The Founder Institute, the world's premier startup launch program, is currently exploring a new semester launch in Philadelphia 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 14, 2025), the Founder Institute will formally launch a 2017 program in your city.
To test the demand for a Philadelphia Fall 2025 program, the Founder Institute will host several FREE startup events in Philadelphia:
- Founder’s Guide to AI: Using Agentic Workflows to Automate Repetitive Tasks: 1:00pm, Jul 23, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/373647
- Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
- Best Practices on Building Innovation Hubs for Universities & Colleges: 1:00pm, Jul 24, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/375991
- Responsible AI for Startups: Frameworks You Can Apply from Day One: 1:00pm, Jul 28, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/376146
- Entrepreneurship Education: Lessons from Startup Accelerators: 1:00pm, Aug 07, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/375357
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 1:00pm, Aug 11, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/374638
- Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 1:00pm, Aug 18, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/374842
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 1:00pm, Aug 25, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/375494
- Ask an Investor Anything: Q&A with Rich Maloy: 8:00pm, Sep 08, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/376599
- How to Get Investors to Notice Your Startup: AMA with Marta Marrucco: 1:00pm, Sep 17, 2025 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/373883
Leading the Founder Institute's efforts in Philadelphia are local startup leaders Kevin Siskar (Managing Director, Founder Institute New York), Brendan O'Hara (startup consultant), and Kathleen Klasnic (Advanced Electronics Global Manager of Knowledge Operations, McKinsey & Company).
Other successful entrepreneurs who have pledged their support to mentor founders in a Philadelphia Founder Institute program include:
- Abdellah Aouf: Chief Executive Officer, GO PLATFORM
- Adam House
- Albert Whale: Founder & CEO, IT Security Solutions
- Alfred Poor: Keynote speaker and virtual event expert, The Health Tech Futurist
- Anshuman Gwal: Managing Partner, Brightside Partners
- Arcui Usoara: Founder/CEO, Iaculus
- Barbara Anne Gardenhire-Mills, MSEL, PCC, CPQC®, CELC: Founder & Owner, Purpose-Filled Solutions & Evolutions
- Ben Stacey: CEO, Pitchverk
- Ben Williams
- Bhaskar Ahuja: CEO, Sand Hill Road Technologies Fund
- Bill Rivkin: Virtual Relationship Manager |non-dilutive funding, Citizens Bank
- Bill Goodwin
- Bo Motlagh: Co-Founder, Managing Partner, UE Venture Studios
- Bobbi Muscara: CEO - Director of Education, Ledger Academy
- Bonnie Ravina: Startup Advisor, Connector, Market Readiness , Full Circle: 360 Marketing
- Brad Messer: ., .
- Brian Slough
- Carl Starkey: Co-Founder & CEO, AWSM Sauce Co
- Chris Morris
- Chris Couchoud
- Christian Behl: International Business Development, Cognition IP
- Chuck Sacco
- Dan Evans
- Daniel Nelson: Recovering Accountant, Startup Economics
- Daniel Ritterman: CEO & Founder, MainLineDelivery (acquired by Square)
- Daria Duda: Product Marketing Strategy Consultant, OutsideIN
- David Lasus: CEO, Heart + Paw
- David Stengle: CEO & Founder , Board++
- David Postolski: Partner, Gearhart Law
- Debjit Saha: Co-Founder, HomeAbroad Inc.
- Deep Parmar: Founding Partner, Caramel Advisors LLC
- Deka Dike: Founder & CEO, Omatochi
- Don Samoil: Managing Partner, Trusted Scale
- Don Pancoe: Chief Blinker, Blinkenlights Technologies
- Drew Chapin: Partner, The Discoverability Company
- Dustin Betz: Director of Operations, White Rose Ventures
- Elena Mlotok: General Manager, Head of EU Newsstand, Amazon
- Elizabeth Planet
- Ellen Weber: Executive Director, Robin Hood Ventures
- Eric Torigian: CEO and Managing Director, Advisory Services, CHRO Solutions
- Flyn Penoyer
- Francisco Marinaro: Ceo & Chariman, Afront Digiatl LTD
- Frank Jacquette
- Franklin Kamnang Ngansop: Co-founder , Vitamin C&S Coaching
- Garry Johnson
- Gary Cohen: Owner, Practical Agility LLC
- Geoffrey Kent: Founder and CEO, I left corporate America 24 years ago, and launched my current venture (Think Big with Geoffrey Kent) 4 years ago.
- Greg Mester: President, Idea Communication Networks, Inc.
- Heather Lawver: Founder & CEO, Ceemo
- Helen De La Rosa: FI Mentor, Founders Institute
- Holly La Porte
- Isabelle Kent
- Isaiah Jenkins
- Jacob Barhak: Sole Proprietor, Software Developer, and Computational Disease Modeler, Jacob Barhak Analytics
- Jay Aigner
- Jedidiah Weller: CEO, OpenForge
- Jennifer Marion
- Joan Popolo
- Joel Ginsparg: Managing Partner, Firelight Partners, LLC
- John De Marco
- John Weathers: Business Development & Research Consultant | Board Member | Co-Founder & Director, Vizmoo.com | BenchK12.com | The Cultural Bridge Project
- John Gies: Business Growth Strategist, RAS - Squared
- John Gamba
- John Steele
- Jon Zaikowski: Assistant Director, New York Angels
- Jon Wonnell: CEO, Transformative Sciences LLC
- June W Choi: Managing Partner, Serval Ventures
- Justin Bean
- Karen Robinson: Pitch Deck & Data Room Advisor, Karen Robinson Consulting
- Karina Sotnik: Founder/CEO, WorldUpstart
- Kostas Karolemeas: Founder, CEO, Allcancode
- Leon Degtar, Degtar Consulting
- Mac Goswami: Senior Technical Program Manager, Fiserv Inc
- Mara Schwartz
- Mario Casabona: Angel Investor, Casabona Ventures
- Mark Mc Anallen
- Mark Crouse, Cohesion Crafted
- Martina Truche: Healthcare Innovator , Space Medicine Enthusiast
- Matiullah Rahmaty: Founder/President , BrightPoint Consulting Services
- Matt Salerno
- Max Thalheimer: Co-Founder & CEO, Fynd
- Melissa Li: Managing Partner and Head of Community, Dorm Room Fund
- Mellie Chow: Venture Partner, Archangel Axion
- Mellie Chow: Venture Partner, Axion Fund
- Michael Bertoni: Founder and CEO, SaaS Talent
- Michael Spidaliere: Principal, First Time Founder Capital
- Michael Cirino
- Michael Kainatsky
- Michelle Peters: Co-Founder & CEO, Supplino
- Mo Zerban
- Mohammed Kashif: Senior Quality Assurance Automation Engineer, Department of Motor Vehicles
- Nadia Al-Banna, PHD, MBA: Senior Director of Product and Business Development, Allarta Life Science
- Nadine Campbell: Founder, ACE Entrepreneurs
- Nareg Soghomonian
- Nate Hecker: CEO, Big Idea, Inc.
- Nathan Mancine: FI Mentor, LeanTaaS
- Noah Wallach: Founder, Hope OS
- Orly Zeewy: Brand Strategist, Zeewy Brands
- Owen Occhetti: Consultant, Avant Technology Group
- Ozan Sonmez: Co-Founder, Brutally Honest Group
- Pam Knox: CEO/Chief Strategist, Pam Knox LLC
- Patrick Thompson: Founder, Bootstrap First Incubator
- Paul Mosenson: Owner, NuSpark Consulting and NuSpark Media
- Pete Biggam: Director / Mentor / Advisor, Founder Institute
- Peter Yeargin: Founder & CEO, Sage SEO
- Peter Chmiel: Owner, Cutting Edge Consulting
- Raghu Rao: CEO, Splitbyte Inc
- Raj Sahu: Founder and CEO at , Utobo Inc
- Rajat Kapur
- Rajiv Madhok: Founder, Oorja
- Rajprasath Subramanian: Principal Enterprise architect and Start-up Advisor, SAP
- Randy Fisher: CEO, Expand to New Markets
- Raoul Davis: CEO, Ascendant Group
- Rich Heckelmann: Marketing Specialist , Forward Vision Consulting
- Richard Ward, MYXFUND
- Robert Edelstein: Advisor / Owner , Inflection Point
- Robert Stinsa
- Ronda Siegel: Partner, RSiegel Consulting LLC
- Ryan Long: CPO & Founder, OnPurpose Studio
- Ryan Alcorn: Co-founder & CEO, GrantExec
- Ryan Frankel
- Ryan Hummel
- Sameer Babbar: Director, SVB Group
- Sanjaykumar Patel: Founder -Patent & Trademark Attorney, EXCELON IP - Patent & Trademark Attorneys
- Sara Ledterman: General Partner, 3+ Ventures
- Scott Wittrock: Fractional CPO, Head for Product
- Sean Adams: Head of Sales & Partnerships, iorad
- Seth Goldstein: Principal Creative Director, Goldstein Media LLC
- Shaun Gold: Entrepreneur, storyteller, GP at Improve Ventures, Improve Ventures
- Sina Roshan: Cofounder & CPO, Peekage (Techstars 2020)
- Soujanya Mukka: Founder and CEO , MyB2BNetwork
- Stacy Kimmel: Independant Consultant , FoodVisors LLC
- Stefanie Smith: Founder, Double S Consulting
- Stefanos Damianakis: President, Zaruko Advisors
- Stephan Thomas: Managing Partner, Artimon3D
- Stephen Spivak
- Sushma Rajagopalan
- Tanya Williamson: Chief Visionary Officer , Tanya Williamson
- Tim Dodd: Founder, JTD Group
- T.J. Butler: Founder, 45 Solutions
- Tovit Neizer: Chief Storyteller, Yellow Bricks
- Trevor Longino: Founder & CEO, CrowdTamers
- Vincent Perez: Strategic Management & Corporate Development, Penn State
- Vipin Makhija: Founder, Mentor, Advisor, Kast
- Vladimir Pletyukhin: Founder and Creative Director, Launch Deck
- Wendy Moore: Founder & CEO, Eleve Talent
- Xan Hong: Owner, Drive Phase Consulting
- Yemi Oluseun: Growth & GTM For FinTechs, The Change Hive
- Yousif Memon
- Zach Messler: Founder, 26th Letter LLC (zachmessler.com)
- Zave Smith: Co-Founder and CEO, xBound
- Zoe Qiao
- 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.
(Philadelphia downtown cityscape with Schuylkill River, United States image by Shutterstock)
