Now, more than ever, the world needs entrepreneurs to build solutions to solve some of the greatest challenges facing humanity.
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 Chile 2026 program.
If you could use a structured process and a lifetime of support from Santiago's top investors and entrepreneurs to build something meaningful, then apply to the Chile 2026 Founder Institute today.
We will be hosting several free startup online events in Santiago over the coming weeks, where you can learn from top entrepreneurs from the comfort of your home:
Chile Events:
- Capacitar en IA a tus equipos: Más productividad en menos tiempo: 11:00am, abr 07, 2026 (America/Santiago): https://FI.co/e/395670
- Startup Funding: ¿Qué métricas se buscan en emprendedores y cómo escalar?: 11:00am, abr 14, 2026 (America/Santiago): https://FI.co/e/393784
Global or Regional Events:
- Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
- From Idea to Startup Team: Meet Your Future Co-Founder: 8:00pm, abr 06, 2026 (America/Santiago): https://FI.co/e/392187
- Stuck Without a Startup Idea? Build One That Fits You: 8:30pm, abr 07, 2026 (America/Santiago): https://FI.co/e/390123
- How Multiple Pivots positioned Checkbox as the ‘Legal Front Door’ for Corporations: 8:00pm, abr 13, 2026 (America/Santiago): https://FI.co/e/389446
- Real Startup Lessons From FI Alumni Across the World: 12:00pm, abr 14, 2026 (America/Santiago): https://FI.co/e/390711
- How to Go From Raw Idea to Polished Pitch using AI: 12:30pm, abr 20, 2026 (America/Santiago): https://FI.co/e/395715
- [Restricted] VIP Pitch Lounge: Pitch Live and Get Feedback from Investors & Advisors: 12:00pm, abr 21, 2026 (America/Santiago): https://FI.co/e/395549
- Turn Your Expertise Into an Audience on LinkedIn: 12:00pm, abr 27, 2026 (America/Santiago): https://FI.co/e/392397
- How to Overcome the Fear of Starting Your Own Company: 12:00pm, abr 28, 2026 (America/Santiago): https://FI.co/e/394022
- How to Get Your First 10 Customers Without a Marketing Team or Budget: 12:30pm, may 04, 2026 (America/Santiago): https://FI.co/e/394524
- How to Choose the Right Startup Idea Before You Build: 8:00pm, may 18, 2026 (America/Santiago): https://FI.co/e/390283
- [Restricted] VIP Pitch Lounge: Get Unfiltered Feedback from Global Investors & Advisors: 12:00pm, may 26, 2026 (America/Santiago): https://FI.co/e/395405
- Inside the Founder Institute: Real Stories From Alumni: 12:00pm, jun 02, 2026 (America/Santiago): https://FI.co/e/390443
- Startup Advisors 101: How to Find Advisors and Maximize their Impact: 8:30pm, jun 08, 2026 (America/Santiago): https://FI.co/e/388418
- Turn Startup Hesitation Into Action: A Founder Mindset Framework: 8:00pm, jun 15, 2026 (America/Santiago): https://FI.co/e/393187
- Stop Guessing, Start Raising: An Investor Q&A : 8:00pm, jul 06, 2026 (America/Santiago): https://FI.co/e/392815
- Stop Overthinking and Build a Great Startup Idea: 12:00pm, jul 20, 2026 (America/Santiago): https://FI.co/e/390581
- From Idea to Action: The Startup Mindset : 8:30am, ago 10, 2026 (America/Santiago): https://FI.co/e/393310
- Meet FI Alumni Founders: High-Growth Startups Panel : 12:00pm, ago 10, 2026 (America/Santiago): https://FI.co/e/391133
- Build a Startup Idea Investors Won’t Ignore: 8:00pm, ago 18, 2026 (America/Santiago): https://FI.co/e/391251
- What Makes Investors Say Yes: Startup Funding AMA: 12:00pm, sep 01, 2026 (America/Santiago): https://FI.co/e/392927
- Break the Idea Loop and Decide What to Build: 9:00pm, sep 21, 2026 (America/Santiago): https://FI.co/e/391531
- From Idea to Traction: Lessons From Global FI Alumni: 9:30pm, oct 05, 2026 (America/Santiago): https://FI.co/e/390857
- From Dreamer to Doer: Build the Founder Mindset: 1:00pm, oct 13, 2026 (America/Santiago): https://FI.co/e/393440
- From Founder to Funded: Interactive Q&A with Top Startup Investor: 2:00pm, nov 03, 2026 (America/Santiago): https://FI.co/e/393065
- From “Maybe” to Momentum: Building a Great Startup Idea: 10:00pm, nov 17, 2026 (America/Santiago): https://FI.co/e/391397
- From First Idea to First Funding: Global Alumni Stories: 2:00pm, dic 01, 2026 (America/Santiago): https://FI.co/e/390994
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 Santiago program is led by some of the region's top startup leaders, including Cristobal Henriquez (Director General / Socio Fundador, VentureCapital Investment Group / @ Founder Institute), Javier Hasbun (Entrepreneur, Financial Advisor, Teacher and Musician | CEO at Tu Firma Digital | Board Member at Venture Capital | Partner Digital Ventures LA, VC), Robinson Soto (Director en VC Group | Financiamiento, innovación y desarrollo de negocios | Director Local, Founder Institute).
In addition, some of Santiago'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 Santiago Founder Institute includes:
- Adeo Ressi: CEO, Decile Group / VC Lab
- Alejandro Pantoja: Director ejecutivo / CEO, OpenBeauchef
- Alex Harasic: Business Development Manager - Startups & Venture Capital, Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- Alfredo Zepeda: Consultor Estratégico, Director Independiente
- Allan Jarry: Founder, JarryIP SpA & Dadneo VC
- Alois Bencina Kusmanic: CEO, Inversiones Atardecer
- Andres Gallardo: Director Ejecutivo, Desafío Latam
- Andres Ginestar: Director Ejecutivo, Talentoso
- Andrés Leiva: CEO, Videsk
- Boris Gonzalez Ojeda: Director | Presidente de ARIA Los Ríos, EfectoVisual
- Bruno Villalobos: Director de Inteligencia Artificial , SUBE IA
- Camila Navia: CEO, Berking Biotechnology
- Carlos Sandoval Castillo: Consultor Estratégico, Innovación y Transformación Digital
- Catalina De La Parra: Dra. en Artes, Facilitadora de capacitaciones para equipos.
- Christian Ohnes: Founder, Squads Venture
- Cristian Frenkel: CEO, RADAR: Marketing para eCommerce y Negocios B2B
- Cristian Tala: Inversionista VC, Ángel y Emprendedor | , El Ecosistema Startup
- Cristian Varas: Co-Founder, ADDAM
- Cristian Amunategui: Senior Legal Adviser, EMS Chile
- Cristobal Henríquez: Director General, VC Group
- Cristóbal Camino: CEO, Nube Cowork
- Derie Fuentes Messina: CSO, Berking Biotechnology
- Eduardo Steffens: Director de empresas, Inversionista
- Eilyn Roca: Proyectos e innovación, Franquicias Internacionales
- Eric Tureo: CEO, Tureos Group
- Esteban Fernandez: Founder, Palo Negro Biotech
- Fabian Mella Lukacs: Founder, NeoVC
- Fabian Acuña Hernandez: Founder, 9punto5
- Fernando Hoffmann Rencoret: 🚀 Brand Manager | Marketing, Branding y Negocios Digitales | +8 años conectando marcas con personas | MBA, Café Marketero
- Francisca Castillo Castro: Founder and CEO, Neocrop Technologies
- Francisco Musso: CEO, Sales World
- Francisco (Chopan) Catrileo: Co-Founder, Palta Labs
- German Velasco Perez: CEO, E-Mov
- German Alberto Godoy: Máster en Evaluación de Proyectos, Mentor de Impacto
- Gonzalo Ortega Diaz: CEO, KININ
- Hussam Sufan: CEO, SearchBrand.ai
- Ivan Pino Saavedra: CEO, Plant Based Biotech
- Ivan Fierro: CEO, Casa W
- Javier Hasbun: Managing Partner, VC Group
- Javier Caruso: Founder & CEO , Webstarted
- Javier Cortes: Socio Fundador | Tax & Legal | IA Tech, Cortés Del Río
- Jorge Pizarro: Director Comercial | Experto en Comercialización Tecnológica | FINTECH | Profesor Adjunto MBA UC | Automatización de cobranza y recaudación B2B & B2C | Reducción de morosidad | Pagos sin fricción | Open Finance, UPAGO
- José García Herz: Managing Partner, MKF Ventures
- José Ricardo Muñoz Mansilla: CEO, XConsultores
- Juan Carlos Silva: Co-Founder, Roombeast
- Juan Eduardo Fantini: Partner & Chief Investment Officer, CIO Invest
- Juan Pablo Cappello: Principal, Greenberg Traurig
- Juan Pablo Merino: Founder, REX Labs
- Kim Maturana, UPGirl
- Konrad Peschka: Founder, Konredus
- Luis Mourgues: Corporate Venture Lead, Transelec
- Luis Jara Guillén: Start Up Specialist, Banco BCI
- Luis Felipe Meneses Faúndez: Especialista en Crecimiento #Growth y Arquitectura Estratégica, Humanb
- Manuel Fernandez: CEO , GoVentas
- Manuel Rengifo: CEO, Emprende-T
- Marco Antonio Alvarez: Chairman of the Board, CCAF La Araucana
- Maria Ines Miranda: CEO, Innovature
- Mario Godoy Zanni: Estratega y business intelligence, M&A
- Mauricio Espinoza Quilodran: Co founder - Director, Mentor.IA Creativa
- Mauricio Ovando: CEO, SET
- Maximilian Klapp: CEO, Turingo
- Micaela Di Julio: Program Manager, Visionary B2B and B2G Ecosystem
- Oscar Casal: Founding Partner, Mondios Partners & CFO Rebel Factory
- Pablo Gonzalez Rogers: CEO, GUX Technologies
- Pablo Chandía Bascuñan: Articulador de Innovación Estratégica, IA Aplicada
- Pablo Diaz: Co-Founder, Multivendor Network Academy
- Pablo Ramirez Montes: Socio, Dalgarrando & Cía
- Patricia Vera Barrientos: Estrategia e Innovación, Deportista de montaña
- Patricio Pizarro: Founder, Nube Cowork | Trinity Partners
- Patricio Villegas Rehbein: Director, Verifika
- Paula Broitman: Assistant Professor, P. Universidad Católica de Chile
- Paula Bertone: Co-Founder & CRO, GROW
- Pilar Valenzuela Toledo: Consultura Estratégica en Innovación, Valiente Consultores
- Raimundo Mujica Sotomayor: CEO, Quimun
- Ramon Gutiérrez: CEO, Be You
- Ricardo Ibañez Villaroel: Fundador, Grupo Defensa
- Roberto Musso: President, Digevo
- Robinson Soto Fuentes: Director, VC Group
- Rocio Azparren: CEO, Webstarted
- Rodrigo Carrillo: Mentor y Asesor Internacional en Innovación e IA Generativa, Sube IA
- Rodrigo Ibañez Coronado: Gestor de Redes, Innovación y Transformación Digital
- Sebastián Felipe Antimán García: CEO, TechBio Innovations
- Tim Delhaes: CEO, Restacked.ai
- Tomas Bercovich: CEO and Founder, Zhetapricing
- Tomás Vial Tagle: CEO, Nova Agro
- Veronika Fischer: Experta, Desarrollo de Negocios y Mentoría
- And many more to be announced.
Since 2009, the Founder Institute has helped over 8,900 Alumni raise over 2BN 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 Santiago and help build the future.
Apply to the Chile 2026 Founder Institute today, or learn more at FI.co/overview.
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