The Founder Institute, the world’s premier pre-seed startup accelerator, announced today that it is officially returning to Houston. The Silicon-Valley based program has chapters in over 200 cities worldwide, and early-stage entrepreneurs in Houston can again take advantage of the Founder Institute's renowned structure, mentor support, and network to build an enduring company.
Applications to the Houston Founder Institute are now open, and anyone interested in building a technology company can apply at FI.co/apply/houston.
The Founder Institute provides high-potential entrepreneurs and teams with the critical support network and structured process needed to build an enduring company, from launch to team and funding. Since 2009, the program has helped over 8,900 Graduates raise over 2BN funding, get into seed-accelerators, generate traction, recruit a team, build a product, transition from employee to entrepreneur, and more.
To celebrate the launch, the Founder Institute will host several free startup events in Houston, where you can learn from top entrepreneurs and hear more about the program:
Houston Events:
- FI Houston Partner & Sponsor Salon: 4:00pm, Mar 24, 2026 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/374028
Global or Regional Events:
- Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
- Founder’s Guide to AI: Building a Marketing Engine with AI: 12:00pm, Feb 24, 2026 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/385431
- Founder’s Guide to AI: Converting Data into Business Value with AI: 12:00pm, Mar 03, 2026 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/385267
- What Do Investors Really Look For? Startup Funding Q&A with Keshia Theobald-van Gent: 11:00am, Mar 09, 2026 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/387490
- The 10x Leadership Framework for Growth in Large Organisations : 12:00pm, Mar 10, 2026 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/389306
- Startup Advisors 101: How to Find Advisors and Maximize their Impact: 7:30pm, Mar 10, 2026 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/388473
- From Zero to Startup Idea: A Practical Founder Framework: 7:00am, Mar 16, 2026 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/387663
- Cash Flow Survival for a First-Time Founder: 11:00am, Mar 17, 2026 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/388896
- Venture Trailblazers, featuring Andrew D’Souza (VIP Event): 11:00am, Mar 19, 2026 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/390006
- [Restricted] VIP Pitch Lounge: Get Feedback from Global Investors & Advisors (Private Event): 11:00am, Mar 24, 2026 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/389104
- Stuck Without a Startup Idea? Build One That Fits You: 7:00pm, Apr 07, 2026 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/390159
- How Multiple Pivots positioned Checkbox as the ‘Legal Front Door’ for Corporations: 7:00pm, Apr 13, 2026 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/389507
- How to Choose the Right Startup Idea Before You Build: 11:00am, May 18, 2026 (America/Chicago): https://FI.co/e/390358
The individuals that have been critical in bringing the Founder Institute to Houston include local startup leaders James Phelan (Investment & Growth, ZPTTLR Inc. / The Cannon), Martín Martinez (Founding & Executive Director, Founder Institute Texas), Mery Ramirez (Founding Partner, DataNexum Consulting), Natasha Gorodetsky (Founder & CEO; Head of Product, Product Pursuit).
We are very excited to help entrepreneurs build enduring companies in Houston," says Adeo Ressi, CEO of the Founder Institute. "Texas is home to some of America's top companies and universities, and we think the pieces are in place to build a sustainable startup ecosystem that drives Houston's future economy.
In addition, many of the region's top founders, CEOs, and investors have signed on to mentor new entrepreneurs in the Houston Spring 2026 Founder Institute program, including:
- Aaron Chavez: Managing Partner, (un)conventional ventures
- Aaron Hines: Co-founder, Darbe
- Abe Chu: Co-founder & CMO, NextSeed
- Adrianne Stone: Principal Product Manager, Big Cartel
- Akeel Bernard: Community Development Manager , Impact Hub Houston
- Ali Syed: CEO / Founder, Nocodehero
- Alice Gong: Managing Partner , US UNICORN FOUNDATION
- Alicia Locheed Goodrow: Founder, Goodrow Holmes, PLLC
- Allie Danziger: Founder, Integrate
- Amina Buric: CEO, Atlas Advisory Collective
- Amit Bhanot: Venture Partner, Loyal VC
- Amy Tran: B2B AI-Blockchain-Cyber Venture Builder, IMPAVIDUS
- Ana Rojas Bastidas: Founder & CEO, Orolait
- Andrea Sager: CEO, Legalpreneur
- Andrea Course: Founder and Managing Director, Course Investments
- Andres Gomez: Founder, Editeer
- Ashley DeWalt: Managing Director, DivInc
- Atul Patel: CEO and Founder, Orbee
- Austin Langley, Cofounder Ventures
- Bade Aluko: Managing Partner, White Hibiscus Capital
- Ben Ghazi: Co-founder and CTO, Codiac
- Brandy Guidry: Executive Director, The Cannon
- Byron Mitchell: Associate Attorney, Goodrow Holmes, PLLC
- Carliss Chatman: Professor / SME, SMU Dedman School of Law / iLAW
- Carolyn Rodz: Founder and CEO, Hello Alice
- Cassandra Iku: Community and Operations Coordinator, SheSpace
- Chantell Preston: Co-founder/CEO, Facilities Management Group
- Charles Dauber: CEO, Warm Commerce
- Christa Clarke: 2x Founder. Coach., Operations Strategist
- Christine Galib: Founder, road less traveled enterprises
- Christy Cardenas: Managing Partner, Grit Ventures
- Creig Graham: VP Partnerships, Budapop Bottling Co.
- Curt Olivares: 2x Founder | Startup Advisor | Tech Career Coach, Product Saint
- Curt Lockhart: IP Attorney, Lockhart IP
- Dana Marruffo: Principal, Buzz Public Relations, LLC
- Dana Abramovitz: Founding Team, SXSW
- Denise McGettrick: Managing Attorney, McGettrick Law PLLC
- Didar Bekbauov: Founder and CEO, Xive Inc
- Eduardo Buelna: Director Structured Products, BP Energy
- Eric Fishhaut: President, MKB Services
- Erin McClarty: Principal, Erin McClarty, PLLC
- Fareed Zein: Founder and CEO, Unytag
- Farell Duclair: CEO, Starborn Solutions LLC
- Fernando Moguel: Creator, The Syneverse
- Gary Katz: Patent Attorney & Managing Attorney, Katz Law Group
- Grace Rodriguez: CEO, Impact Hub Houston
- Guillermo Barrera: Founder and President , CliniCore International
- Gustavo Sanchez: Founder, Pandata Tech
- Guy Parker: Chief Strategy & Creative Officer, Ambient Way
- Harini Bhamidipati: Founder & CEO, Bearable
- Haris Ali: Founder and CEO, Vertechx Technologies
- Harvin Moore, Frontera Technology Ventures
- Heath Butler: Founder/Managing Partner, Gestalt Growth Advisors
- Huan Le: General Counsel, DiCentral
- Indrajit Datta: Co-founder & President, Equipt Innovation, Inc.
- Ivelin Ivanov: Venture Advisor, Founder Institute
- Jag Singh: Managing Director, A.R.M. Consulting
- James Phelan: Co-founder and CEO / Shareholder, ZPTTLR Inc. / The Cannon
- James Adams: Director of Operations, Gallant
- Jason Assir: Principal Consultant, Opex Digital Consulting
- Jason Trahan
- Javier Fadul: Chief Innovation Officer, HTX Labs
- Jeff Scott: CoFounder/ CEO, Workflow Logic AI
- Jeff Murphy: Founder and Managing Member, Murphy Advisory Solutions ·
- Jess Hughes: Founder and President, Citizen Pilates
- Jessica Reitmeier: Co-Founder, Pandata Tech
- Jian Ruan: CTO, Orbbit
- Jo Clark: Founder and CEO, Circle.ooo
- John Ngo: DBA, John&Partners Global
- Jorvik Tazeen: Founder & CEO, AI Bleak
- Joshua Wang: CEO, Jōsh Foods
- Joy Hutton: Founder and CEO, Joy of Consulting
- Juliana Garaizar: Lead Investor, Portfolia
- Julie Hartman: Founder/President, J. Hartman
- Kate McGinley: Scaling Health Tech Startups with Buyer-Aligned Growth | Fractional CGO/CRO, 210 Healthcare
- Katerina Zhukova: Director of Business Development, JohnDuttonLaw PLLC
- Kelsey Ruger: Chief Product & Technology Officer, Hello Alice
- Kenley Clark: Founder and CEO, TC Energy
- Kennie Matthews: Chairman & CEO, M Infrastructure, Inc.
- Kian Gohar: Founder & CEO, Geolab
- Krishna Vattipalli: Founder and CEO, Imaginnovate Techsolutions
- LaGina R Harris: CEO / Visionary / Founder, The Us Space
- Laketta Brooks: Founder, TraceWrap
- Landi Spearman: Founder, iSHIFTx
- Lina Mateus: Founder and CEO, Digi-Clicks
- Lindsay Eulenfeld: Senior Director of Operations, MassChallenge
- Lori Freese: Principal, FreeseMediaGroup
- Maria Fernanda Burgos: Founder & CEO, Startup Advisor
- Mariana Muntean: Founder & CEO, Cinevva
- Mario Soave: Founder, CleverFi
- Martín Martinez: Founding & Executive Director, Founder Institute Texas
- Meghan Hendley Lopez: Co-Founder; Director of Corporate Engagement , SUNN and TekRevol
- Mehrab Momin: Human-Centered AI Architect & Advisor, aiCTO Services
- Mery Ramirez: Founding Partner, DataNexum Consulting
- Miao Yan: Global Product Manager-Alternate Energy, Xylem
- Michael Umansky: Co-Founder & CEO, Edgy Labs
- Mike Francis: CEO, Nanotech
- Mitra Miller: President & Board Member, Houston Angel Network
- Muriel Foster: Chief Operations Strategist, Intentionally BLCK
- Naeem Vehvaria: Director of Information Technology, Meticul Solutions
- Natasha Gorodetsky: Founder&Head of Product, Product Pursuits
- Neal Murthy: Chairman, Haven Holdings
- Noah Wallach: Founder, Hope OS
- Noah Fons: Coordinator, Greater Houston Partnership
- Olayinka James: President/CEO, CYBEROPS INC.
- Oleg Lysiak: Partner Success Manager, Honeycomb Software
- Parag Jain: Dr, Children’s Medical Center, Dallas
- Patrick McSwain: Onwer, The Trademark Law Firm, PLLC
- Paul O'Brien: Head of Public Affairs, Founder Institute
- Paul Kwiatkowski: Co-Founder and CTO, GroupRaise
- Payal Patel: Principal, Softeq Ventures
- Phil Libin: Founder & CEO, All Turtles
- Rahul Agarwal: Principal Technical Product Manager, Hasura
- Rahul Brahmbhatt: Investor / Mentor, Day One
- Rajneesh Dwivedi: Co-Founder and CEO, Second Medic
- Ram Prasad: Fractional CPO/CTO, Delence
- Richard Jones: Partner, Healthseers
- Richard Munassi: Co-founder, Blackfin Technology Partners
- Richard Seline: Cofounder, Resilience Innovation Hub
- Riley Knox: CEO & Co-Founder, Leviathan Air
- Robert Tucci: Managing Director, HALO
- Robert Pieroni: Director of Economic Development, Central Houston Inc.
- Ryan Micheletti: Fouder, Illuminate Nootropics
- Saima Siddiqui: Director of Product Management, Joyride.com
- Salvatore Grignano: Marketing Officer, Italian Trade Agency (ITA) - Houston
- Sarah Hein: CEO, March Biosciences
- Sarika Tyagi: Product Leader, ScarletFreshShoe | Amazon
- Scott Ferguson: Founder & Chief AI Officer, Ferguson Analytics
- Sebastien Long: Founder & CEO, Lodgeur
- Shlomi Podgaetz: Director/CEO, Rizasmart Consulting
- Sloan Foster: Principal , Envisage Associates
- Sophia Clark: Founder & Creative Director, Galiatea
- Steve Jennis: Founder and CEO, Jennis Consulting Group
- Tabbie Saenz: Founder, Business and Trade Alliance
- Talha Bin Shuja: Startup and Business Consultant, High Hope International
- Taneallea Feddis: Co-Director Jamaica, Founder Institute
- TC Lien: Mentor, Founders Institute
- Telha Ghanchi: Managing Director, Valhalla Investment Group
- Tharvyn Shael: Founder & CEO, Iotexdigital
- Tiana Laurence: GP, Laurence Innovation
- Tim De Silva: Founder & CEO, Culture Pilot
- Tosin Ojo: Founder and Fractional CISO, CITSAP
- Tracy De Jarnett: Founder and CMO, The Brandsoup Agency
- Traven Holt: Founder & CEO, Ragentech Systems
- Travis Baldwin: Managing Partner, J. Galt Finance Suite
- Ty Audronis: Founder/ ceo, Tempest Droneworx
- Vijay Sekhara: Director Of Strategic Partnerships, MassChallenge
- Wade Pinder: Founder, Product Houston
- WAEL DOUKMAK: CEO, AHLAN, Inc.
- Will Moore: Investor & CFO, Angel Investing
- Willy Verbrugghe, SCORE & Vehoco
- Yared Akalou: CEO/Founder, Alcove Group
- Yemi Oluseun: Growth & GTM For FinTechs, The Change Hive
- And many more to be announced.
The Founder Institute is designed for founders and teams all throughout the pre-seed stage, including aspiring founders with a full-time job, solo founders, teams, and founders of established companies that are pre-funding. Our mission is to "Globalize Silicon Valley" and create sustainable startup ecosystems that will create one million new jobs worldwide.
Join us in Houston to build a great company in 2019.
Apply to the Houston Spring 2026 Founder Institute today, or learn more at FI.co/overview.
