Now, more than ever, the world needs entrepreneurs to build the future.
At the Founder Institute, we know times are tough, but we also know that economic downturns are a great time to start a business. This isn't just conjecture - the Founder Institute was started in April of 2009 (during the "Great Recession"), and world-leading companies like Microsoft, Tesla, and Apple also took advantage of cost savings during a recession to launch and get their initial traction.
That's why we are excited to announce today that applications are now open for the Pittsburgh - Philadelphia Fall 2024 program.
If you could use a structured process and a lifetime of support from Pittsburgh's top investors and entrepreneurs to build something meaningful, then apply to the Pittsburgh - Philadelphia Fall 2024 Founder Institute today.
We will be hosting several free startup online events in Pennsylvania over the coming weeks, where you can learn from top entrepreneurs from the comfort of your home:
- What is Entrepreneur DNA? Insights from 15 Years of Social Science Research: 1:00pm, Apr 29, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/343627
- Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
- Co-Founders Connect: Find a Business Partner Online: 8:00pm, May 01, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/343634
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas (Interactive Online Event): 1:00pm, May 08, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/343645
- Innovation Series: Connecting Corporates & Startups with Open Innovation: 12:00pm, May 09, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/345250
- Startup Founders’ Guide to Building an Effective Go-To-Market Strategy: 1:00pm, May 15, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/345046
- How to Build a Fundable Start-up Brand: 1:00pm, May 20, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/343652
- Employee to Entrepreneur: How to Make the Transition to Startup Founder: 8:00pm, May 22, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/343846
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 8:00pm, May 27, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/345090
- How to Quickly Establish Safe, Reliable, and Compliant AI Startups: 1:00pm, May 29, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/343855
- What is Entrepreneur DNA? Insights from 15 Years of Social Science Research: 1:00pm, Jun 03, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/343467
- Ask an Investor Anything: Q&A with a Venture Capitalist: 8:00pm, Jun 05, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/343863
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 8:00pm, Jun 10, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/345623
- Employee to Entrepreneur: How to Make the Transition to Startup Founder: 1:00pm, Jun 12, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/343660
- Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 1:00pm, Jun 17, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/345654
- How to Take a Value Proposition to Finding Product Market Fit: 1:00pm, Jun 24, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/343673
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 1:00pm, Jun 26, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/345149
- Employee to Entrepreneur: How to Make the Transition to Startup Founder: 8:00pm, Jul 01, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/345683
- How Founders Beat Anxiety for Peak Performance : 1:00pm, Jul 03, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/345703
- How to Acquire your First 100 B2C Customers: 1:00pm, Jul 08, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/344441
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 8:00pm, Jul 15, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/345726
- Startup Fundraising Q&A: Meet Investors from the FI Venture Network: 1:00pm, Jul 17, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/345751
- What is Entrepreneur DNA? Insights from 15 Years of Social Science Research: 8:00pm, Jul 22, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/343977
- How to Build a Personal Brand: The Startup Founders Guide to Thought Leadership: 1:00pm, Jul 24, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/343159
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas : 1:00pm, Jul 29, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/345768
- Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 8:00pm, Aug 05, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/345776
- What is Entrepreneur DNA? Insights from 15 Years of Social Science Research: 1:00pm, Aug 12, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/344128
- Pitch Lounge: Practice Pitching Your Business Idea to Startup Experts : 8:00pm, Aug 19, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/345789
- Startup Fundraising Q&A: Meet Investors from the FI Venture Network: 1:00pm, Sep 16, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/345889
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 1:00pm, Sep 23, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/343572
- Startup Fundraising Q&A: Meet Investors from the FI Venture Network: 8:00pm, Oct 14, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/345917
- Employee to Entrepreneur: How to Make the Transition to Startup Founder : 1:00pm, Nov 04, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/343358
- Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 8:00pm, Nov 18, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/344711
- What is Entrepreneur DNA? Insights from 15 Years of Social Science Research: 8:00pm, Nov 25, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/345453
- Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 1:00pm, Dec 09, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/344818
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 1:00pm, Dec 16, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/344937
Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 200+ cities worldwide, the Founder Institute provides high-potential entrepreneurs and teams with the devoted support network and structured growth process needed to get to traction and funding. Participants in the 4-month core program also get access to a lifetime of support through the Founder Institute's industry-leading post-programs.
The Pittsburgh program is led by some of the region's top startup leaders, including Bill Rivkin (Business Banking Virtual Relationship Manager VP, Citizens), Don Samoil (Chapter Leader, FI Keystone), Juan Lacey (C, C), Manush Saydmohammed, Pitt Admin.
In addition, some of Pittsburgh's top investors, entrepreneurs, and CEOs will be participating in the program, providing them with expert feedback and evaluation. The list of startup mentors for the Pittsburgh Founder Institute includes:
- Albert Whale: Founder & CEO, IT Security Solutions
- Albert Lam: Partner, Dorm Room Fund
- Beth Slagle: Attorney, Meyer, Unkovic & Scott LLP
- Bill Jackson: Co-founder and CEO, Sinovia Technologies
- Chris Rasmussen: CEO, Gajjitz, Inc.
- Greg Coticchia: CEO, Sopheon
- Ilana Diamond: Managing Partner, 412 Venture Fund
- Jennifer Sydeski Hurd: CEO, Connect Wolf
- Jim Gibbs: Co-Founder and CEO, Meter Feeder, Inc.
- Jim Jordan: CEO, StraTactic, Inc.
- Kevin Dowling: CEO, Kaarta
- Kevin Israel: Partner, Meyer, Unkovic & Scott LLP
- Kit Needham: Director and Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Project Olympus, Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, Carnegie Mellon University
- Lauren Townsend: Co-Founder, Millie's Ice Cream
- Mark DeSantis: CEO, Bloomfield
- Martina Truche: Healthcare Innovator , Space Medicine Enthusiast
- Mike Bauer: Chief Products OfficerChief Products Officer, Sopheon
- Nathan Mancine: FI Mentor, Hospital IQ
- Nicholas Kuhn: CEO, Setex Technologies
- Rachel Reid, Subtl Beauty
- Randy Eager: CEO and Co-Founder, SilisiumTech Inc.
- Rich Lunak: President & CEO, Innovation Works
- Robert Young: Director of Partnerships, Black Tech Nation
- Zach Malone: Partner, Magarac Venture Partners
- And many more to be announced.
Since 2009, the Founder Institute has helped over 7,000 Alumni raise over $1.75BN funding, get into seed-accelerators, generate traction, recruit a team, build a product, transition from employee to entrepreneur, and more (see the FI 10 Year Impact Report here).
Join us in Pennsylvania and help build the future.
Apply to the Pittsburgh - Philadelphia Fall 2024 Founder Institute today, or learn more at FI.co/overview.
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