Let's Rebuild in 2021. Applications Now Open to Founder Institute San Diego Virtual 2021

Now is the time to rebuild: the world needs entrepreneurs to lead the way in creating a better future, for everyone.

Whether you have already launched a startup or are still in the idea-phase, this is the time to act. 2020 brought havoc to our health, our society, and our economy, and what remains is a world filled with reshuffling industries and new problems that need to be solved. As we continue through 2021, every entrepreneur has an opportunity to play a part in helping shape that better future.

That's why we are excited to announce applications are now open for the San Diego Virtual 2021 program.

If you could use a structured process and a lifetime of support from San Diego's top investors and entrepreneurs to build something meaningful, then apply to the San Diego Virtual 2021 Founder Institute today.

We will be hosting several free startup online events in San Diego over the coming weeks, where you can learn virtually from top entrepreneurs from the comfort of your home:

Founder Showcase: Startup Pitch & Networking Event: 10:00am, Apr 18, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/337992
Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
How to Acquire Your First Customers with Actionable SEO Strategies : 10:00am, Apr 24, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/339075
What is the DNA of an Entrepreneur? Insights from 15 Years of Research: 10:00am, Apr 29, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/342876
Co-Founders Connect: Find a Business Partner Online: 5:00pm, May 01, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/338069
How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas (Interactive Online Event): 10:00am, May 08, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/339368
Startup Founders’ Guide to Building an Effective Go-To-Market Strategy: 10:00am, May 15, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/342727
How to Build a Fundable Start-up Brand: 10:00am, May 20, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/338814
FI Veteran and SoCal Graduation w/ Kelly Perdew, VC at Moonshots Capital: 10:00am, May 21, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/343029
Employee to Entrepreneur: How to Make the Transition to Startup Founder: 5:00pm, May 22, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/340368
Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 5:00pm, May 27, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/339411
How to Quickly Establish Safe, Reliable, and Compliant AI Startups: 10:00am, May 29, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/340159
Ask an Investor Anything: Q&A with a Venture Capitalist: 5:00pm, Jun 05, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/340988
How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 5:00pm, Jun 10, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/339734
Employee to Entrepreneur: How to Make the Transition to Startup Founder: 10:00am, Jun 12, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/339788
Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 10:00am, Jun 17, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/339944
How to Turn your Value Proposition into a Product Market Fit: 10:00am, Jun 24, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/341483
Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 10:00am, Jun 26, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/339849
Employee to Entrepreneur: How to Make the Transition to Startup Founder: 10:00am, Jul 01, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/340255
How Founders Beat Anxiety for Peak Performance : 10:00am, Jul 03, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/341971
Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 5:00pm, Jul 15, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/341270
Startup Fundraising Q&A: Meet Investors from the FI Venture Network: 10:00am, Jul 17, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/341369
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/343168
How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas : 10:00am, Jul 29, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/341698
Ask an Investor Anything: Q&A with a Venture Capitalist: 5:00pm, Aug 26, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/341823
Employee to Entrepreneur: How to Make the Transition to Startup Founder: 5:00pm, Sep 02, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/343264
Startup Fundraising Q&A: Meet Investors from the FI Venture Network: 10:00am, Sep 16, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/342393
Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 10:00am, Oct 02, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/342077
Startup Fundraising Q&A: Meet Investors from the FI Venture Network: 5:00pm, Oct 14, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/342470
Employee to Entrepreneur: How to Make the Transition to Startup Founder : 10:00am, Nov 04, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/343367
Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 5:00pm, Nov 06, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/342175
Startup Fundraising Q&A: Meet Investors from the FI Venture Network: 10:00am, Nov 27, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/342570
Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 10:00am, Dec 02, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/342277
Startup Fundraising Q&A: Meet Investors from the FI Venture Network: 5:00pm, Dec 23, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/342652

See all upcoming events

Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 200+ cities worldwide, the Founder Institute is designed to help you build an enduring business that can survive and thrive in this “new normal.” We do this by giving you a clear process combined with constant feedback from a devoted network of international entrepreneurs and investors. Participants in the 4-month core program also get access to a lifetime of support through the Founder Institute's industry-leading free post-programs.

The San Diego accelerator is led by some of the region's top startup leaders, including Ben Cote and Mike Sherbakov. In addition, some of San Diego's top investors, entrepreneurs, and CEOs will be participating as mentors in the program, providing expert feedback and evaluation. The list of startup mentors for the San Diego Founder Institute includes:

Aaron Keith: CEO, Buildify Systems
Abdellah Aouf: Chief Executive Officer, GO Platform
Adam Montgomery: Fundraising Manager, Wefunder
Al Bsharah: Interlock Capital, Managing Partner
Albert Chow: Principal, Anabatic LLC
Alex Bard: Founder & CEO, Assistly
Alex Green: Founder, Kanshi LLC
Amar Harrag: CEO, Allied Green Realty
Amir Emadi: CEO, Skylift Global
Andrew Gottlieb: Founder & CEO, No Typical Moments
Andy White: Startup Operations, Keshif Ventures
Angel Gambino: Founder, Angel Club
Annie Brown: Founder, Lips
Anton Monk: Co-Founder/ VP of Technology , Entropic Communications
Austin Neudecker: Managing Partner, Weave Growth Partners
Aviv Shalgi: CEO, Solar Simplified
Bardia Moayedi: Partner, Snell & Wilmer
Ben Cote: Mentor, Founder Institute
Bill Fields: NC Market Leader for Venture Debt, Bridge Bank
Bow Rodgers: CEO
Brad Feld: Managing Director, Foundry Group
Brian Storms: no title, No company
Brian Ford: Partnership Director, Founder Institute San Diego
Brian Olearczyk: CRO, RevCult
Bryant Walker: Founder, TAVO Media Group
Carl Thomas: Chief Revenue and Business Development Officer, Hookit
Carlo Rivis: CEO & Founder, Innovation Discovery
Caroline Arzoo: Partnerships, TurboSBIR
Cassius Kiani: Founder & Head of Product , Mora.com
Chintan Oza: Founder, Anantam Ecosystems
Chris Capdevila: Founder & Former CEO, LogicalApps
Chris Carter: CEO & Co Founder, VideoFort
Chris Foltz: Entrepreneur In Residence, Founder Institute + Responsible Solutions Ltd + IRG 100 CMO's & Change Agents
Christine "Chrissy" McDannell: Principle, The Magnolia Firm
Cleve Adams: Principal
Coco Sellman: Entrepreneur & Angel Investor, Remarkable Ventures
Courtney Gant: CEO & Co-Founder, Skooltopia
Craig Swiatek: Investment Advisor
Craig Cummings: General Partner, Moonshots Captial
Dan O'neill: VP Engineering, Certona
Dane Drotts: CoFounder, TangoCode
Daniel O'neil: Executive Director, Smart Chicago Collaborative
Daniel Obodovski: Co-founder, Managing Partner, Diosys Technologies LLC
Daniel Arroyo: President & CTO, AstroPrint
Daniel Shires: Consultant, Independent
Darryl Rettig: Co Founder & CTO, DonationMatch
Dave Tompkins: Founder, 550 Capital Partners
David Stevens: Founder & CEO, Hydroponic Creations
David Metzler: Managing Director, Serenity Ventures
David Steel: CEO, EveryoneLinked
DC Palter: Angel Investor, Tech Coast Angels
Dennis Volpe: Partner, Leadership Research Institute
Derren Burrell: Venture Capitalist, Veteran Ventures
Derrick Oien: CEO & Founder
Ed Cleary: Principal, Root Strategy Group
Ellen Chang: Partner, Lightspeed Innovations
Emily McMahan: Partner, Academy Investor Network
Eric Grab: Aspiring Explorer, Technologist, Advisor, and Coach, Formerly: Amazon, Booz Allen, DivX, Jaunt, San Diego State
Eric Weiss: Executive Coach, Full Cycle Executive Coaching
Ernestine Fu: General Partner, Brave Capital
Fabian Geyrhalter: Founder and Principal, FINIEN
Farooq Anjum, Ph D: Co Founder & CEO, Gro Guru
Florent Groberg: Azure Global Government Expansion, Microsoft
Flossie Hall: Director Of Community Relations, Stella Labs
Frank Peters: Founder & Host, Frank Peters Show
Fred Morrison: CEO, Simplexity
Gaurav Bhattacharya: CEO, Involve.ai
Gaurav Bhattacharya: CEO & Co-Founder , Involve.ai
Genevieve Le Marchal: Managing Partner, Suncoast Ventures
George Stepancich: CEO, Invisionate
Gina Campbell: Strategy & Demand Gen (Direct to Consumer Group), SONY, Formerly DivX, MP3.com.
Grant Creighton: CEO & Founder, LooperLink - LOOPER Golf
Greg Call, The Veteran Fund
Greg Moser: President & CTO, ShipCalm
Hayley Evans: Co Founder, Women Making Waves
Ian Suttle: Engineering Director, Google
Irina Kukuyeva PhD: AI due diligence, Kukuyeva Consulting
Iva Teixeira: CEO, The Good Face Project
Jacob Sapochnick: CEO, Sapochnick Law Firm
James Schmachtenberger: CEO, Neurohacker Collective
James Africano: General Partner, Regolith Ventures
James Hereford: Co-Founder, Launch Factory
Jason Pang: CEO, InvolveHub, Inc.
Jason Liebrecht: VP of Technology, Activbody Inc
Jason Zinn: Partner, Emerged, Inc.
Jeff Smith: CEO, Growth Catalyst
Jennifer Pilcher: Founder & CEO , Strategic Military Communications, LLC
Jenny Rodriguez: CEO & Founder, IVOREEZ
Jess Ewart: Senior Partner, New World Ventures
Jessica Pratt: Senior Vice President of Sales, Pop & Bottle
Jim Carlson: Founder, DFL Technology
Joe Bezdek: Co-founder, DivX, Inc.
John Zdanowski: Co-Founder, Assembled Brands
John Stilo: Head of Finance, Moov
Jon Carder: CoFounder and CEO , Empyr
Jon Carder: CEO, Vessel Health
Jonah Peake: Founder, the Social Coyote
Jose Doval: CEO & Founder , XBand Sports
Juan Toledano: CoFounder, Sundaze
Judy Tsuei: Founder, Wild Hearted Words
Justin Renfro: Director of Partnerships, WeFunder
Justin Nahama: Partner, FisherBroyles, LLP
Kelly Conkright: Founder, The Brand Terminal
Ken Wahlster: Founder & CEO, BikeBandit.com
Ken Davenport: CEO, Mission Edge
Kim Walpole: Co-Founder / CEO, Trials.ai
Lance Cottrell: Founder, Feel the Boot
Larry Kesslin: Chief Connector, Spire
Lauren Rowley: Director of Investor Relations, Stella Impact Capital
Lee Mills: CEO, Pixly
Leo Spiegel: Managing Partner, Mission Ventures
Lisa Song Sutton: General Partner, The Veteran Fund
Lucas Root: Founder, CEO, SGIC Consulting
Mara Rada: CEO & Chief of Strategy, Feral (thinkferal.com)
Marc Spencer: Founder, The Recharge Group
Maria Pope: Community Manager, Republic
Mark How: CEO, NewGrowth & Origins eCommerce
Mark Schmid: CEO, Art Function
Mark Divine: Navy SEAL, Author and CEO, Unbeatable, LLC
Martín Martinez: Executive Director, Founder Institute Texas
Matthew Hedayat: CEO and COO, Stanford Technical Group
Melissa Li: Managing Partner and Head of Community, Dorm Room Fund
Merrin Muxlow: Executive Director, TiE South Coast
Michael Davidovich: Founder, Direct EDI, Inc.
Michael Floyd: Software Engineering and Product Management Leader, Freelance Software Engineering and Product Management Consultant
Michaela Keady: Michaela Keady, Zendesk
Michel Kripalani: CEO, Oceanhouse Media
Mike Sherbakov: General Partner, The Veteran Fund
Mike Steadman: CEO, IRONBOUND Media
Mysty Rusk: Executive Director, USD School of Business
Nate Mason: VC, Starburst Aero
Neal Bloom: Managing Partner, Interlock Capital
Neil Senturia: CEO, Blackbird Ventures
Nektar Baziotis: Founder, ICARUS
Nelly Yusupova: Founder, TechSpeak.co
Nerissa Zhang: CEO, Bright App
Noah Wallach: Founder, Hope OS
Pablo A. Fernandez: CEO, Secret Table
Parker Harris: CEO, Junto Global
Pat Walsh: Co-Founder / Chief Impact Officer
Paula Sweis: Principal, SILVERWEISS International
Pete Biggam: Director / Mentor / Advisor, Founder Institute
Peter Shaw: Managing Director , Procopio Business Advisors
Regina Bernal: CEO, Trailblazer
Reid Carr: CEO & Founder, Red Door Interactive
Rhana Pytell Kozak: CEO & Founder , BRIGHTERSTEP
Ricardo Dos Santos: Sr Director of New Business Development , Biological Dynamics
Rick Valencia: Founder, ProfitLine
Rishi Sharma: West Coast Lead , Newlin VC
Robert Pruter: CRO, SPHER, Inc.
Rocco Cortese: President, Entrepreneurs Organization (E.O.)
Roger Rappoport: Partner, Procopio
Rosie Arango: COO, Bright App
Rupak Doshi: CEO, TurboSBIR
Russell Brand: CEO & Founder, Responsible Solutions Limited
Ryan Tseng: Co Founder, Warehouse Innovations
Ryan Micheletti: Head of Global Operations, Founder Institute
Saba Karim: Entrepreneur & Investor, Techstars
Sagar Pande: Co-founder, Blaze Power
Sameer Sortur: Founding Partner, SquareCircle Ventures
Samuel Riehn: Chief Executive Officer, SBIR Advisors Inc.
Sarah Apsel: Angel Investor, 37 Angels
Scot Chisholm: CEO & Chairman, StayClassy
Scott Davis: Director of Veteran Entrepreneuership, PenFed Foundation
Shahi Ghanem: Managing Director, WI Harper Group
Shahin Enayati: Managing Director, Made Noble Corporation
Shaiwal Priyadarshi: CTO, Co-Founder, MetaMedia
Shaun Alger: CRO, Volohaus
Stacey Cooper: Partner, Stacey Cooper Law
Steven Morley: Business Advisor, Success4Execs
Stuart Volkow: Program Manager, UCSD
Taj Adhav: Founder, Leasecake
Tarun Gulati: Founder & CEO, Adios
Tay Nguyen: Owner, Gate Consulting
Taylor Mc Lemore: Managing Director, Techstars
Tim Hsia: Managing Partner, Context VC
Tirrell Payton: Tirrell Payton - Founder & CEO, Kaliki (San Diego FI), Kaliki
Todd Goldstein: EVP, Global Partnerships & Business Development, Talent Inc.
Tom Walpole: CTO, TrialsAi
Trevor Longino: Chief Marketing Officer, Unito
Troy Hazard: Global President, Entrepreneurs Organization
Ty Vachon: CEO, oatmealhealth.com
Tyson Mc Dowell: President, Avadyne Health
Yann Deredec: CEO, Yama Group
Yemi Oluseun: Founder/ CEO - Fintech, SaaS Business Growth, Automation & Change Management, The Change Hive

And many more to be announced.

Since 2009, the Founder Institute has helped over 7,000 Alumni raise over $1.75BN 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).