Founder Institute’s exclusive FounderX event is back, and this time, we’re headed to Austin, Texas! From March 4-6, 2025, just before SXSW. This invite-only gathering will unite Local Leaders, Alumni, Mentors, Investors, and Partners from across the Founder Institute and Decile Group networks for three days of intensive networking, hands-on workshops, and inspiring keynotes from some of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs.
FounderX is the global gathering of The Founder Institute and Decile Group Alumni, Mentors, Local Leaders, and Partners, and for the first time, it will convene in one of the world’s fastest-growing technology and startup hubs - Austin, Texas.
This highly curated event will bring together 150-200 Investors, Founders, Technology Executives, and Startup Ecosystem Leaders from across the globe for three days of networking events, group workshops, and engaging talks from top Keynote Speakers. Its goal is to facilitate meaningful connections between members of our global networks which span 100+ countries across 6 continents.
FounderX is strategically planned immediately before the world-famous South by Southwest (SXSW) Interactive Conference (Mar 7-10) - when Austin becomes full of energy and a global center for startups, investors, and culture.
A Stellar Speaker Lineup
FounderX is an ‘unconference’ that combines traditional conference elements in a fun and informal environment. Designed to foster real relationships and help startup leaders gain insights that drive their ventures forward, it is structured to maximize learning, collaboration, and networking.
After the massive success of FounderX Silicon Valley, FounderX Texas will once again feature talks from top global experts on startups and venture capital.
All speakers for the event will be announced in the coming weeks, but you can see the latest confirmed speakers below:
Linda Avey is a Founding Managing Partner of Humain Ventures, investing in category-defining tech bio companies; and was at the forefront of the digital health movement as a Founder of 23andMe, and as the first independent board director of Rock Health. Her interests span precision health, AI-driven drug development, and the emergence of biology as a programmable operating system for health and longevity.
Linda sits on the board of fellows of Stanford Medical School and is a current or former advisor to health and science companies including Colossal Biosciences (driving de-extinction), Verily (Alphabet’s life science subsidiary), and Ôura (a leading health tracking wearable). She is also a director at the Human Immunome Project and an advisor to London-based Giant Ventures and the Autism Impact Fund.
Julia Cheek is the Founder and CEO of Everly Health, a digital health company providing virtual-first disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. In just 10 years, Everly Health has served over 50 million people and delivered more than 200 million personalized health insights, giving people crucial information about their health.
Julia is a visionary leader, serving on the Board of Directors for Headspace Health and The University of Texas at Austin President's Innovation Board. She demonstrates her passion for entrepreneurship by supporting underrepresented founders, investing in over a dozen healthcare startups. Julia was named a 2024 Digital Health Icon by Rock Health, 2023 Entrepreneur of the Year by Springboard Enterprises, and Fortune Magazine's 2022 15 Most Powerful Women in Startups.
Allison Ellsworth is the Co-Founder and Chief Brand Officer of Poppi: the modern soda brand revolutionizing soda for the next generation. She created poppi after discovering the benefits of apple cider vinegar and experimenting in her kitchen to make it taste great. From the farmers market to a Shark Tank deal, Poppi quickly became one of the fastest-growing non-alcoholic beverages in the U.S. and is the #1 selling soda on Amazon.
Ellsworth leads the Austin-based beverage company’s overall brand strategy, creative, and innovation. She pioneered the brand’s cultural cache and digital-first approach, attracting a loyal community of over 1M followers and over 2B+ page views on TikTok.
Gabe Dominocielo is the President and Co-founder of Umbra, a technology company specializing in advanced space systems to both commercial and government clients. Before establishing Umbra in 2015, Dominocielo co-founded and served as Chief Operating Officer of a legal services firm whose panel attorneys achieved over $1 billion in verdicts and settlements.
Under his leadership, Umbra has distinguished itself by offering the highest-resolution commercial satellite images available, utilizing proprietary technology to capture clear imagery through clouds and at night.
Adeo Ressi, CEO of Decile Group & Executive Chairman of Founder Institute, and Jonathan Greechan, Co-Founder & CEO of Founder Institute, will host FounderX keynotes.
FounderX is reserved for FI and Decile Group Local Leaders, Alumni, Mentors, Investors, Partners, and currently Enrolled Entrepreneurs. The program will feature insights from renowned figures in startup funding and growth.
Previous event speakers include Jason Calacanis, Peter Pham, Eren Bali, Esther Dyson, Scott Painter, Jenny Fielding, and many others.
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 $1.85BN in funding across over 200 cities worldwide.
Learn more about the Founder Institute at FI.co, join an upcoming startup event at FI.co/events, or subscribe to our Insights Newsletter.
