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 Chicago Fall 2024 Semester!
If you want to build a startup in Chicago and could use expert training and feedback, then apply to the Chicago Founder Institute today, or attend a free event.
Those who apply by the Early Admissions Deadline (Jun 23, 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 Chicago in {YEAR}, the Founder Institute has helped launch several promising companies in the region, and our efforts in Chicago have also been profiled by several high profile media channels.
To celebrate the launch, the Chicago Founder Institute will several free startup events for the general public, where you can meet top entrepreneurs and learn more about the program:
Chicago Events:
- Founder Night Out: In-Person Startup Networking in Chicago: 6:00pm, Apr 25, 2024 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/341551
- FI Chicago Winter 2024 Graduation: Meet the New Portfolio Companies: 6:00pm, May 14, 2024 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/341550
Global or Regional Events:
- Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
- How to Acquire Your First Customers with Actionable SEO Strategies : 12:00pm, Apr 24, 2024 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/342911
- What is Entrepreneur DNA? Insights from 15 Years of Social Science Research: 12:00pm, Apr 29, 2024 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/342820
- Co-Founders Connect: Find a Business Partner Online: 7:00pm, May 01, 2024 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/342916
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas (Interactive Online Event): 12:00pm, May 08, 2024 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/342927
- Startup Founders’ Guide to Building an Effective Go-To-Market Strategy: 12:00pm, May 15, 2024 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/342677
- How to Build a Fundable Start-up Brand: 12:00pm, May 20, 2024 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/342937
- Employee to Entrepreneur: How to Make the Transition to Startup Founder: 7:00pm, May 22, 2024 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/342938
- What is the DNA of an Entrepreneur? Insights from 15 Years of Research: 12:00pm, Jun 03, 2024 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/343404
- Employee to Entrepreneur: How to Make the Transition to Startup Founder: 12:00pm, Jun 12, 2024 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/342955
- How to Turn your Value Proposition into a Product Market Fit: 12:00pm, Jun 24, 2024 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/342956
- How Founders Beat Anxiety for Peak Performance : 12:00pm, Jul 03, 2024 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/341915
- How to Acquire your First 100 B2C Customers: 12:00pm, Jul 08, 2024 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/344366
- What is the DNA of an Entrepreneur? Insights from 15 Years of Research: 7:00pm, Jul 22, 2024 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/343933
- How to Build a Personal Brand: The Startup Founders Guide to Thought Leadership: 12:00pm, Jul 24, 2024 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/343107
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas : 12:00pm, Jul 29, 2024 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/341614
- Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 7:00pm, Aug 05, 2024 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/341860
- What is the DNA of an Entrepreneur? Insights from 15 Years of Research: 12:00pm, Aug 12, 2024 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/344062
- Pitch Lounge: Practice Pitching Your Business Idea to Startup Experts : 7:00pm, Aug 19, 2024 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/341726
- Ask an Investor Anything: Q&A with a Venture Capitalist: 7:00pm, Aug 26, 2024 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/341782
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 7:00pm, Aug 28, 2024 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/341841
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 12:00pm, Sep 23, 2024 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/343510
- Startup Fundraising Q&A: Meet Investors from the FI Venture Network: 7:00pm, Oct 14, 2024 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/342424
- Employee to Entrepreneur: How to Make the Transition to Startup Founder : 12:00pm, Nov 04, 2024 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/343294
- Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 7:00pm, Nov 18, 2024 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/344663
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 12:00pm, Dec 02, 2024 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/342206
- Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 12:00pm, Dec 09, 2024 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/344752
- Startup Fundraising Q&A: Meet Investors from the FI Venture Network: 7:00pm, Dec 23, 2024 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/342603
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 Chicago are local startup leader Jason Jacobsohn (Vice President, Bascom Ventures).
In addition, some of Chicago's top entrepreneurs will mentor founders in the program, providing them with expert training, feedback, and evaluation. The list of mentors for the Chicago Fall 2024 includes:
- Abdellah Aouf: Chief Executive Officer, GO Platform
- Ablorde Ashigbi: CEO, 4Degrees
- Adeo Ressi: CEO, Decile Group / VC Lab
- Aditya Nath: Head of Sales NA, Mobilisights, A Stellantis Company
- Aidan Salvi: Founder, Angel Investor, Advisor, Technologist, Multiple
- AJ DeLeon: CEO, Innovare
- Alex Glenn: Founder, Automated.af
- Alex Gorsuch: Co-founder, CTO, Ascent Integrated Tech
- Alex Lambert: Venture Capital Manager, mHUB
- Andrew Lee: CEO, Esper
- Andrew Loulousis: Vice President of Strategy and Venturing, TechNexus Venture Collaborative
- Ashish Rangnekar: CEO & Co-Founder, BenchPrep
- Aviv Shalgi: CEO, Solar Simplified
- Bart Carlson: CEO, Azuba
- Blake Allsmith: CEO, Jumpdocs.com
- Bob Gillespie: Managing Partner, REACH Commercial
- Bob Matteson: CEO, Relivable
- Brad Schnitzer: Program Manager, Techstars Chicago
- Brad Spirrison: CEO, Grown In
- Brian Lee: Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer, Roamli
- Cate Brady: Founding Director, Bulk AG Innovations
- Charles Kwon: Managing Partner, Concitor
- Chereesca Bejasa: CEO, Zenevate, LLC
- Chris Sorensen: Founder & CEO, Lake Forest Venture Management
- Chris Foltz: Entrepreneur In Residence, Founder Institute + Responsible Solutions Ltd + IRG 100 CMO's & Change Agents
- Christina Holloway: Executive Coach, Compass Enterprises LLC
- Cory Warfield: Chief Connection Officer, Coryconnects
- Dan Ushman: Founder and CEO, TrendSpider
- Daniel Roberts: Founder, Scout Alarm
- David Culver: Co-Founder, VentureSHOT
- David Douglas: Founder & CEO, Yolobe Inc.
- David Rosen: CEO, Acrelic Group
- David Zaretsky: CEO, Chief Scientist & Co-Founder, Snips Media
- David Hurst: CEO, Orbital Transports
- Derick Jiwan: Innovation and Business Development Manager, WinField United at Land O' Lakes
- Desiree Vargas Wrigley: Chief Innovation Officer & Executive Director of TechRise, P33
- Don Bora: Principal Technology/Owner and Co-Founder, Eight Bit Studios
- Eddie Patzsch: Co-Founder, PartnerPortal.io
- Eric Broughton: CEO, OK2Charge
- Fernando DeLeon: Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer, Innovare
- Garry Cooper: CEO/ Co-Founder , Rheaply
- Gary Gaessler: SaaS Community Builder, Nylas, Co-Founder of CloudElements
- Gavenraj Sodhi: Senior Product Manager, Hitach Vantara
- Gavin Martin: Founding Partner, onPurpose Growth
- Genevieve Thiers: Founder, Sittercity
- George Powell: Founder, CEO, Easy Beauty
- George Khalife: Vice President, U.S. Capital Formation, Toronto Stock Exchange
- Greg Jaros: Founder & CEO, PocketKnock
- Heather Holmes: CEO & Founder, Genivity
- Jacqueline Kuehl: Managing Director, Digital Marketing Concentration, DePaul University
- Jason Randolph: Senior Vice President Marketing & Strategic Growth, Tradier
- Jason Jacobsohn: Managing Director, Propellant Ventures
- Jed Abernethy: Corporate Innovation and Startup Executive, Entrepreneur / Digital Transformation
- Jeff Lyons: Operating Director, City Capital Advisors, LLC
- Jeff Hyman: Chief Talent Officer, Strong Suit Executive Search
- Jeff Weber: Founder, Chalenj
- Jeffrey Coney: Executive Coach and Mentor
- Jeremy Baras: Director of Business Development, Startup Space
- Jill Miller: CEO, Lunum
- Joe Bezdek: Co-founder, DivX, Inc.
- Joe Born: CEO, Aiwa Corp.
- Joe Lee: CEO, Inverse
- John Dallas: CEO, Enclave Academy and Hillview Partners Network LLC
- John Ernst: Chief Growth & Technology Officer, Founder, Advisor, Entrepreneur, Executive
- June W Choi: Managing Partner, Serval Ventures
- Karim Djerboa: Business Development Specialist, MAVENTERSE
- Katie Hench: Co-Founder, Infiniteach
- Kelly Fitzsimmons: Co-Founder, Custom Reality Services
- Kevin Taylor: Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship, Stetson University
- Kim Rubenstein: Cofounder, Chief Research + Product, Compatibility
- Kord Kutchins: Principal, Base-K Venture Partners
- Laurence Hayward: Partner, Independence Equity
- Lavina Ramkissoon: AI Ethics and Technology Policy, African Union
- Louis Morales: President, The Catnip Times
- Marisa Bryce: CEO, Lightning Snow
- Mark Achler: Managing Director, Math Venture Partners
- Marsha McVicker: Founder & CEO, Lyla
- Marshall Stanton: Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer, Catalina Marketing Corporation
- Matt Mandell: Principal, PayNerd.com
- Matthew Miller: Director, Product Strategy & UX, Digital Intent
- Matthew Willis: General Manager Americas, Broadbean Technologies | Green Planet Group
- Meghan Hoover: CEO, SceneSave
- Michael Carruth: President/Founder, Fiodan Corporation
- Michael Kramer: Founder and CEO, ManageHub, Inc.
- Michael Kelly: CEO , DeveloperTown
- Michael Carney: President, MWC Accounting
- Michael Lamb: Co-Founder & President, nativeMSG
- Mike Kritzman: Founder & CEO, SkillNet
- Mike Anguiano: Founder, SupplyHive
- Mindi Knebel: Founder & CEO, Kaizan Health
- Mohammad Hossein Tavangar: Director , Founder Institute Germany
- Neil Kane: Founder & President, Illinois Partners, LLC
- Nicholas Freemen: Co-founder & Chief Growth Officer, Innovare
- Nicole Loftus: Founder & CEO, Pop Venture
- Parminder Batra: CEO, TraknProtect
- Patricia Riskind: Head of Global Healthcare, Qualtrics
- Peter Tapling: Managing Director, PTap Advisory, LLC
- Phil Leslie: Managing Partner, Workbox Ventures
- Pinaki Saha: Founder & CEO, Anshar Labs
- Rajesh Voddiraju: Founder & Group President, HealthiPASS Inc
- Reva Minkoff: Founder and President, DigitalGroundUp Inc. and Digital4Startups Inc.
- Rinku Patel: Independent Consultant, Board Advisor
- Ronald Franczyk: CTO & Partner, Red Foundry
- Ross Kimbarovsky: Founder and CEO, crowdspring
- Ryan Jeffery: MR, gener8tor
- Sagar Pande: Co-founder, Blaze Power
- Scott Issen: President & CEO, Future Founders
- Shaniqua Davis: CEO and Founder, Noirefy
- Shawn Park: Founders Team Associate, P33
- Stephen Meade: Founder & CEO, MonetaPro
- Sukhi Singh: Managing Director, SSS Ventures
- Timothy Kelley: CEO, TeleRay
- Tom Giles: Founder, Megatron Ventures
- Ujjwal Gupta: Cofounder & COO, BenchPrep
- William Furlong: Founder & CEO, SquareStack
- William Mortimore: CEO, Project Foundry
- Yarin Gaon: Strategy & Marketing Specialist, Y.G.
- 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 Chicago and launch a company in 2018.
