Below is an October 2021 alumni milestone report, featuring updates from Founder Institute portfolio companies around the world. See the most recent funding news stories and top-tier media features of the past month, videos of founder interviews and insightful online events, as well as a list of FI's upcoming global events taking place the rest of this month in November, 2021.
Alumni Funding + News Highlights:
- Poladrone (FI Penang) announces $4.29M seed round led by Wavemaker Partners, for the enterprise drone solutions provider
- Periculum (FI Toronto) gets a $620k pre-seed funding boost for fintech automated credit assessment
- PaySika (FI Paris) announces €300k pre-seed angel round for the neobank for unbanked and underserved consumers in Francophone Africa
- Grow For Me (FI Ghana), an agri-tech marketplace, selected by Google Black Founders Fund for non-dilutive capital and mentorship in 2021 Africa Fund
- Bloom (FI Jordan) raises pre-seed investment round for try-before-you-buy (TBYB) e-commerce platform
- BetterMynd (FI Washington), an online therapy service, takes home $500k investment from 43North competition
- Kangarootime (FI Los Angeles) raises $6M in funding round led by existing investor Cultivation Capital, for childcare center management software
- Fairly AI (FI Waterloo-Toronto), a provider of AI governance, risk and compliance technologies, named the winner of UBS Future of Finance Challenge 2021, in the Tech and Cyber category
- Udemy (FI SIlicon Valley) IPO coverage via TechCrunch: Files to go public on back of growing B2B incomes and Targets valuation of $4B in major edtech IPO
- ZipLunch (FI Toronto) Cost-Saving Food Delivery profiled via Bloomberg: Bulk Meal Orders, Streamlined Process Keeps Prices Down and Emissions In Check
- Far.me (FI Minas Gerais) and local FI directors, mentors and startup experts talk about successful trajectories and positive effects from connecting with more experienced entrepreneurs (via Portuguese language article)
- Genially (FI Andalusia) wins EdTechX Award for Innovation & Growth 2021, an industry recognition award by EdTech Digest
- MyTM (FI Lahore) becomes first Pakistani startup to win the Supernova Challenge Final at GITEX
Are you a pre-seed stage entrepreneur working to achieve startup traction or funding? Apply here to join the virtual Founder Institute accelerator program nearest you.
October 2021 Featured Alumni Videos:
BetterMeal.AI CEO Swathi Arulguppe (FI Silicon Valley) on building a Personalized AI Nutritionist
Ajinomatrix.org CEO Francois Wayenberg (FI Berlin) on Digitizing the Senses of Taste & Smell
Quin AI Founder Gulsah Gulser (FI Turkey) on Optimizing eCommerce Revenue & Engagement
October 2021 Featured Event Replays:
Seed Funding & Financial Planning: A Guide to Raising Your First Funding, with Finmark CEO Rami Essaid
How They Did It: Success Stories & Advice from Underrepresented Founders in Tech
How to Invest in and Support Pre-Seed Startups: with Coyote Ventures, Startup Haven Ventures & Untapped Capital
Building an Enduring VC Firm in Asia, with Andy Zain of Kejora Capital
Join us this month at an Online Startup Event:
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Wednesday, November 3rd - The State of the Venture Industry: Interactive Q&A with Jason Calacanis
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Wednesday, November 10th - Hiring & Team Building 101 with Adam Spector
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Wednesday, November 17th - The $100,000 Veteran Pitch Competition in celebration of US Veterans Day
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Tuesday, November 23rd - How to Build an Effective Go-to-Market Strategy with Eva Dimitrova
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Wednesday, December 1st - Global Founder Showcase: Pre-Seed Startup Pitch & Networking Event
Private Networking Events, exclusively for FI Alumni and currently Enrolled founders:
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Thursday, November 4th - VIP Alumni Summit + AMA with Ron Gentile on the most common founder mistakes to avoid
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Thursday, November 18th - VIP Alumni Summit + AMA with Russell Brand on Pitching Angel Groups
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Thursday, December 2nd - Mental Fitness, Mindfulness, and Meditation for Entrepreneurs, an AMA with Mark Montalban + VIP Alumni Networking Summit
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Are you a pre-seed stage entrepreneur working to achieve startup traction or funding? Apply here to join the virtual Founder Institute accelerator nearest you.
Graduates of the Founder Institute are creating some of the world's fastest growing startups, having raised over $1.85BN in funding, and building products people love across over 200 cities worldwide.
See the most recent news from our Grads at FI.co/news, or learn more about their stories at FI.co/journey.
