere whose potential can be unlocked to make a positive impact on the world. As such, I believe the future of our society will be found at the convergence of how we teach, how we govern, and how we serve entrepreneurs.
Unfortunately, I speak to government and economic development officials every week that are completely neglecting the education and development of new entrepreneurs in their regions. They focus on building expensive spaces and venture funds before there are even enough strong entrepreneurs and startups to justify them.
Bringing on Paul will help us shape the future of startup education and ecosystem development in three core ways:
- Policy Engagement: FI will increase its presence in legislative and regulatory discussions as we support governments that are intentional about entrepreneurship.
- University and Civic Integration: FI will continue expanding its role as a turnkey solution for higher education and municipalities looking to identify, activate, and empower new entrepreneurs.
- Ecosystem Accountability: “Innovation Theater” plagues too many regions, and with Paul’s help we aim to change this dynamic and ensure entrepreneurship development is seen as critical and tangible economic development infrastructure.
This expanded mission comes at a time when national and local policy must keep up with the accelerating pace of innovation. Startups are often left navigating a maze of conflicting incentives, outdated regulations, and policy decisions made without their input.
“This work isn’t just about one program or one organization,” said O’Brien. “It’s about rethinking entrepreneurship as public infrastructure. Every founder should have access to structured education, supportive community, and regulatory systems that don’t punish innovation. That’s what we’re building.”
Together with cities, universities, investors, and entrepreneurs, FI is committed to building the systems that help every founder not just start, but thrive.
If you’re ready to bring structured entrepreneurial education, capital access, and policy collaboration to your region or university, now’s the time to reach out.
The Founder Institute is the world’s most proven network to turn ideas into fundable startups, and startups into global businesses. Since 2009, our highly-structured accelerator programs have helped entrepreneurs raised over 1.9BN in funding across over 200 cities worldwide.
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