Silicon Valley Startup Launch Program is Looking for Entrepreneurs in Arizona

The Founder Institute, the world's premier startup launch program, is currently exploring a new semester launch in Arizona for 2017 to help local entrepreneurs build meaningful companies.

If you'd like the Founder Institute to help you launch your startup, then fill out an Interest Form or attend a FREE event to learn and learn from top startup experts. If enough people complete this form by the Launch Deadline (Oct 21, 2026), the Founder Institute will formally launch a Winter 2017 program in your city.

To test the demand for a Arizona Fall 2026 program, the Founder Institute will host several FREE startup events in Arizona:

Arizona Events:

• Startup IP 101: Should Your Startup Be Patent Pending?: 6:00pm, Aug 05, 2026 (America/Phoenix): https://FI.co/e/400237
• Pitch Your Ideas to Founder Institute IP Accelerator Investors & Experts: 6:00pm, Aug 26, 2026 (America/Phoenix): https://FI.co/e/400235

Global or Regional Events:

• See all upcoming events

Leading the Founder Institute's efforts in Phoenix are local startup leaders Jon Zifcak (CEO, ZULLOO), Gabriel Gasca (Community Curator - Scottsdale, DeskHub), and Rick Stoddard (Partner, Coplex).

Other successful entrepreneurs who have pledged their support to mentor founders in a Arizona Founder Institute program include:

• Andy Walsh: Founder, Startups Decoded
• Ankur Sethi, Winner Capital
• Bettina Briz: Investor, Advisor to Many Early Stage Startups, Cloudberry Ventures, Mural Ventures
• David Yi: GP, Quintstone
• Ethan Austin: Founding Partner, Outside VC
• Harold Hughes: CEO, Bandwagon
• Jason Butcher, Orbit Capital
• Joyce Shin, The Human Edge
• Kat Mateus: CMO, Hubble
• Kathryn Vatt: Founder and Chief of Intellectual Property, VATT IP Management
• Kathy Caprino: Founder and President, Career & Leadership Coach
• Katie Dunn: Angel Investor
• Kevin Jurovich: Co-Founder & CEO, Hubble
• Logan Burchett: Co-founder & COO , Forecastr
• Mark Phinick: B2B Deal Coach, Let's Make It Rain
• Michael O'brien, Síol VC
• Pamela Wolf: Operating Partner, exCoty / exSalesforce
• Peter Himes: Advisor, Self
• Sasha Cayward: Chief Community Officer, Hubble
• Taylor Barnes: Founder & Brand Narrative Designer, White Stag
• Timo Gehrke: Co-founder & COO , Hubble
• Zoya Lehrer: Founder & CEO, orgo

• And many more to be announced.

Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 200 cities and 100 countries, the Founder Institute has helped launch some of the fastest-rising startups across 6 continents, including Udemy, Realty Mogul, iCarsClub, Itembase, goplaceit, Appota, and many more. The company's mission is to "Globalize Silicon Valley" and create sustainable startup ecosystems that will create one million new jobs worldwide.

The Founder Institute is the most challenging and effective step-by-step startup launch program for talented and motivated aspiring entrepreneurs. Our program gives you a structured process and constant feedback from expert mentors and a global network of entrepreneurs. 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.

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.

Help bring the Founder Institute to Arizona and fill out an Interest Form today.