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 2025 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 (Jun 15, 2025) 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:
- What is the DNA of an Entrepreneur? Insights from 15 Years of Research: 5:00pm, May 07, 2025 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/372120
- Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
- Ask an Investor Anything: Q&A with Nathan Beckord: 10:00am, May 12, 2025 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/372168
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 10:00am, Jun 02, 2025 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/372202
- How to Build Your MVP Using Artificial Intelligence : 10:00am, Jun 04, 2025 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/371360
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 5:00pm, Jun 09, 2025 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/372247
- FI Alumni Panel: Meet Portfolio Companies and Ask Questions: 10:00am, Jun 23, 2025 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/371784
- Startup Finance & Banking Basics: AMA with Grasshopper Bank: 10:00am, Jun 25, 2025 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/371983
- Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 10:00am, Jun 30, 2025 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/371625
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 10:00am, Jul 07, 2025 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/372329
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 2025 includes:
- Aaron Ross: Author, Predictable Revenue
- Aaron Abram: Entrepreneur with 1 exit & Advisor., Pricestack, Kangarootime, & Osurv
- Abdellah Aouf: Chief Executive Officer, GO PLATFORM
- 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
- Alex Dang: Senior Advisor and Former Partner, McKinsey & Company
- Allison Silvers: Early-Stage Investor; Startup Advisor, Tech Coast Angels
- Alphonzo Terrell: Co-Founder and CEO, Spill
- Amanda Lettmann: CEO, COO & Co-Founder, Kardia Ventures/ SimpleDisability, Inc.
- Amy Chang: CEO, Delta Nutrassentials
- André Filho: Founder In Residence, AI Fund
- 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.
- Anson Wu, Grey Journal
- Anthony Mazzarella: CEO, MyLife.com
- Ar Tabrizi: Co-Founder , Human 1st Ventures
- Ariel McNichol: CEO & Co Founder, SmartSpark
- Ashtan Moore: Entrepreneur, A Misfit Plethora
- Atilio Spaccarotella: General Partner, Swivel Ventures
- Becky Center: ex-CEO, indiegogo
- Benjamin Narasin: Founder & General Partner, Tenacity Venture Capital
- Bennett Batten: CEO, Lumpsucker Studios
- Bernardo Herzer: CEO / Founder, LEHR Inc.
- Bob Saffari: Founder, Flairio Labs
- Brandon Hoffman: General Partner, Sunset Ventures
- 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.
- Corey Coto: CEO, Kaizen Insights
- 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
- Daniel Landsman: Aerospike, Head of NA/MarTech/Gaming
- 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)
- Irving Hsu: Investor, Mayfield Fund
- Jad Meouchy: CTO, Angel Investor
- Jake Tan: Founder, ErgoTune
- Janet Todorova: Head of Expansion, Founder Institute
- Jason Calacanis: Entrepreneur, Angel Investor, Author, LAUNCH, All In, This Week in Startups
- Jason Nazar: Jason Nazar - Co Founder & CEO, Crew32
- Jason Pang: COO, Bodymatter, Inc.
- Jason Butcher: Founder & CEO, Orbit Capital
- Jay Samit: Former CEO, SocialVibe
- Jay Tsao: CEO & Founder, GM Technologies
- Jay Kossifos: Founder & CEO, Pay Close Attention, Brand & Venture Partners
- Jayla Siciliano: Founder, Bon Affair
- Jeff Jackel: CEO, Chatter
- Jeffrey Paine: Founding Partner, Golden Gate Ventures, Singapore
- Jenny Pollock: Founder, Women and AI
- 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
- Jong Choi: Co-Founder & Managing Director, Chaperone Ventures
- Jordan Greenhall: Co-Founder & Former CEO, DivX
- Joseph Yeh
- Joshua Azran: Founder, Azran Financial APC
- Joshua Lee: Founder & CEO, Ardius (Acquired by Gusto)
- 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: Chief Operations and Strategy, Loon (loonbio.com)
- Marcos Polanco: CEO, Deedit
- 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
- Michael Taus: Founder / CMO / TechStars Mentor, Rent.com, CrowdStreet, Rentable, ApartmentIQ, Amplion, FoundersPad
- Mike Fleck: Vice President, Security, CipherPoint (a Covata Ltd. company)
- Mike Sherbakov: General Partner, The Veteran Fund
- Nadav Wilf: Founder & CEO, ENLTND
- Neha Bansal: Head of Product, Meta
- 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
- Peter Guber: CEO, Mandalay Entertainment
- Philip Lieberman: Founder/CEO, Analog Informatics Corporation
- Rafael Kartaszynski: CEO, TechEdge Dynamics
- 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 Koffler: CEO, Greenwings Biomedical
- Rick Hernandez: Redefined Logistics, Head of Business Development
- Ricky Velasquez: Founder, Mooch (exited)
- 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
- Ruslan Nazarenko: Head of Growth, Scale AI
- 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
- Serephina Ha: Managing Director, Founder Institute - Los Angeles
- Sergey Sundukovskiy: Co-Founder, CTO and Chief Product Officer, Certemy
- Seth Shapiro: President
- Shaahin Cheyene: President
- Shahab Kaviani: Co-Founder, Chief Entrepreneurs Office, CoFoundersLab
- Shankar Narayanan: Technology Partnerships & Sales Leader, Amazon Web Services | Energy & Utilities
- Shar Ghoudsifar: Founder & CEO, Helpkin
- Shuki Lehavi: CEO & Co-Founder, Gumiyo
- Simon Mainwaring: CEO, Mainwaring Creative
- Sina Roshan: Cofounder & CPO, Peekage (Techstars 2020)
- Siobhan Oldham: CEO & Founder , Azestfor, Inc.
- Snow Lee: Co-Founder & CEO, Runbear
- 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
- Talha Basit: Co-Founder & CEO, Spiraldot Health
- 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
- Todd Terrazas: Founder, President, & Executive Director, AI LA
- 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
- Vince Kohli: Serial Entrepreneur & Super Angel Investor, Deleted
- 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: Growth & GTM For FinTechs, The Change Hive
- Yunus Sevimli: Co-Founder & CTO, Almond Fintech
- 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.
