Now, more than ever, the world needs entrepreneurs to build the future.
At the Founder Institute, we know times are tough, but we also know that economic downturns are a great time to start a business. This isn't just conjecture - the Founder Institute was started in April of 2009 (during the "Great Recession"), and world-leading companies like Microsoft, Tesla, and Apple also took advantage of cost savings during a recession to launch and get their initial traction.
That's why we are excited to announce today that applications are now open for the Waterloo - Toronto Spring 2024 program.
If you could use a structured process and a lifetime of support from Ontario's top investors and entrepreneurs to build something meaningful, then apply to the Waterloo - Toronto Spring 2024 Founder Institute today.
We will be hosting several free startup online events in Waterloo over the coming weeks, where you can learn from top entrepreneurs from the comfort of your home:
- Innovation Series: Connecting Corporates & Startups with Open Innovation: 12:00pm, May 09, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/345280
- Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
- How to Build a Fundable Start-up Brand: 1:00pm, May 20, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/338830
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 8:00pm, May 27, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/339423
- What is Entrepreneur DNA? Insights from 15 Years of Social Science Research: 1:00pm, Jun 03, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/343491
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 8:00pm, Jun 10, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/339745
- Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 1:00pm, Jun 17, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/339960
- How to Take a Value Proposition to Finding Product Market Fit: 1:00pm, Jun 24, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/341500
- Employee to Entrepreneur: How to Make the Transition to Startup Founder: 8:00pm, Jul 01, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/340272
- How to Acquire your First 100 B2C Customers: 1:00pm, Jul 08, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/344468
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 8:00pm, Jul 15, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/341284
- What is Entrepreneur DNA? Insights from 15 Years of Social Science Research: 8:00pm, Jul 22, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/343999
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas : 1:00pm, Jul 29, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/341715
- Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 8:00pm, Aug 05, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/341901
- What is Entrepreneur DNA? Insights from 15 Years of Social Science Research: 1:00pm, Aug 12, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/344146
- Pitch Lounge: Practice Pitching Your Business Idea to Startup Experts : 8:00pm, Aug 19, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/341769
- Ask an Investor Anything: Q&A with a Venture Capitalist: 8:00pm, Aug 26, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/341836
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 8:00pm, Aug 28, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/345860
- Employee to Entrepreneur: How to Make the Transition to Startup Founder: 8:00pm, Sep 02, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/343277
- What is Entrepreneur DNA? Insights from 15 Years of Social Science Research: 8:00pm, Sep 09, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/344245
- Startup Fundraising Q&A: Meet Investors from the FI Venture Network: 1:00pm, Sep 16, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/342410
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 1:00pm, Sep 23, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/343598
- Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 1:00pm, Sep 25, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/344345
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 1:00pm, Oct 02, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/342093
- Startup Fundraising Q&A: Meet Investors from the FI Venture Network: 8:00pm, Oct 14, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/342482
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 8:00pm, Oct 23, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/344542
- What is Entrepreneur DNA? Insights from 15 Years of Social Science Research: 1:00pm, Oct 30, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/344645
- Employee to Entrepreneur: How to Make the Transition to Startup Founder : 1:00pm, Nov 04, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/343383
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 8:00pm, Nov 06, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/342190
- Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 8:00pm, Nov 18, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/344734
- What is Entrepreneur DNA? Insights from 15 Years of Social Science Research: 8:00pm, Nov 25, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/345477
- Startup Fundraising Q&A: Meet Investors from the FI Venture Network: 1:00pm, Nov 27, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/342586
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 1:00pm, Dec 02, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/342294
- What is the DNA of an Entrepreneur? Insights from 15 Years of Research: 1:00pm, Dec 04, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/345384
- Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 1:00pm, Dec 09, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/344846
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 1:00pm, Dec 16, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/344965
- Startup Fundraising Q&A: Meet Investors from the FI Venture Network: 8:00pm, Dec 23, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/342664
Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 200+ cities worldwide, the Founder Institute provides high-potential entrepreneurs and teams with the devoted support network and structured growth process needed to get to traction and funding. Participants in the 4-month core program also get access to a lifetime of support through the Founder Institute's industry-leading post-programs.
The Waterloo program is led by some of the region's top startup leaders, including Jai Mansukhani (Co-Director of Programs, Founder Institute), Jordan Jocius (Director, Founder Institute Berlin), Sunil Sharma (MD, Techstars Canada).
In addition, some of Ontario's top investors, entrepreneurs, and CEOs will be participating in the program, providing them with expert feedback and evaluation. The list of startup mentors for the Waterloo - Toronto Spring 2024 Founder Institute includes:
- Alex Astrum: Developer Relations, Google
- Alexander Jager: Founding Partner, Amplifier Advisors
- Andrew Ricchetti: Founder, CakeAI, CoinMako
- Anwer Ali: Consultant, IMUKSYS
- Arshad Merali, Rivvi
- Barry Hillier: Founder & CEO, eQuo/ DOS
- Benjamin Stacey: CEO, Pitchverk
- Benton Leong: General Partner, ArchAngel Fund
- Bob Embleton: CEO, Perigee Convergent Solutions Inc
- Brice Scheschuk: CEO, Globalive Capital
- Cerys Goodall: COO, Vetster
- Chad Ford: Vice President Innovation, Communica and Partner, Pactech Ventures, Director, Western Canada Founder Institute
- Chris Leclerc: Coordinator, Programs and Client Experience, Accelerator Centre
- Dinah Davis: Founder, Code Like A Girl
- Edward Fan: Partner
- Elaine Lukowski: Vice President, Home & Entertainment, Health & Beauty Merchandising, Loblaw
- Fion Lee-Madan: Technical Co-Founder, COO and Customer Success, Fairly AI Inc.
- Gavin Jocius: Founder & Principal, River Wise Ventures
- Gina Yoo: Co-Founder & COO, Mannr
- Haoyang Liang: Director of Product Development, Orbiseed
- Isaac Adejuwon: CEO & Founder, Metricsflow
- Joseph Dales: Co-Founder & Director, RHA Partners
- Konata Lake: Partner
- Mary Beth Kyer: Co-Founder, Sponsor Circle
- Melika Hope: Product Director, Twitter
- Michael Kosic: Founding Partner, Loyal VC
- Mike Lingle: Entrepreneur / Mentor, Rocket Pro Forma
- Mike Peasgood: Co-Founder, Aeryon Labs
- Nadir Chaudhry: Founder, Tenamint
- Osman Ismaili: Patent Agent & Lawyer, MBM Intellectual Property Law LLP
- Raymond Luk: CEO, Hockeystick
- Rick Spence: Former Editor and Publisher, PROFIT (Canadian Business)
- Robert Whiteside: Director, Founding Partner, Treemark Capital
- Ryan McCartney: Fractional CRO, Self employed
- Sarah Hartkorn: Associate, White Cap Venture Partners
- Sean Yo: Product Management Fellow, ISPMA
- Stanislav Stepanov: CEO, Teleportainment Inc.
- Venu Sripada: CEO, Onboard Newhire
- Vikas Gupta: CEO, AVARA
- Wendy Robertson: Managing Director, Assemble Inc.
- Will Greenblatt: Co-Founder & Managing Director, OutLoud Speakers School
- Xenia Chen: Founder , Threads
- Yogi Yoganathan: CEO/Co-Founder, RemitBee
- 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).
Join us in Waterloo and help build the future.
Apply to the Waterloo - Toronto Spring 2024 Founder Institute today, or learn more at FI.co/overview.
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