Today, the Founder Institute, the world's premier idea-stage accelerator and startup launch program, is excited to announce that we are now accepting applications for the Los Angeles Fall 2024 Semester!
If you want to build a startup in Los Angeles and could use expert training and feedback, then apply to the Los Angeles Founder Institute today, or attend a free event.
Those who apply by the Early Admissions Deadline (Apr 28, 2024) will have their application fees waived (typically $50), and if you enroll by the Early Deadline you are also eligible for Founder Institute Fellowships.
Since launching in Los Angeles in 2010, the Founder Institute has helped launch several promising companies in the region, and our efforts in Los Angeles have also been profiled by several high profile media channels.
To celebrate the launch, the Los Angeles Founder Institute will several free startup events for the general public, where you can meet top entrepreneurs and learn more about the program:
- How to Acquire Your First Customers with Actionable SEO Strategies : 10:00am, Apr 24, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/339060
- Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
- What is Entrepreneur DNA? Insights from 15 Years of Social Science Research: 10:00am, Apr 29, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/342854
- Co-Founders Connect: Find a Business Partner Online: 5:00pm, May 01, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/338049
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas (Interactive Online Event): 10:00am, May 08, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/339354
- Startup Founders’ Guide to Building an Effective Go-To-Market Strategy: 10:00am, May 15, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/342707
- How to Build a Fundable Start-up Brand: 10:00am, May 20, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/338789
- FI Veteran and SoCal Graduation w/ Kelly Perdew, VC at Moonshots Capital: 10:00am, May 21, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/343030
- Employee to Entrepreneur: How to Make the Transition to Startup Founder: 5:00pm, May 22, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/340352
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 5:00pm, May 27, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/339399
- How to Quickly Establish Safe, Reliable, and Compliant AI Startups: 10:00am, May 29, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/340148
- What is the DNA of an Entrepreneur? Insights from 15 Years of Research: 10:00am, Jun 03, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/343447
- Ask an Investor Anything: Q&A with a Venture Capitalist: 5:00pm, Jun 05, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/340971
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 5:00pm, Jun 10, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/339721
- Employee to Entrepreneur: How to Make the Transition to Startup Founder: 10:00am, Jun 12, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/339776
- Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 10:00am, Jun 17, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/339918
- How to Turn your Value Proposition into a Product Market Fit: 10:00am, Jun 24, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/341452
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 10:00am, Jun 26, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/339832
- Employee to Entrepreneur: How to Make the Transition to Startup Founder: 5:00pm, Jul 01, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/340229
- How Founders Beat Anxiety for Peak Performance : 10:00am, Jul 03, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/341949
- How to Acquire your First 100 B2C Customers: 10:00am, Jul 08, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/344415
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 5:00pm, Jul 15, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/341246
- Startup Fundraising Q&A: Meet Investors from the FI Venture Network: 10:00am, Jul 17, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/341343
- What is the DNA of an Entrepreneur? Insights from 15 Years of Research: 5:00pm, Jul 22, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/343958
- How to Build a Personal Brand: The Startup Founders Guide to Thought Leadership: 10:00am, Jul 24, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/343146
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas : 10:00am, Jul 29, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/341666
- Ask an Investor Anything: Q&A with a Venture Capitalist: 5:00pm, Aug 26, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/341803
- Employee to Entrepreneur: How to Make the Transition to Startup Founder: 5:00pm, Sep 02, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/343246
- What is the DNA of an Entrepreneur? Insights from 15 Years of Research: 5:00pm, Sep 09, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/344211
- Startup Fundraising Q&A: Meet Investors from the FI Venture Network: 10:00am, Sep 16, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/342363
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 10:00am, Sep 23, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/343552
- Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 10:00am, Sep 25, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/344303
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 10:00am, Oct 02, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/342049
- Startup Fundraising Q&A: Meet Investors from the FI Venture Network: 5:00pm, Oct 14, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/342451
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 5:00pm, Oct 23, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/344509
- What is the DNA of an Entrepreneur? Insights from 15 Years of Research: 10:00am, Oct 30, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/344603
- Employee to Entrepreneur: How to Make the Transition to Startup Founder : 10:00am, Nov 04, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/343340
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 5:00pm, Nov 06, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/342152
- Startup Fundraising Q&A: Meet Investors from the FI Venture Network: 10:00am, Nov 27, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/342545
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 10:00am, Dec 02, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/342252
- Startup Fundraising Q&A: Meet Investors from the FI Venture Network: 5:00pm, Dec 23, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/342630
Leaders of the world’s fastest-growing startups have used the Founder Institute to transition from employee to entrepreneur, test their startup ideas, build a team, get their first customers, raise funding, and more - like Udemy, Realty Mogul, iCarsClub, Itembase, goplaceit, and Appota. Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 200 cities and 100 countries, the Founder Institute's mission is to "Globalize Silicon Valley" and create sustainable startup ecosystems that will create one million new jobs worldwide.
Running the Founder Institute's efforts in Los Angeles are local startup leader Jeanine Jacobson, a serial entrepreneur who has served as Executive Director/President for seven years with Athena.
In addition, some of Los Angeles's top entrepreneurs will mentor founders in the program, providing them with expert training, feedback, and evaluation. The list of mentors for the Los Angeles Fall 2024 includes:
- Aaron Ross: Author, Predictable Revenue
- Aaron Abram: Entrepreneur with 1 exit & Advisor., Pricestack, Kangarootime, & Osurv
- Adeo Ressi: CEO, Decile Group / VC Lab
- Aeolan Kelly: CEO & Founder, Benchmark Equine
- Alan Cole: Alan Cole - CEO, GovX (San Diego FI), Gov X
- Alex Lightman: Alex Lightman - Chairman, Witkit (Kuala Lumpur FI) , Witkit
- Alex Deighton: Serial Entrepreneur & Startup Advisor
- Alexey Semeney: Founder & CEO, DevTeam.Space
- Allison Silvers: Early-Stage Investor; Startup Advisor, Tech Coast Angels
- Amanda Lettmann: CEO, COO & Co-Founder, Kardia Ventures/ SimpleDisability, Inc.
- Amy Chang: CEO, Delta Nutrassentials
- Andrew Beinbrink: CEO, SportsForce
- Andy Abramson: CEO, Comunicano, Inc
- Angela Lee: CEO & Co Founder, From Fat to Finish Line
- Angelo Di Leva: Founder & CEO , Simply I Do, Inc.
- Anthony Mazzarella: CEO, MyLife.com
- Ariel McNichol: CEO & Co Founder, SmartSpark
- Arnaud Saint Paul: Founder, Give Labs
- Bennett Batten: CEO, Lumpsucker Studios
- Bernardo Herzer: CEO / Founder, LEHR Inc.
- Brian Liu: Chairman & Co-Founder, LegalZoom.com
- Bridgit Lombard: CEO & Founder, Marea Partners
- Brock Pierce: Vice Chairman, Affinity Media
- Bryan Hall: Principal Architect (San Diego FI), Seismic
- Charlie Jackson: Founder, Silicon Beach Software
- Chas Rampenthal: General Counsel, LegalZoom.com
- Cheryl Yeoh: EIR, Silicon Valley Bank
- Chris Studer: Founder & Former CEO, ScholarPoint Financial
- Chris Snook: Managing Partner/Venture Catalyst in Residence, Launch Haus
- Chris Bechtel: Managing Partner, Growth Engine Labs
- Christopher Harz: Vice President, VirtualAgility
- Cliff Boro: Managing Partner , The Team Group, LLC.
- Cory Rosenberg: CEO & Co-Founder , Biista
- Courtney Nichols Gould: CEO & Co Founder, SmartyPants Inc.
- Craig Hagopian: CEO & Founder, Chalk Media Holdings, Inc.
- Dan Shapiro: Dan Shapiro - Founder, Sparkbuy (Seattle FI) , Stealth
- David Michail: Principle, metlawgroup
- David Johnson: Co Founder & Chairman of the Board, From Fat to Finish Line
- David Parham: Director of Research - Projects, Sustainability Accounting Standards Board
- Delilah Panio: Vice President, Capital Formation, TMX Group
- Derrick Oien: CEO & Founder
- Dimitri Villard: CEO, Live Longer, Inc.
- Dolly Singh: CEO & Founder, Thesis Couture
- Don Di Pietro: Co-Founder/COO, XIRKL Networks
- Don Swan: Private Equity Associate, Skyview Capital
- Donna Antebi: CEO
- Eddie Hartman: co-Founder, LegalZoom
- Edmond Banayan: Entrepreneur / CEO / VP of Biz Development / Board Observer / Investor / Mentor, See LinkedIn
- Elizabeth Topp: CEO & Co Founder, MOD - Meaningful Organizational Design
- Eric Pulier: CEO and Founder, ServiceMesh, Inc
- Evan Rifkin: CEO, Burstly.com
- Fabian Geyrhalter: Founder and Principal, FINIEN
- Fabrice Gould: Founder & CEO, Diggen
- Frank Mastronuzzi: Founding Partner, Punch Financial
- Fred Joyal: Fred Joyal - CEO & Co-Founder, Futuredontics (Los Angeles FI) , Futuredontics
- Gabe Zichermann: CEO, Failosophy
- Gaurav Bhattacharya: CEO & Co-Founder , Involve.ai
- George Bandarian Ii: Founder & Managing Partner, ValueScaler
- Gioia Messinger: Gioia Messinger - Founder and Chairman, Avaak, Inc. (San Diego/Orange County FI), LinkedObjects, Inc.
- Greg Hallinan: Founder & CEO, ModMedia, Inc
- Gregg Spiridellis: CEO, JibJab
- Hany Alhamidi: Founder, eMentoring
- Henri Duong: Founder, Principal, Enclave Web Group (EWG)
- Jad Meouchy: CTO, Angel Investor
- Jason Calacanis: Entrepreneur, Angel Investor, Author, LAUNCH, This Week in Startups
- Jason Nazar: Jason Nazar - Co Founder & CEO, Crew32
- Jason Pang: CEO, InvolveHub, Inc.
- Jay Samit: Former CEO, SocialVibe
- Jay Tsao: CEO & Founder, GM Technologies
- Jayla Siciliano: Founder, Bon Affair
- Jeff Jackel: CEO, Chatter
- Jesse Dylan: CEO, Wondros
- Jilliene Helman: Co-Founder & CEO, Realty Mogul
- Jimmy Hendricks: Jimmy Hendricks - CEO & Co-Founder, , Light Post Digital & Deal Current Network
- Joe Betts Lacroix: CTO, Vium
- Joe Bezdek: Co-founder, DivX, Inc.
- Joe Bayen: CEO, Credit Plus
- John Girard: CEO, CIENCE
- Jon Carder: CoFounder and CEO , Empyr
- Jon Funk: Founder & President, Ocean Road Partners
- Jordan Greenhall: Co-Founder & Former CEO, DivX
- Joshua Azran: Founder, Azran Financial APC
- Justin Wu: Founder, Growth.ly
- Kelly Perdew: Cofounder, Moonshots Capital
- Ken Rutkowski: CEO / Founder, METal
- Ken Ong: Senior Vice President, Salesforce.com
- Kevin Yamazaki: CEO & Founder, Sidebench
- Kim Walpole: CEO & Co Founder, Trials.ai
- Liz Gasser: Managing Partner, High Camp Ventures
- Lucy Beard: Lucy Beard - CEO & Founder, feetZ
- Madeline Fraser: CEO & Founder, Gemist
- Manoj Khani: CEO & Founder, Memorita
- Mara Rada: CEO & Chief of Strategy, Feral (thinkferal.com)
- Marcos Polanco: CTO, Bellwether Coffee
- Margot Bushnaq: Founder & CEO, BrandBucket.com
- Mark Landay: Managing Director, Dynamic Synergy
- Mark Hellinger: Chief Marketing Officer, InvolveSoft
- Mark Wald: Managing Director, Supporting Strategies
- Matt Walker: Founder, DayPoint
- Michael Stemple: Mike Stemple - Founder, Inspirer , Inspirer
- Michael Green: President , Tech Coast Angels
- Mike Fleck: Vice President, Security, CipherPoint (a Covata Ltd. company)
- Mike Sherbakov: General Partner, The Veteran Fund
- Nadav Wilf: Founder & CEO, ENLTND
- Nick Cates: Founder & CEO, Showpads.com
- Nitsan Tucker: COO & Co-Founder, Truemance, Inc.
- Noah Wallach: Founder, Hope OS
- Nolan Bushnell: CEO and Founder, uWink
- Oded Noy: Founder & CEO, Social Approach
- Oren Klaff: Director of Capital Markets, Intersection Capital
- Patrick Dillon: Co-Founder & President, Deal Current Network, Inc.
- Patrick Barry: Founder and CEO, Kinduce
- Penny Bauder: CEO & Founder, Green Kids Craft
- Peter Guber: CEO, Mandalay Entertainment
- Philip Lieberman: Founder/CEO, Analog Informatics Corporation
- Ralph Simon: Chairman Emeritus & Founder, MEF
- Rebecca Sadwick: Founder & Managing Partner, Strategica Partners
- Reichart Von Wolfsheild: Chief Software Architect, CTO & Co-Founder, Qtask
- Renee Zau: Co-Founder & CEO, DonationMatch
- Richard Gibbs: CEO, Invisible Arts
- Richard Koffler: CEO, Greenwings Biomedical
- Rick Hernandez: Founder - Board of Directors, I DRIVE SAFELY
- Rishi Sharma: West Coast Lead , Newlin VC
- Robert Tercek: President, General Creativity Consulting
- Robin Lee: Investment Screening Director, Tech Coast Angels
- Ronen Olshansky: Co Founder , CrossCampus
- Ryan Kaltman: CEO, Brevity Inc
- Ryan Bettencourt: Ryan Bettencourt - Co-Founder, Cursive Labs , Cursive Labs
- Sam Saddigh: CEO / Founder, Knightsbridge Branding
- Sam Strasser: Founder & CEO, Treasure
- Sameer Sortur: Founding Partner, SquareCircle Ventures
- Sarah Song: Startup Advisor, Los Angeles, CA
- Saumya Bhatnagar: CTO & Co-Founder, Involve.ai
- Scott Painter: Co Founder, BrightHouse
- Scott Tilton: Co Founder & CEO, Hookit.com
- Scott Wayman: Founder & CEO, Kangarootime
- Sean Markin: CEO & Co Founder, Myvana
- Sergey Sundukovskiy: Co-Founder, CTO and Chief Product Officer, Certemy
- Seth Shapiro: President
- Shaahin Cheyene: President
- Shahab Kaviani: Co-Founder, Chief Entrepreneurs Office, CoFoundersLab
- Shar Ghoudsifar: Founder & CEO, Helpkin
- Shuki Lehavi: CEO & Co-Founder, Gumiyo
- Simon Mainwaring: CEO, Mainwaring Creative
- Siobhan Oldham: CEO & Founder , Azestfor, Inc.
- Steen Strand: Director, Snap
- Stephane Fymat: Founder & CEO, Smartplane Inc.
- Stephen Meade: Founder & CEO, MonetaPro
- Steve Hansen: CEO, WePlay
- Steve Lehman: Co-Founder, "C" Student Entertainment
- Steven Morley: Business Advisor, Success4Execs
- Stuart Oden: CEO, JLink
- Susy Pang: Director of Customer Operations, InvolveSoft
- Taryn Rose: CEO
- Taylor Milsal: Managing Director, Cotor Inc
- Taylor Cavanah: CEO & CO-Founder, Locai, Inc.
- Thom Kozik: Chief Commercial Officer, Loyyal
- Tim Norris: Co-Founder, J!NX
- Tim Drees: Co Founder & Prior CEO
- Tim Suski: Co Founder, Rush Cycle
- Tom Marchesello: Investor Trend & Strategy Director, United States Fund
- Tom Andrus: GM & SVP
- Tom Walpole: CTO, TrialsAi
- Tony Karrer: Tony Karrer - CEO/CTO, TechEmpower (Los Angeles FI), TechEmpower
- Tony Greenberg: Chairman and Founder, RampRate
- Travis Schmidt: Founder, WorldFare
- Trevor Jensen: CEO, Bullibone
- Tyler Turner: Founder & CEO, Beauy Fox
- Vidya Dinamani: Co Founder & Principal, Product Rebels
- Walter O'brien: CEO, Scorpion Computer Services
- Wayne Bos: Chairman, Minergy
- Wesley St. Louis: Founder, CEO, HecTech
- William Quigley: CEO, OPSkins and WAX Token
- Yemi Oluseun: Founder/ CEO - Fintech, SaaS Business Growth, Automation & Change Management, The Change Hive
- And many more to be announced.
The Founder Institute is the most challenging and effective step-by-step startup launch program for talented and motivated aspiring entrepreneurs. If you are serious about launching a startup, the Founder Institute can give you the structured process, constant feedback and evaluation from expert mentors, and global network of entrepreneurs you need to start an enduring company. In addition, the Founder Institute is the only program of its kind that focuses on people versus ideas, accepts founders with day jobs, and shares equity with all participants.
We hope you will join us in Los Angeles and launch a company in 2018.
