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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:

  • Co-Founders Connect: Find a Business Partner Online: 10:00am, Dec 04, 2023 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/332863
  • Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
  • Startup Market Outlook for 2024: What to Expect with Funding (Online): 10:00am, Dec 05, 2023 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/332392
  • Pitch Lounge: Get Feedback on Your 1-Minute Pitch Idea from Startup Experts: 10:00am, Dec 13, 2023 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/333729
  • Ask an Investor Anything: Q&A with a Venture Capitalist: 10:00am, Dec 18, 2023 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/333372
  • How Do You Find Product-Market Fit for Your Startup: 10:00am, Jan 08, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/334013
  • Founder Showcase: Pre-Seed Startup Pitch & Networking Event (Online): 10:00am, Jan 10, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/333471
  • How to Secure Your First Investment as a Startup Founder in 2024: 10:00am, Jan 17, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/334373
  • Startup Growth Workshop: Essential Elements: 10:00am, Jan 24, 2024 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/334253

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
  • Adam Montgomery: Fundraising Manager, Wefunder
  • Al Bsharah: Interlock Capital, Managing Partner
  • Albert Chow: Co-Founder | Chief Executive Officer, Opti
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Christine "Chrissy" McDannell: Principle, The Magnolia Firm
  • Cleve Adams: Principal
  • Courtney Gant: CEO & Co-Founder, Skooltopia
  • 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
  • Darryl Rettig: Co Founder & CTO, DonationMatch
  • David Stevens: Founder & CEO, Hydroponic Creations
  • David Metzler: Managing Director, Serenity Ventures
  • David Steel: CEO, EveryoneLinked
  • DC Palter: Angel Investor, Tech Coast Angels
  • Derren Burrell: Venture Capitalist, Veteran Ventures
  • Derrick Oien: CEO & Founder
  • Ed Cleary: Principal, Root Strategy Group
  • Ellen Chang: Partner, Lightspeed Innovations
  • 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
  • Fabian Geyrhalter: Founder and Principal, FINIEN
  • Farooq Anjum, Ph D: Co Founder & CEO, Gro Guru
  • Flossie Hall: Director Of Community Relations, Stella Labs
  • Frank Peters: Founder & Host, Frank Peters Show
  • Fred Morrison: CEO, Simplexity
  • Gaurav Bhattacharya: CEO, Involve.ai
  • Genevieve Le Marchal: Managing Partner, Suncoast Ventures
  • George Stepancich, Invisionate
  • Gina Campbell: Strategy & Demand Gen (Direct to Consumer Group), SONY, Formerly DivX, MP3.com.
  • Grant Creighton: CEO & Founder, LooperLink - LOOPER Golf
  • Greg Moser: President & CTO, ShipCalm
  • Hayley Evans: Co Founder, Women Making Waves
  • Ian Suttle: Engineering Director, Google
  • Iva Teixeira: CEO, The Good Face Project
  • Jacob Sapochnick: CEO, Sapochnick Law Firm
  • James Schmachtenberger: CEO, Neurohacker Collective
  • 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
  • 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: CEO, Vessel Health
  • Jonah Peake: CoFounder, Granada Fund
  • 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
  • Lucas Root: Founder, CEO, SGIC Consulting
  • Mara Rada: CEO & Chief of Strategy, Feral (thinkferal.com)
  • Maria Pope: Community Manager, Republic
  • Mark How: CEO, NewGrowth & Origins eCommerce
  • Mark Schmid: CEO, Art Function
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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: Co-Lead FI San Francisco / CEO of, Blacksite Solutions
  • 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: Venture Partner, Going VC
  • Rocco Cortese: President, Entrepreneurs Organization (E.O.)
  • Roger Rappoport: Partner, Procopio
  • Rupak Doshi: CEO, TurboSBIR
  • Ryan Tseng: Co Founder, Warehouse Innovations
  • Ryan Micheletti: Head of Global Operations, Founder Institute
  • Saba Karim: Entrepreneur & Investor, Techstars
  • Sameer Sortur: Founding Partner, SquareCircle Ventures
  • 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
  • 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
  • Tirrell Payton: Tirrell Payton - Founder & CEO, Kaliki (San Diego FI), Kaliki
  • Todd Goldstein: EVP, Global Partnerships & Business Development, Talent Inc.
  • 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  6,800 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).

Join us in San Diego to help build the future. 

Apply to the San Diego Virtual 2021 Founder Institute today, or learn more at FI.co/overview.  

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