The Founder Institute (http://fi.co), the World’s Largest Startup Accelerator, announced today that it is exploring a new chapter launch in Manila this Summer 2014.
In the Founder Institute's four-month, part-time program, promising 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 7,800 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.
If you'd like to help bring this great program to Manila, then fill out an Interest Form. If enough people complete this form by Sunday, March 30th 2014, then the Founder Institute will formally launch a Manila Chapter for the Summer of 2014.
In order to test demand in Manila, the Founder Institute will host several free startup events;
Philippines Events:
- Startup Funding in the Philippines & SEA: The Journey from Grants to IPO: 6:00pm, Jul 02, 2025 (Asia/Kuala_Lumpur): https://FI.co/e/361718
Global or Regional Events:
- Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
- FI Alumni Panel: Meet Portfolio Companies and Ask Questions: 1:00am, Jun 24, 2025 (Asia/Kuala_Lumpur): https://FI.co/e/371856
- Startup Finance & Banking Basics: AMA with Grasshopper Bank: 1:00am, Jun 26, 2025 (Asia/Kuala_Lumpur): https://FI.co/e/372055
- How to Get Investors to Notice Your Startup: AMA with Marta Marrucco: 8:00am, Jun 27, 2025 (Asia/Kuala_Lumpur): https://FI.co/e/373885
- Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 1:00am, Jul 01, 2025 (Asia/Kuala_Lumpur): https://FI.co/e/371693
- Founder’s Guide to AI: Creating Effective Content with AI: 1:00am, Jul 03, 2025 (Asia/Kuala_Lumpur): https://FI.co/e/374046
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 1:00am, Jul 08, 2025 (Asia/Kuala_Lumpur): https://FI.co/e/370422
- Founder’s Guide to AI: Building an MVP with No Coding Skills : 1:00am, Jul 10, 2025 (Asia/Kuala_Lumpur): https://FI.co/e/374082
- Ask an Investor Anything: Q&A with Sonam Velani: 1:00am, Jul 15, 2025 (Asia/Kuala_Lumpur): https://FI.co/e/374703
- Founder’s Guide to AI: Using AI to Increase Productivity: 1:00am, Jul 17, 2025 (Asia/Kuala_Lumpur): https://FI.co/e/374126
- Founder’s Guide to AI: Using Agentic Workflows to Automate Repetitive Tasks: 1:00am, Jul 24, 2025 (Asia/Kuala_Lumpur): https://FI.co/e/374155
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 1:00am, Aug 12, 2025 (Asia/Kuala_Lumpur): https://FI.co/e/374689
- Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 1:00am, Aug 19, 2025 (Asia/Kuala_Lumpur): https://FI.co/e/374887
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 1:00am, Aug 26, 2025 (Asia/Kuala_Lumpur): https://FI.co/e/375539
Leading the Founder Institute’s efforts in Manila are Dale David, Founder of Pickld, who also founded the non-profit organizations MightyMinds, FilipinoMatters and GoTOTO; David Elefant, a startup incorporation specialist who has successful mentored numerous startups; and Allan Tan, Founder of Ideyatech, creative software application company and has spent the last 10 years working in information technology.
Manila is gaining speed on the startup ecosystem, more and more accelerators and incubators are coming out, and even more great ideas are born each day. With more 100 million in population in Philippines, the potential for successful startups is huge. - Allan Tan
Other successful entrepreneurs who have signed on to mentor founders in the program include:
- Aaron Tan: CEO, Carro
- Adeo Ressi: CEO, Decile Group / VC Lab
- Aditya Chintawar: Chief Product & Tech Officer (CPTO), KoinWorks
- Ainun Najib: Global Head of Data Platform, Dyson
- Alex Alabiso: N/A, Clickaramat
- Alex Sy: Managing Director, ATLAS Business Consulting and Mentoring Services
- Amrei Dizon, ME, CPM: Founder, Vitalstrats Creative Solutions
- Andrea Livotto: Partner, TenX2
- Annaliza Laxamana: Founder and CEO, Modern Ads and Promo, Inc.
- Antonny Liem: CEO, MCM Group
- Apollo Sangalang: Founder, Sangalang & Gaerlan, Business Lawyers
- Arcui Usoara: Founder/CEO, Iaculus
- Arup Maity: President, BlastAsia
- Atty. Marvyn Gaerlan: Attorney, Sangalang & Gaerlan, Business Lawyers
- Carlo Valencia: Founder / Facilitator, Startup PH Training
- Carlo Calimon: President, StartUp Village
- Carlo Sagun: President and CEO, Bayan Family of Foundations
- Carlo Silva: CEO, Shoppable
- Carlos Ang: Founder & CEO, SUDS CLOTHING CARE GRP
- Charmaine Co: Co-Founder, Round One
- Christian Blanquera: Angel Investor, Incept Asia
- Danny Wirianto: CBO, GDP Ventures
- Darwin Rivers: Founder - Philippines HR Group, PHIlHRG Inc
- Francisco Lapid: Chairman, SPAC INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INC
- Franco Varona: Managing Partner, Foxmont Capital Partners
- Gaery Undarsa: Co-Founder & CMO, Lifepack / Jovee
- Gerard Escaler: Co-Founder, Lyrium Venture Partners Limited
- Gina Romero: CEO, ConnectedWomen.org
- Isabel Pablo: Founder, GK Innovations Lab
- Jerry Cocabo-Yao CPM-Asia, CPME, MBA: Founder, TMSPH Training & Consultancy Services
- Jj Disini: Managing Partner, Disini and Disini
- Joel Santos: PRESIDENT, THAMES INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS SCHOOL
- John D. Evans, CFA: Founder & General Manager, SEIML Ventures
- Jorge Wieneke: Founder & CEO, TOKYO TEMPURA
- Jose Maria Fajardo: CEO, Proudcloud
- Joseph De Leon: Founder, MAIN [Manila Angel Investors Network]
- Juan Roy: President, Regenerative Transformation Institute
- Karin Wellbrock: Executive Leadership Coach and Co-Founder, Kay Group K.K.
- Kevin Brockland: Founder & Managing Partner, Indelible Ventures:
- Maaike Doyer: Founder, Epic Angels
- Mark Pe: Private Wealth Portfolio -IFA GROUP HEAD, COL FINANCIAL
- Marvin Adolfo: EVP, AISTAC Alpha Innovative Skills Training
- Niña Terol: Founder & CEO, Imaginable Impact
- Olivia Marzuki: Business News Presenter & Producer, Channel News Asia TV Singapore
- Paloma Lecheta: Regional Director - LatAm, Founder Institute
- Paul Pajo: Director, Incubation Management Head & TBI (Technical Business Incubator) Manager, Benilde HiFi
- Peng Ong: Managing Director, Monk's Hill Ventures
- Prof. Franciso Enrique M. Bernardo, III: Chairman of the Board, Bayan Family of Foundations, Inc.
- Quenby Go: Executive Director, MAIN.ph [Manila Angel Investors Network]
- Robert Bernabe: Founder & CEO, Sandman Systems
- Roger Do: CEO, Co-Founder, Watchdog Cyber Defense
- Rossana Llenado: Founder and President, AHEAD Learning Systems, AHEAD Education Technologies
- Rudy Lim: CEO, OIO Singapore
- Steph Naval: Founder & CEO, Empath
- Steve Melhuish: CEO & Founder, Propertyguru
- Voltaire Magpayo: Board Member, Small Business Corporation
- And many more to be announced.
Help bring the Founder Institute to Manila 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 7,800 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.
(Manila Cityscape Image via Shutterstock)
