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 Pittsburgh 2023 Semester!
If you want to build a startup in Pittsburgh and could use expert training and feedback, then apply to the Pittsburgh Founder Institute today, or attend a free event.
Those who apply by the Early Admissions Deadline (Dec 11, 2022) 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 Pittsburgh in 2018, the Founder Institute has helped launch several promising companies in the region, and our efforts in Pittsburgh have also been profiled by several high profile media channels.
To celebrate the launch, the Pittsburgh Founder Institute will several free startup events for the general public, where you can meet top entrepreneurs and learn more about the program:
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 Pittsburgh are local startup leaders Greg Coticchia (Chief Executive Officer/Founder, ENTRA) and Randy Eager (Founder and Managing Partner, Aqualibrium LLC).
In addition, some of Pittsburgh's top entrepreneurs will mentor founders in the program, providing them with expert training, feedback, and evaluation. The list of mentors for the Pittsburgh 2023 includes:
- Afshan Khan: EIR, Innovation Works
- Akhil Chaturvedi: Machine Learning Engineer, Philips
- Alan Martello: President, Blue Lotus LLC
- Ann Pierce: CEO, Rabble AI
- Atul Bansal: CEO, TimeSys
- Beth Slagle: Attorney, Meyer, Unkovic & Scott LLP
- Bill Jackson: Co-founder and CEO, Sinovia Technologies
- Britta Ulm: Senior Project Manager, Robotic Product Support, Smith and Nephew
- Chris Rasmussen: CEO, Gajjitz, Inc.
- Claye Greene: CEO, TechBlue, Inc.
- Cole Wolfson: Senior Program Manager, AlphaLab Gear
- Courtney Williamson: CEO, AbiliLife
- Currie Crookston: CEO, ResTec Solutions
- Darnell Moses: Principal, Sesom Consulting
- David Kalson: Shareholder and Co-Leader, Dentons Venture Technology National Practice Group, Dentons Cohen & Grigsby, P.C
- David Wible: CEO, Plan Grind Deliver
- Don Morrison: Chairman of Deal Flow, Blue Tree Allied Angels
- Eric Wise: Founder CEO/VP Industrial Solutions, Wise Telemetry/Otodata
- Euan Guttridge: Founder, Reinforced Ventures
- Fahmy Mechael: Vice President, Global Supply Chain, Pittsburgh Glass Works
- Glenn Watson: Commercialization Advisor, LifeX
- Ilana Diamond: Managing Partner, 412 Venture Fund
- Ingrid Cook: CEO, SHzoom
- Jared Glover: CEO, Capsen Robotics
- Jason Jones: Vice President - Community Development
- Jeff Schneider: Professor, Machine Learning, Carnegie Mellon University
- Jeff Lizik: President/CEO, RedShift
- Jennifer Sydeski Hurd: CEO, Connect Wolf
- Jim Gibbs: Co-Founder and CEO, Meter Feeder, Inc.
- Jim Jordan: CEO, StraTactic, Inc.
- Joe Ferrara: CEO, Security Journey
- John Riley: Owner, The Richards Group
- John Seiffer: CEO, CEO Boot Camp
- John Lawton: Principal, LM Resources
- 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
- Lillian Rafson: Founder, CEO, Pack Up + Go
- Luke Skurman: CEO, Niche
- Marc Brown: Principal, ABR Ventures
- Marcel Bergerman: Chief Operating Officer, Near Earth Autonomy
- Mark Adkins: Founder & President, Smart Hammer Innovation
- Mark DeSantis: CEO, Bloomfield
- Martina Truche: Healthcare Innovator , Space Medicine Enthusiast
- Meghan Skiff: Founder, MixyMarketing
- Mike Formica: Managing Director Hardware, Innovation Works
- Mike Bauer: Chief Products OfficerChief Products Officer, Sopheon
- Nathan Mancine: FI Mentor, LeanTaaS
- Ned Show: CEO, Chemistry Communications
- Nicholas Kuhn: CEO, Setex Technologies
- Nicole Zevola Benvenuti: CEO, 1984
- Rachel Reid, Subtl Beauty
- Rich Lunak: President & CEO, Innovation Works
- Richard Longo: Interim Director & Business Consultant, Duquesne University/School of Business Small Business Development Center
- Sarjoun Skaff: Founder and CTO, Bosa Nova Robotics
- Scot Mactaggart: Chief Innovation Officer, Dagostino Electronic Services
- Sreekar Gadde: Managing Partner, BlueTree Venture Capital
- Tina Goodman: Senior Corporate Recruiter, Lucas Systems
- Tomer Borenstein: Co-founder and CTO, BlastPoint
- Zach Malone: Partner, Magarac Venture Partners
- 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.
