The Founder Institute, world's largest entrepreneur training and startup launch program, is now accepting applications for the Los Angeles Fall 2026 Semester. Since launching in Los Angeles in 2010, the Founder Institute has helped launch 65 companies in the region, including Codeity, Diggen, Onegoodlove, and Realty Mogul, which were dubbed the most promising Los Angeles Founder Institute Graduates of 2014.
If you could benefit from expert training and advice to launch a technology startup in Los Angeles, click here to apply today.
Those who apply by the Early Admissions Deadline (Sep 29, 2026) will have their application fees waived (typically $50) and are eligible for Founder Institute Fellowships.
In the Founder Institute's four-month, part-time program, promising startup entrepreneurs "learn by doing" and launch a company through structured training courses and expert feedback from a large network of business mentors. Plus, you are not required to quit you day job to participate, so you can begin building a business around your ideas without putting your livelihood at risk.
In order to celebrate the launch, the Los Angeles Founder Institute will host a "Pre-Curriculum" of free startup events for the general public:
Los Angeles Events:
- [$3000 Cash Prizes] Dream AI Hackathon: Build breakout AI startups: 9:00am, Sep 19, 2026 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/404913
Global or Regional Events:
- How to Create a Great First Startup Pitch using AI: 5:30pm, Sep 14, 2026 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/403500
- Break the Idea Loop: Decide What to Build in the Age of AI: 5:00pm, Sep 21, 2026 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/398803
- How to Build a Strong Pipeline of Entrepreneurs for your Innovation Hub: 9:00am, Sep 28, 2026 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/398252
- FI Alumni Panel: Meet Founders of High-Growth Startups (Q&A + Networking): 9:00am, Oct 06, 2026 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/398716
- From Dreamer to Doer: Build the Founder Mindset: 9:00am, Oct 13, 2026 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/399043
- From Idea to Action: The Startup Mindset : 9:00am, Oct 20, 2026 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/404264
The Los Angeles Chapter will be led by local leaders Alex Lightman (Chairman of the Board, Everblaze) and Jeanine Jacobson (Cofounder, FoundersList).
In only 17 years of operation, over 9,000 graduate companies across 200 cities have used the Founder Institute to validate their idea, develop their plans, refine their product, build an advisory board, prepare for seed funding, and more.
