The Founder Institute, the world’s premier idea-stage accelerator and startup launch program, announced today that it is officially launching its newest chapter in Waterloo, Ontario. The Silicon-Valley based program decided to officially launch in Waterloo after a successful test launch this Winter 2016 attracted over 100 potential applicants in the city.
Applications to the first ever Waterloo Founder Institute are open now, and anyone interested in launching a technology company is welcome to apply at http://fi.co/apply/waterloo/blog.
In order to celebrate the launch, the Waterloo Founder Institute will host a series of free startup events for the general public -to see the full list of upcoming events, visit http://fi.co/curriculum/waterloo.
The Founder Institute is the most challenging and effective step-by-step startup launch program for talented and motivated aspiring entrepreneurs. If you are serious about launching a startup, the Founder Institute can give you the structured process, constant feedback and evaluation from expert mentors, and global network of entrepreneurs you need to start an enduring company. In addition, the Founder Institute is the only program of its kind that focuses on people versus ideas, accepts founders with day jobs, and shares equity with all participants.
Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 100 countries and 200 cities, leaders of the world’s fastest-growing startups have used the Founder Institute to transition from employee to entrepreneur, test their startup ideas, build a team, get their first customers, raise funding, and more - like Udemy, Realty Mogul, iCarsClub, Itembase, goplaceit, and Appota.
Running the Founder Institute's efforts in Waterloo include local startup leaders Madusha Cooray (Manager, Startup Services, Communitech) and Sunil Sharma (Managing Partner at Extreme Venture Partners).
Other technology leaders who have signed on to mentor new entrepreneurs in the first ever Waterloo Founder Institute program include top founders from the city, and beyond:
- Allen Lau: CEO, Wattpad
- Beth Nenniger: Director, Design Center, BuildDirect
- Brian Zubert: Director, Thomson Reuters Labs
- Caitlin Mac Gregor: CEO & Cofounder, Plum.io Inc.
- Calvin Chu: Founder and CEO, Palette
- Carol Leaman: CEO, Axonify Inc.
- Christopher Reid: Co-founder, CEO, Sortable
- Dan Silivestru: CEO, co-founder, BitHound.io
- Dan Latendre: CEO, Igloo Software
- Dan Mathers: Co-Founder & Partner, IronSpan Executives Inc
- Frank Erschen: Chair, Powernoodle, RENOMii
- Harry Gandhi: Co-Founder and CEO, Medella Health
- Hongwei Liu: CEO, MappedIn
- Jaafer Haidar: Founder and CEO, Penny
- Jesse Moeinifar: Founder & CEO, Viafoura Inc.
- Jesse Rodgers: Growth, Boltmade
- John Stix: President, Fibernetics Corporation
- Joseph Fung: CEO, TribeHR (Acquired by NetSuite)
- Joseph Puopolo: CEO/Founder, Printchomp
- Kurtis Mc Bride: CEO, Miovision Technologies Incorporated
- Lauren Hasegawa: Co-founder, Bridgit
- Madusha Cooray: Startup Mentor, Communitech
- Matt Stevens: CEO, CrossChasm
- Matthew Gardner: COO/Co-Founder, Videostream
- Mike Kirkup: Director, Velocity
- Paul Donald: CEO, enCircle
- Poppy Dimoulas Graham: Founder, CEO, Charity Republic
- Shrad Rao: CEO, Wagepoint
- Stephen Lake: Founder/CEO, Thalmic Labs
- Sunil Sharma: Managing Partner, Extreme Venture Partners
- Ted Hastings: CEO, Perk.com
- Tristan Lehari: CEO, Tritonwear
- And many more to be announced.
Learn more about the Founder Institute at http://fi.co.
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About the Founder Institute
The Founder Institute is the world’s premier idea-stage accelerator and startup launch program. If you are up to the challenge, our comprehensive step-by-step program will give you the structure, mentor support, and global network of entrepreneurs you need to start an enduring company. In addition, the Founder Institute is the only program of its kind that accepts founders with day jobs and shares equity with all participants.
Leaders of the world’s fastest-growing startups have used our program to transition from employee to entrepreneur, test their startup ideas, build a team, get their first customers, raise funding, and more. Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 200 cities and 100 countries, the Founder Institute’s mission is to “Globalize Silicon Valley” and build sustainable startup ecosystems that will create one million new jobs.
