Since launching in San Diego in 2009, the Founder Institute has graduated over 50 companies, including successful local startups like Embarke, Kaliki, DonationMatch, Feetz, Explorence, Green Kid Crafts, and many more.
The San Diego Founder Institute is now accepting applications for the San Diego Fall 2026 Semester. If you could benefit from expert training and advice to launch a technology startup in San Diego, click here to apply today.
Those who apply by the Early Admissions Deadline (May 24, 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 San Diego Founder Institute will host a “Pre-Curriculum” of free startup events for the general public:
- Cash Flow Survival for a First-Time Founder: 9:00am, Mar 17, 2026 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/392710
- Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
- How Multiple Pivots positioned Checkbox as the ‘Legal Front Door’ for Corporations: 5:00pm, Apr 13, 2026 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/393766
- Turn Startup Hesitation Into Action: A Founder Mindset Framework: 5:00pm, Jun 15, 2026 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/393132
- Stop Guessing, Start Raising: An Investor Q&A : 5:00pm, Jul 06, 2026 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/392784
- From Idea to Action: The Startup Mindset : 5:30am, Aug 10, 2026 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/393255
- What Makes Investors Say Yes: Startup Funding AMA: 9:00am, Sep 01, 2026 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/392872
- From Dreamer to Doer: Build the Founder Mindset: 9:00am, Oct 13, 2026 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/393385
- From Founder to Funded: Interactive Q&A with Top Startup Investor: 9:00am, Nov 03, 2026 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/393008
The San Diego Chapter will be led by by longtime Founder Institute Director and San Diego Startup advocate, Jeanine Jacobson.
In only 16 years of operation, over 8,900 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.
