The Founder Institute (www.fi.co), the world’s largest entrepreneur training and startup launch program, announced today that it is exploring a new chapter launch in Charlotte, North Carolina. Throughout the next several months, the Founder Institute will host a series of free, beginner entrepreneurship events to gauge interest in a Spring 2015 program.
Anyone who is interested in making the leap from employee to entrepreneur in Charlotte and taking advantage of Founder Institute’s step-by-step and market-tested new ventures success program is welcome to apply today at http://fi.co/apply/charlotte, or attend an upcoming introductory event:
- Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
Through the Founder Institute’s structured four-month program, promising entrepreneurs “learn by doing” and launch a company with structured hands-on training, expert feedback, and support from experienced startup CEOs and entrepreneurs. Since the program is part-time, it is also a great opportunity for talented professionals to test the waters and build their ideas, and identify potential co-founders and funders, before making “the leap” from employee to entrepreneur and quitting their day jobs.
Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across over 70 cities and 40 countries, the Founder Institute has helped aspiring technology entrepreneurs launch over 1,300 companies, which have created over 10,000 new jobs. Founder Institute Graduate companies include fast-rising startups across 6 continents like Udemy, Realty Mogul, iCarsClub, Itembase, goplaceit, Appota, and many more.
Charlotte is one of the fastest-growing cities in America, and has has an abundance of highly talented employees working in banking and large enterprise. Our goal is to help unlock and support this talent base with regards to new businesses, and help talented, ambitious individuals become successful entrepreneurs and launch meaningful companies in Charlotte”
- Adeo Ressi, Founder & CEO of the Founder Institute
Leading the Founder Institute’s efforts in Charlotte are three top local entrepreneurs, Jacob Hall, Owen Ryan, and Peter Mojica.
Jacob Hall has 20 years in the financial services industry in various capacities related to new technology and innovation. He has been a part of three founding tech startup teams, co-created the nation’s largest online hotline for survivors of abuse as a social entrepreneur, and invests in and founded his own startup business located in the UNC Charlotte’s new PORTAL incubator.
Owen Ryan is the CEO of AntiOxidant Farms, and the Founder and Former CEO of High Voltage Beverages. Over the course of his career Owen has created, funded and launched multiple new products and ventures into highly competitive (primarily consumer products, entertainment, and media) environments.
“The road to success as an entrepreneur is a remarkable journey, but never a simple one, and the Founder Institute will connect aspiring founders with highly experienced entrepreneurs who have traveled the path previously,” says Owen Ryan, Co-Director of the Charlotte Founder Institute. “Connection with this entrepreneur knowledge base in Charlotte is a real game changer for this region.”
Peter Mojica is the Founder, CEO, and President of Integrity6. During his career he has participated in the 4th largest IPO in NASDAQ history during his time in Silicon Valley, and has founded and co-founded several software companies with successful exits.
“The best universities in the world don’t teach the nitty and gritty of starting and running a high-tech business,” says Peter Mojica, Co-Director of the Charlotte Founder Institute. “The only place to get this education is in the trenches where you can count on failing a lot before succeeding. The FI program guides new entrepreneurs through these trenches, and bringing the program here will generate more opportunities for all entrepreneurs in the region.”
Other technology leaders who have signed on to mentor new entrepreneurs in a Charlotte Founder Institute program include top founders from Charlotte and beyond;
- Aaron Patzer: Founder, Mint.com
- Adeo Ressi: CEO, Decile Group / VC Lab
- Alexandra Johnson: Managing Director, DFJ VTB Aurora
- Alexandra Wilson: Founder, Investor & Advisor, Gilt Group, Montage Ventures
- Alexis Beechen: Co-Founder & CEO, The Drop, Mangrove Estates
- Bob Richards: Founder & CEO, Moon Express
- Bram Cohen: Founder, BitTorrent, Chia Network
- Cheryl Yeoh: Founder, Investor & Advisor, Reclip.It, MaGIC
- Claire Mc Gregor: Co-Founder, Appbot
- David Sacks: Founder & Investor, Yammer, Paypal, Zenefits
- David Wu: General Partner, Maveron Ventures
- David Rose: Author & CEO, Gust, New York Angels
- Divya Gugnani: Co-Founder, Send the Trend, Wander Beauty
- Emna Ghariani: Global Director, Founder Institute MENA
- Eren Bali: Founder, Udemy, Carbon Health
- Eric Ries: Author & Founder, The Lean Startup, Long Term Stock Exchange
- Garrett Camp: Founder, Uber, Expa, StumbleUpon
- Gina Bianchini: Founder & CEO, Mighty Networks, Former CEO of Ning
- Heather Harde: CEO, TechCrunch
- Holly Liu: Co-Founder, Kabam
- Jason Calacanis: Author, Investor & Founder, Inside.com, LAUNCH Accelerator
- Jason Johnson: Founder & CEO, August
- Jeffrey Paine: Managing Partner, Golden Gate Ventures, Singapore
- Jessica Alter: Entrepreneur & Advisor, Tech for Campaigns, Social Capital
- Jessica Mah: Founder & CEO, inDinero, Impact Collective
- Jill Stelfox: Co-Founder, Graffiti Sports, Binary Group
- Jilliene Helman: CEO, RealtyMogul.com
- Joanna Lord: CMO, ClassPass
- Jonathan Greechan: Co-Founder & CEO, Founder Institute
- Jonathan Abrams: Founder, Nuzzel, Friendster
- Justin Moore: CEO & Investor, Axcient
- Kenneth Hogrefe: CEO and Founder, Tech Africa Pte. Ltd.
- Kirsten Rose: Head of Low Emissions, BHP, Clean Energy Entrepreneur
- Lucy Beard: Founder & CEO, feetZ
- Mark Pincus: Founder, Zynga
- Michael Seibel: CEO & Partner, Y Combinator
- Nitin Pachisia: Founding Partner, Unshackled Ventures
- Phil Libin: Founder, All Turtles, Former CEO of Evernote
- Rashmi Sinha: Co-Founder, SlideShare
- Robin Chase: Co-Founder & Former CEO, Zipcar
- Rosemarie Truman: Founder & General Partner, Gazelle Futures, Center for Advancing Innovation
- Sam Yagan: Co-Founder, OK Cupid, ShopRunner, Techstars Chicago
- Scott Heiferman: Co-Founder & CEO, Meetup
- Scott Painter: Founder, Fair.com, TrueCar, CarsDirect.com
- Sergio Maziano: Founder & CEO, NEXT Solutions
- Tim Ferriss: Angel Investor & Author, 4-Hour Workweek
- And many more to be announced.
If you'd like to help bring the Founder Institute to Charlotte, then fill out an Interest Form at http://fi.co/apply/charlotte.
If enough people complete the form, then the Founder Institute will formally launch a Spring 2015 Chapter in Charlotte.
(Charlotte photo from Shutterstock)
