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 Spring 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 (Dec 07, 2025) 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:
San Diego Events:
- Startup Funding Playbook for 2026 w/ Ryan Micheletti GP at The Veteran Fund: 12:00pm, Jan 29, 2026 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/387125
Global or Regional Events:
- Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 10:00am, Jan 26, 2026 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/382079
- Meet Global Alumni from Founder Institute: 10:00am, Feb 02, 2026 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/383954
- How to Transform Your Region into a Hub for Cross-Border Entrepreneurship: 10:00am, Feb 03, 2026 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/387106
- How to Adopt an Entrepreneurial Mindset: 5:00pm, Feb 09, 2026 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/383755
- Growing Innovation Districts through Regional & Private Partnerships: 10:00am, Feb 10, 2026 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/387968
- Founder’s Guide to AI: Working with AI as Your Partner: 10:00am, Feb 17, 2026 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/385205
- Founder’s Guide to AI: Building a Marketing Engine with AI: 10:00am, Feb 24, 2026 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/385484
- Founder’s Guide to AI: Converting Data into Business Value with AI: 10:00am, Mar 03, 2026 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/385323
- What Do Investors Really Look For? Startup Funding Q&A: 9:00am, Mar 09, 2026 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/387480
- From Zero to Startup Idea: A Practical Founder Framework: 5:00am, Mar 16, 2026 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/387690
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.
