The Founder Institute, the world's premier startup launch program, is currently exploring a new semester launch in Columbus 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 (Mar 18, 2025), the Founder Institute will formally launch a 2017 program in your city.
To test the demand for a Columbus - Chicago Winter 2025 program, the Founder Institute will host several FREE startup events in Columbus:
- What is Entrepreneur DNA? Insights from 15 Years of Social Science Research: 8:00pm, Nov 25, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/358104
- Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
- How to Build a Product-Driven Go-to-Market Strategy : 1:00pm, Nov 26, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/359558
- Ask an Investor Anything: Q&A with Jacob Jackson: 1:00pm, Nov 27, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/358108
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 1:00pm, Dec 02, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/358112
- What is the DNA of an Entrepreneur? Insights from 15 Years of Research: 1:00pm, Dec 04, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/358116
- Venture Trailblazers, featuring Ilya A. Strebulaev from Stanford: 12:00pm, Dec 05, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/358687
- Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 1:00pm, Dec 09, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/358120
- Enterprise Sales 101 for Startup Founders: Closing Big Deals: 1:00pm, Dec 11, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/358431
- Get Feedback on Your MVP from Product Experts & Find Early Users: 1:00pm, Dec 16, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/358125
- FI Fall Chicago – Wisconsin 2024 Graduation: Meet the New Companies: 7:00pm, Dec 17, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/361774
- Founder Showcase: Startup Pitch & Networking Event: 1:00pm, Dec 18, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/358129
- Startup Funding AMA & Founder Institute Info Session, with Jonathan Greechan (CEO, Founder Institute): 1:00pm, Dec 30, 2024 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/360182
- Startup Funding AMA & Founder Institute Info Session, with Jonathan Greechan (CEO, Founder Institute): 8:00pm, Jan 02, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/360295
- Co-Founder Networking: Find a Technical Co-Founder: 1:00pm, Jan 08, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/361558
- Startup to Scale-Up: Mastering Sales & Branding with Mark Kosoglow: 1:00pm, Jan 13, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/360941
- What is the DNA of an Entrepreneur? Insights from 15 Years of Research: 8:00pm, Jan 22, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/361797
Leading the Founder Institute's efforts in Columbus are local startup leaders Brian Penick, Kevin Hiser, and Neil Collins.
Other successful entrepreneurs who have pledged their support to mentor founders in a Columbus Founder Institute program include:
- Abdellah Aouf: Chief Executive Officer, GO PLATFORM
- Ablorde Ashigbi: CEO, 4Degrees
- Adeo Ressi: CEO, Decile Group / VC Lab
- Aditya Nath: Head of Sales NA, Mobilisights, A Stellantis Company
- Aidan Salvi: Founder, Angel Investor, Advisor, Technologist, Multiple
- AJ DeLeon: CEO, Innovare
- Alex Glenn: Founder, Automated.af
- Alex Gorsuch: Co-founder, CTO, Ascent Integrated Tech
- Alex Lambert: Venture Capital Manager, mHUB
- Andrew Lee: CEO, Esper
- Andrew Loulousis: Vice President of Strategy and Venturing, TechNexus Venture Collaborative
- Ashish Rangnekar: CEO & Co-Founder, BenchPrep
- Aviv Shalgi: CEO, Solar Simplified
- Bart Carlson: CEO, Azuba
- Ben Stacey: CEO, Pitchverk
- Benjamin Seidman: Co-Founder, Mella Pet Care
- Blake Allsmith: CEO, Jumpdocs.com
- Bob Gillespie: Managing Partner, REACH Commercial
- Bob Matteson: CEO, Relivable
- Brad Schnitzer: Program Manager, Techstars Chicago
- Brad Spirrison: CEO, Grown In
- Brian Lee: Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer, Roamli
- Cate Brady: Founding Director, Bulk AG Innovations
- Charles Kwon: Managing Partner, Concitor
- Chereesca Bejasa: CEO, Zenevate, LLC
- Chris Sorensen: Founder & CEO, Lake Forest Venture Management
- Chris Foltz: Entrepreneur In Residence, Founder Institute + Responsible Solutions Ltd + IRG 100 CMO's & Change Agents
- Christina Holloway: Executive Coach, Compass Enterprises LLC
- Cory Warfield: Chief Connection Officer, Coryconnects
- Dan Ushman: Founder and CEO, TrendSpider
- Daniel Roberts: Founder, Scout Alarm
- David Culver: Co-Founder, VentureSHOT
- David Douglas: Founder & CEO, Yolobe Inc.
- David Rosen: CEO, Acrelic Group
- David Zaretsky: CEO, Chief Scientist & Co-Founder, Snips Media
- David Hurst: CEO, Orbital Transports
- Derick Jiwan: Innovation and Business Development Manager, WinField United at Land O' Lakes
- Desiree Vargas Wrigley: Chief Innovation Officer & Executive Director of TechRise, P33
- Don Bora: Principal Technology/Owner and Co-Founder, Eight Bit Studios
- Eddie Patzsch: Co-Founder, PartnerPortal.io
- Eric Broughton: CEO, OK2Charge
- Fernando DeLeon: Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer, Innovare
- Franklin Kamnang Ngansop: Cofounder , Vitamin C&S Coaching
- Garry Cooper: CEO/ Co-Founder , Rheaply
- Gary Gaessler: SaaS Community Builder, Nylas, Co-Founder of CloudElements
- Gavenraj Sodhi: Senior Product Manager, Hitach Vantara
- Gavin Martin: Founding Partner, onPurpose Growth
- Genevieve Thiers: Founder, Sittercity
- George Powell: Founder, CEO, Easy Beauty
- George Khalife: Vice President, U.S. Capital Formation, Toronto Stock Exchange
- Greg Jaros: Founder & CEO, PocketKnock
- Heather Holmes: CEO & Founder, Genivity
- Jacqueline Kuehl: Managing Director, Digital Marketing Concentration, DePaul University
- Jason Randolph: Senior Vice President Marketing & Strategic Growth, Tradier
- Jason Jacobsohn: Managing Director, Propellant Ventures
- Jed Abernethy: Corporate Innovation and Startup Executive, Entrepreneur / Digital Transformation
- Jeff Lyons: Operating Director, City Capital Advisors, LLC
- Jeff Hyman: Chief Talent Officer, Strong Suit Executive Search
- Jeff Weber: Founder, Chalenj
- Jeffrey Coney: Executive Coach and Mentor
- Jeremy Baras: Director of Business Development, Startup Space
- Jill Miller: CEO, Lunum
- Joe Bezdek: Co-founder, DivX, Inc.
- Joe Born: CEO, Aiwa Corp.
- Joe Lee: CEO, Inverse
- John Dallas: CEO, Enclave Academy and Hillview Partners Network LLC
- John Ernst: Chief Growth & Technology Officer, Founder, Advisor, Entrepreneur, Executive
- June W Choi: Managing Partner, Serval Ventures
- Karim Djerboa: Business Development Specialist, MAVENTERSE
- Katie Hench: Co-Founder, Infiniteach
- Kelly Fitzsimmons: Co-Founder, Custom Reality Services
- Kevin Taylor: Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship, Stetson University
- Kim Rubenstein: Cofounder, Chief Research + Product, Compatibility
- Kord Kutchins: Principal, Base-K Venture Partners
- Laurence Hayward: Partner, Independence Equity
- Lavina Ramkissoon: AI Ethics and Technology Policy, African Union
- Louis Morales: President, The Catnip Times
- Marisa Bryce: CEO, Lightning Snow
- Mark Achler: Managing Director, Math Venture Partners
- Mark Phinick: Founder, Let's Make It Rain
- Marsha McVicker: Founder & CEO
- Marshall Stanton: Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer, Catalina Marketing Corporation
- Matt Mandell: Principal, PayNerd.com
- Matthew Miller: Director, Product Strategy & UX, Digital Intent
- Matthew Willis: COO Americas & General Counsel, Green Planet Group
- Meghan Hoover: CEO, SceneSave
- Michael Carruth: President/Founder, Fiodan Corporation
- Michael Kramer: Founder and CEO, ManageHub, Inc.
- Michael Kelly: CEO , DeveloperTown
- Michael Carney: President, MWC Accounting
- Michael Lamb: Co-Founder & President, nativeMSG
- Mike Kritzman: Founder & CEO, SkillNet
- Mike Anguiano: Founder, SupplyHive
- Mindi Knebel: Founder & CEO, Kaizan Health
- Mohammad Hossein Tavangar: Director , Founder Institute Germany
- Neil Kane: Founder & President, Illinois Partners, LLC
- Nicholas Freemen: Co-founder & Chief Growth Officer, Innovare
- Nicole Loftus: Founder & CEO, Pop Venture
- Parminder Batra: CEO, TraknProtect
- Patricia Riskind: Head of Global Healthcare, Qualtrics
- Peter Tapling: Managing Director, PTap Advisory, LLC
- Phil Leslie: Managing Partner, Workbox Ventures
- Pinaki Saha: Founder & CEO, Anshar Labs
- Rajesh Voddiraju: Founder & Group President, HealthiPASS Inc
- Reva Minkoff: Founder and President, DigitalGroundUp Inc. and Digital4Startups Inc.
- Rinku Patel: CxO Executive Business Partner and Advisor, OSKMG LLC
- Ronald Franczyk: CTO & Partner, Red Foundry
- Ross Kimbarovsky: Founder and CEO, crowdspring
- Ryan Jeffery: MR, gener8tor
- Sagar Pande: Co-founder, Blaze Power
- Sanjaykumar Patel: Founder & Principal IP Attorney, EXCELON IP - Patent & Trademark Attorneys
- Scott Issen: President & CEO, Future Founders
- Shaniqua Davis: CEO and Founder, Noirefy
- Shawn Park: Founders Team Associate, P33
- Stephen Meade: Founder & CEO, MonetaPro
- Sukhi Singh: Managing Director, SSS Ventures
- Ted Greene: Partner, Old Willow Partners
- Timothy Kelley: CEO, TeleRay
- Tokiah Kennedy: Head of Platform (S4P), Spotify
- Tom Giles: Founder, Megatron Ventures
- Ujjwal Gupta: Cofounder & COO, BenchPrep
- Vern Chan: Certified Startup Coach, Your Pivot
- Vladimir Pletyukhin: Founder and Creative Director, Launch Deck
- William Furlong: Founder & CEO, SquareStack
- William Mortimore: CEO, Project Foundry
- Yarin Gaon: Strategy & Marketing Specialist, Y.G.
- Yemi Oluseun: Growth & GTM For FinTechs, The Change Hive
- 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.
