The Founder Institute (http://FI.co), the world's largest entrepreneur training and startup launch program, announced today that it is exploring a new semester launch in Quito this year.
Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 200 cities and 100 countries, the Founder Institute has helped launch over 7,500 companies - including fast-rising startups across 6 continents like Udemy, Realty Mogul, iCarsClub, Itembase, goplaceit, Appota, and many more. The company's mission is to "Globalize Silicon Valley" and create sustainable startup ecosystems that will create one million new jobs worldwide.
If you'd like to help bring a semester to Quito, then fill out an Interest Form. If enough people complete this form by the Launch Deadline (mar 17, 2025), then the Founder Institute will formally launch a 2015 program.
The Founder Institute is a part-time, four-month program where promising entrepreneurs can "learn by doing" and launch a company through structured training courses and expert feedback from business mentors. Plus, you are not required to quit your day job to participate, so you can begin building a business around your ideas without putting your livelihood at risk.
In order to test demand for a 2015 program, the Founder Institute will host several free startup events:
- What is the DNA of an Entrepreneur? Insights from 15 Years of Research: 8:00pm, ene 22, 2025 (America/Lima): https://FI.co/e/361803
- Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
- Presenta tu idea de negocio a inversionistas y expertos de Colombia y LatAm: 6:00pm, ene 23, 2025 (America/Lima): https://FI.co/e/364642
- How to Align Your Brand Messaging with Your Startup Mission: 1:00pm, ene 27, 2025 (America/Lima): https://FI.co/e/362983
- FI Alumni Panel: Meet Portfolio Companies and Ask Questions: 1:00pm, ene 29, 2025 (America/Lima): https://FI.co/e/363468
- Employee to Entrepreneur: How to Make the Trasition to Startup Founder : 8:00pm, feb 03, 2025 (America/Lima): https://FI.co/e/363632
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 1:00pm, feb 05, 2025 (America/Lima): https://FI.co/e/363821
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 1:00pm, feb 10, 2025 (America/Lima): https://FI.co/e/363996
- Investor Valuation Basics: How to Assess Your Startup’s Worth with Neil Shah: 8:00pm, feb 24, 2025 (America/Lima): https://FI.co/e/364407
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 8:00pm, feb 26, 2025 (America/Lima): https://FI.co/e/365031
- Ask an Investor Anything: Q&A with Javier Caruso: 1:00pm, feb 27, 2025 (America/Lima): https://FI.co/e/364253
- Latin America Regional Founder Showcase: 1:00pm, mar 05, 2025 (America/Lima): https://FI.co/e/365392
- Co-Founder Networking: Sales and Marketing Partner Matchmaking: 12:00pm, mar 12, 2025 (America/Lima): https://FI.co/e/364692
- What is the DNA of an Entrepreneur? Insights from 15 Years of Research: 12:00pm, mar 19, 2025 (America/Lima): https://FI.co/e/364864
- Startup Fundraising Q&A: Meet Investors from the FI Venture Network: 7:00pm, mar 24, 2025 (America/Lima): https://FI.co/e/365224
- Employee to Entrepreneur: How to Make the Trasition to Startup Founder : 12:00pm, abr 07, 2025 (America/Lima): https://FI.co/e/365686
- Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 7:00pm, abr 16, 2025 (America/Lima): https://FI.co/e/366062
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 7:00pm, abr 28, 2025 (America/Lima): https://FI.co/e/366134
- What is the DNA of an Entrepreneur? Insights from 15 Years of Research: 7:00pm, may 07, 2025 (America/Lima): https://FI.co/e/366300
- Startup Fundraising Q&A: Meet Investors from the FI Venture Network: 12:00pm, may 12, 2025 (America/Lima): https://FI.co/e/366391
Leading the Founder Institute's efforts in Quito are David Montenegro (CEO, ORBIS Agencia de Innovación) and Luis Adriano Calero (Chairman & CEO, redPartner S.A).
Other successful entrepreneurs who have pledged their support to mentor founders in a Quito Founder Institute program include:
- Adeo Ressi: CEO, Decile Group / VC Lab
- Alan Colmenares: Cofounder and CEO, Tappsi / Tpaga / EthicalMe
- Alberto Parra: CEO and Founder, BRIX (www.brix.net.br)
- Alejandro Gutiérrez: Co-founder, LinkU Ventures SAS
- Alejandro Abdel Aziz: Founder & CEO, Nextonia
- Alejandro Gutierrez: CFO y desarrollo de negocios, Puntopay
- América Castiblanco: Directora de Emprendimiento, Innpulsa Colombia
- Ana Maria Ortegón: Socia Gerente, OMAS
- Ana María Prieto: Asociada, Brazil Venture Capital
- Andres Vejarano Calderon: Socio, Abogado, Director, Invictum Capital, ANDI del Futuro, Kairos
- Andres Hernandez: Strategist and Writer, Andreherca
- Andres Cano: CEO, ACANOF SAS
- Andres Angel: CEO, Nominapp
- Andrés Barreto: Managing Director , Techstars Boulder
- Andrés Bello: Director de Emprendimiento, Fundación Bolívar Davivienda
- Andrés Londoño: Head of performance, Platzi
- Andrés Marcucci: Analista, Torrenegra Accelerator
- Andrés Veléz: Founding CEO, Tributi
- Andrés Felipe Pantoja Castrillón: CoFounder, Legal Mentors
- Andrés Felipe Méndez: Cofounder, Génesis Holding
- Anfer Molina: CoFounder & CEO, Tuptip
- Angel Celis Botto: Co-Founder, Liftit
- Ángela Castillo Llinás: Co-Founder, HelloGuru
- Beatriz Dager: General Partner, ChiX Future Ventures
- Berg Moe: Owner, Berg Moe Media
- Bernardt Vogel: Sr.Associate, VU Venture Partners
- Bibiana Ardila: Co-Founder, Taller A
- Byron Hernández: Head of IT Services, Instaleap
- Camilo Jimenez: CTO , InstaLeap.io
- Camilo Gómez: CEO, Phylo Legal
- Carina Batz: Directora Área de Proyectos y Servicios, Cámara Colombo Alemana
- Carlos Guayara: CEO, TRII
- Carlos Ortegon: CTO, LOOPAY
- Carlos Alberto Valderrama: CEO, Grupo Marco
- Carlos Alberto Sánchez Retiz: Coordinador de Aceleración, Torrenegra Accelerator
- Carlos Andres Valencia Nieto: Machine learning Project Leader | Product Manager, Mercadolibre
- Carlos Felipe Gutierrez Camacho: Managing Partner & Co-Founder, INVX, SIMMA
- Carlos Ivan Zubieta Leon: Cto & founder Agrapp, Agrapp
- Catalina Quintana: Founder, Leancase
- Caterine Castillo: CEO, NEIVOR
- Cecilia Ezquerro: Associate, 500 Globals
- Charlie Cliff: CTO
- Chintan Oza: Founder, Anantam Ecosystems
- Christian Fresen: Partner, RAD. Estrategias Legales
- Christian Daube: Co-Founder, Coach & COO, Torrenegra Accelerator
- Conrad Egusa: CEO, Publicize
- Daniel Escobar: Team Manager , Wolox
- Daniel Restrepo: CEO, Taller A
- Daniel Puentes: Associate Founder, Partners Academy
- Daniel Cardona: Mentor, Defence Academy Chennai
- Daniel Toro: Co-Founder, LinkU Ventures SAS
- Daniel Otero: CEO and Founder , Muvo
- Daniela Restrepo: VP, PUBLICIZE
- Darío Lanchuske: CPO, Omni Bank
- David Orrego: Ex Chief Growth Officer, Rocketfy.co
- David Aponte: CEO & Cofounder, Financial Lab & Taxes
- David Camargo: CTO, Bright Financial
- David Diaz: CLC, Mesfix SAS
- David Carvajal: Founder, Cannvest
- David Wilson: Principal, Franklin Advisory
- Diego Rodriguez Castillo: Founder - CEO, Linxe
- Diego Caicedo: CEO, OmniBNK
- Diego Alejandro Muñoz: Co founder y CMO , Tukarga.com
- Eddie Arrieta: CEO, MultiLigual Media
- Eduardo Hernández, Magma Partners
- Eduardo Rivera: CEO, LOOPAY
- Eduardo Maldonado: Co-founder and Board Member, GDX Travel
- Edward Cullen: Founder & CEO, Crescite
- Elena Dolinski: Philanthropreneur, Executive Board Member, BASE Capital
- Elodie Senatore: CEO, Heraclea
- Enrique Echavarria: CEO, WeAreDataLab
- Enrique Pons: Founder, Talago & Fincruit
- Erik Díaz: GP, Blackchiip VC
- Fabian Esteban Lopez Morales: Emprendedor incansable, GraciaLab
- Felipe Santamaria: Managing Director, Rockstart Colombia
- Felipe Garzon: City Coordinator, Acámica
- Felipe Cano: CoFounder, LinkU Ventures SAS
- Felipe Rivera Reina: Head Entrepreneur
- Felipe Alvarez: CEO , HOBBY CREATIVO
- Fernando Núñez: VP, PUBLICIZE
- Francisco Uriarte: Puerto Rico, ESP Group
- Gabriel Calderón: CEO, Tu Orden
- Gabriel Castillo Szpoganicz: Founder & CEO, Doc Doc
- Gregorio Londoño: Director, Red de Ángeles Inversionistas
- Guillermo Guzman: General Partner, Indio VC
- Guillermo Ramirez: Managing partner, Oxbridge Capital Partners (VC)
- Gustavo Marquez: CEO, Athena Inversion de Impacto
- Hans Christian Boehlke: Commercial Director, Celumania.com
- Iván Ariza: CEO, cargamos.com
- Javier Castro
- Jean Bernier: CEO y Founder, AnniQ & SQT
- Jehudi Castro Sierra: Asesor Presidencial, Tecnología
- Jennifer Poole: CRO, Publizice
- Jennifer Timm: Head of Consulting, Agora Partnerships
- Jeremy Bruck: Managing Partner, Data Valuation & Monetization
- Jeronimo Silva: Director Ejecutivo , BICTIA
- Jessica Mercedes: Country Manager, Holberton School Colombia
- Jorge Alvarado: CEO, Abbitec
- Jorge Quiroga
- Jorge Quintero: CEO, The Monkey Hat
- Jorge Hernan Nieto Botero: Founder & CEO, Expedit Capital
- Jose Ovalle: Investor, StartOp
- Jose Betancur: Director, Nodo
- Jose Caparroso: Business reporter & cross-platform coordinator, Forbes
- José Miguel Velasco: Head of Startup Acceleration, Corporación Ventures
- Joseph DiTomaso: CEO, AllTheRooms
- Jose Rafael Donado Vallejo: CEO, S
- Juan Colmenares: Growth Lead, Graphite Growth
- Juan Angarita: CRO, HoyTrabajas.com (YC W22)
- Juan Camilo Vallejo: Co-founder, Co-CEO, & PM, Valienta
- Juan Carlos Suarez: CEO, Qenta
- Juan Carlos Monroy: Director área de Mercadeo Digital, Departamento de Mercadeo , EAFIT
- Juanita Esguerra: Abogada Senior, Sodexo
- Juan Manuel Lopera: CEO, TOMi Digital
- Juan Pablo Alvarez: Country Managing Director, EnvíoClick
- Juan Sebastian Muñoz: Head of Sales, Simetrik Inc
- Juan Sebastián Castrillon: Founder, Estratek
- Julia Figueiredo: Director Latam, Silicon Valley Bank
- Julián Vergara Albán: Digital Talent Acquisition , Lulo Bank
- Julián Arango: Founder & CEO, Workia, Inc
- Karen Mesa: Entrepreneurship & Innovation consultant, Independent
- Khaliq Yar Haidary: CEO, Netzone, Ltd.
- Laura Lopera: Coordinadora I+D, Sura
- Laura Rudd: CEO, BabyTopia
- Laura Jimenez Tatis: Financial Mentor, Leancase
- León Papu: Founding Partner, Marathon Lab
- Leonardo Gaitan, Autoparti
- Lorena Sanchez Garcia: Erudit AI, COO & Board Member
- Luis Barrios: CEO, ARKANGELES
- Luis Betancourt: Digital Marketing Advisor, Luisbetancourt.co
- Luis Felipe Giraldo: Gerente de Expansión, Sociedad Operadora de Franquicias Colombia
- Luis Naranjo Duplat: CMO - Growth Hacker, Kairos
- Mads Schmidt Petersen: CEO , HippoBuild (Y Combinator W22)
- Maika Hoekman: Director, Torre Social
- Maira Betancur: Jefe de Investigación y Patentes, Grupo Bolivar
- Manuel Bardales: Co-Founder, Movitext
- Manuela Sánchez Villamarín: Co-founder & Growth, Laika
- Mara Rada: Chief Operations and Strategy, Loon (loonbio.com)
- Marc C Lange
- Marcela Lopez: Estratega de Marketing, Alexander Torrenegra
- Marco De Biasi: Managing Partner, Latin American Angels Society
- Margarita Martinez, Blackshiip VC
- Maria Camila Ortegon: Asesor Jurídico, Taller A Abogados
- Maria Camila Salazar Castro: CEO, Vivir a conciencia
- Maria Camila Gonzalez: CEO, Sarta SAS
- Maria Isabela Muñoz: Partner, MAS Equity Partners
- Marian Villa: Co-Founder & President, PionerasDev
- Mariana Velásquez: Founder - CEO, BRANDDU
- Mariano Doncel M.: Business Accelerator Leader and Professor of EAN University , Universidad EAN
- Maria Paula Murcia: Directora, TopCruiters
- Maribel Corrales: Regional Manager , Holberton School - Colombia
- Marlowe Mackenzie: Goal Operations Partner, Canva
- Maryori Vivas: LatAm Director, Vermilion LLC
- Mateo Trujillo: Product Lead, RappiPay
- Michael Luzner: CEO
- Miguel Vanegas, Salamandra Ventures
- Nadia Stand: Co Founder, The SASI CO
- Nelson Irias: CEO, DataLabs
- Nicolai Eslava Barajas: CEO, Estratek Ventures
- Nicolas Contreras: CEO, PappCorn
- Nicolás Poveda: CEO & CoFounder
- Oscar Andres Arango: CEO & Director, Yampi & Seniors Club
- Pablo Molina Candel: CTO, CoverWallet
- Pablo Molina: CEO, Mirapaltecho
- Pablo Ramirez: CEO y Founder, Litmoi
- Pedro Lopez Sela, FrissOn Capital
- Pilar Fernandez Hermida: Founder i-Expand (We help Health Tech companies go global), i-expand
- Rafael Tihanyi: Director of Revenue, Graphite Growth
- Raíssa De Mello João: Cofounder & CEO, Vaki
- Ramón Rodríguez: Co-Founder and Chief Investors Relations, RIDERY LLC
- René Lomelí: Partner, 500
- Ricardo Mejia B.: Co-Founder, PappCorn
- Rodrigo Alfonso: Co-founder, Sekure
- Rosario B Casas: Co Founder, XR Americas, LLC / Business Creative Partners SAS
- Ryan Micheletti: Head of Global Operations, Founder Institute
- Samuel Grossman: Partner, IRIE VC
- Sandra Rubio: CEO, IMIX
- Sandy Gómez: Director, FI Caracas
- Santiago Rojas: Local Leader
- Santiago Quimbaya Barreto: Investment Analyst, Ventures Corporation
- Santiago Garzón: CTO, StartOp
- Santiago Aparicio, FitPal
- Santiago Suarez: CEO & Partner, Addi & YCombinator
- Sebastian Leon: Founder, Facebook
- Sebastian Caro: CEO, Tocaro Capital
- Sebastián Jaramillo: LATAM Commercial Director, Rappi
- Sebastián Gallo: Head of Operations, Torre
- Sergio Espinosa Rivera: CTIO, Akadia Life
- Sergio Pachón: Co Founder, Kiwi Campus
- Shirlhey Sánchez: CEO & Co-Founder, Colombia Proptech
- Simon Chamorro: CEO-CoFounder, Valiu
- Sjoerd Martens: Head Of Account Management at Publicize , Publicize
- Talha Bin Shuja: Startup and Business Consultant, High Hope International
- Tomás Ríos: CEO, Starter
- Uri Melamed: Managing Director , EyP S.A.S. / Irie VC
- Valentina Giraldo Henao: Founder, LaValentina Design
- Victor Dey: Mentor - Enterprise Media at Oxford Entrepreneurs, University of Oxford
- Walied Albasheer: Managing Partner, Intuitio Ventures
- William Duran: Investment Director, Enter Capital
- Yasu Guerra, Sky Ride Group, S.A
- Yatan Blumenthal Vargas: Co-founder, Berlin Hardware Accelerator
- Yemi Oluseun: Growth & GTM For FinTechs, The Change Hive
- Zully De La Rosa: CTO, Finaktiva
- And many more to be announced.
Help bring the Founder Institute to Quito and fill out an Interest Form today.
About The Founder Institute
The Founder Institute (www.FI.co) is the world's largest entrepreneur training and startup launch program, helping aspiring founders across the globe build enduring technology companies. In the Founder Institute's four-month, part-time program, promising startup entrepreneurs "learn by doing" and launch a company through structured training courses, practical business-building assignments, and expert feedback from a large network of business mentors. Plus, aspiring founders are not required to quit their day job to participate, so they can begin building a business around their ideas without putting their livelihood at risk.
Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 200 cities and 100 countries, the Founder Institute has helped launch over 7,500 companies, which have created over 30,000 new jobs. The company's mission is to "Globalize Silicon Valley" and create sustainable startup ecosystems that will create one million new jobs worldwide.
The Founder Institute was founded in 2009 by serial entrepreneur Adeo Ressi.
(modern business center in Quito Ecuador South America image by Shutterstock)
