Silicon Valley Startup Launch Program is Looking for Entrepreneurs in Philadelphia

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 20, 2026), the Founder Institute will formally launch a 2017 program in your city.

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

The AI-Native Founder Revolution: Build Your Company Faster Than Ever : 12:00pm, Jul 08, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/401635
Venture Trailblazers featuring Tim Draper: 11:00am, Jul 09, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/402036
Go From Idea to Working App with AI, Featuring Adeo Ressi: 1:00pm, Jul 09, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/402164
Stop Overthinking and Build a Great Startup Idea: 12:00pm, Jul 20, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/398671
[Restricted] VIP Pitch Lounge: Pitch Live and Get Feedback from Investors & Advisors: 12:00pm, Jul 28, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/401154
Learn from AI-Native Solo Alumni: How FI Grads Built Without a Co-Founder: 12:00pm, Aug 04, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/398741
From Idea to Action: The Startup Mindset : 8:30am, Aug 10, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/398700
Stop Guessing, Start Raising: An Investor Q&A : 8:30pm, Aug 10, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/398643
Build a Startup Idea Investors Won’t Ignore: 8:00pm, Aug 18, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/398761
FounderX Silicon Valley 2026: Global Conference in San Francisco: 8:00pm, Aug 25, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/399742
What Makes Investors Say Yes: Startup Funding AMA: 12:00pm, Sep 01, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/398790
How to Build a Strong Pipeline of Entrepreneurs for your Innovation Hub: 12:00pm, Sep 15, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/398294
Break the Idea Loop and Decide What to Build: 8:00pm, Sep 21, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/398806
From Idea to Traction: Lessons From Global FI Alumni: 8:30pm, Oct 05, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/398821
From Dreamer to Doer: Build the Founder Mindset: 12:00pm, Oct 13, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/399051

See all upcoming events

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

Albert Whale: Founder & CEO, IT Security Solutions

Alfred Poor: Keynote speaker and virtual event expert, The Health Tech Futurist

Amit Bhanot: Venture Partner, Loyal VC

Anoop Anthore: Account Director - Sales , Salesforce

Arcui Usoara: Global Board Advisor and Brand Strategist, Founder, Iaculus

Barbara Anne Gardenhire-Mills, MSEL, PCC, CPQC®, CELC: Founder & Owner, Purpose-Filled Solutions & Evolutions®

Ben Stacey: CEO, Pitchverk

Ben Williams

Bill Rivkin: Virtual Relationship Manager |non-dilutive funding, Citizens Bank

Bill Goodwin

Bill Harper: CEO & Chief Creative Officer, BrandBossHQ

Bo Motlagh: Co-Founder, Managing Partner, UE Venture Studios

Bobbi Muscara: CEO - Director of Education, Ledger Academy

Bruno Bilik: Chief Revenue Officer, various B2B tech startups

Catia Nunes Fractional Growth Marketing Leader: Head of Growth, Strativise

Chris Morris

Christian Behl: International Business Development, Cognition IP

Chuck Sacco

Daniel Nelson: Recovering Accountant, Startup Economics

Daniel Ritterman: CEO & Founder, MainLineDelivery (acquired by Square)

Daniel Shires: Managing Director, Founder Institute

Daria Duda: Consultant, Product Marketing & Strategy, Outside In Marketing Strategy

David Lasus: CEO, Heart + Paw

David Stengle: CEO & Founder , Board++

David Postolski: Partner, Gearhart Law

Deana Graffeo Weeks

Deep Parmar: Founding Partner, Caramel Advisors LLC

Deka Dike: Founder & CEO, Omatochi

Dipa Tapadar: Tech & Data Leader | GenAI & AI/ML | Program/Portfolio Mgmt | ERP/CRM Transformation | Life Sciences, Pharma, Higher Ed, Cognizant Technology Solution

Dmitry Shmakov: Senior Software Engineer, Revenue Vessel

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

Ellen Weber: Executive Director, Robin Hood Ventures

Eric Torigian: CEO and Managing Director, Advisory Services, CHRO Solutions

Frank Jacquette

Franklin Kamnang Ngansop: Co-Founder, Vitamin CS Coaching

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.

Helen De La Rosa: FI Mentor, Founders Institute

Ike Nwabufo

Irina Cozma: Owner | Coach | Consultant , Irina Cozma Consulting LLC

Jack Healey

Jedidiah Weller: CEO, OpenForge

Jeffrey Garwood: VP Architecture Financial Services and Healthcare, Salesforce.com

Jerah Siegal

John Weathers: Business Development & Research Consultant | Board Member | Co-Founder & Director, Vizmoo.com | BenchK12.com | The Cultural Bridge Project

John Gamba

Jon Zaikowski: Assistant Director, New York Angels

Jon Wonnell: CEO, Transformative Sciences LLC

Justin Bean

Karen Robinson: Pitch Deck & Data Room Advisor, Karen Robinson Consulting

Karen Johnston

Kayode Kolawole: Director of Sales, Nagode Industries (a member of Afriglobal Group)

Laura Maiurano: CRO & Co-Founder, Fivefoottwo Marketing

Lawron Ballard: CPA, Hill Town Advisors

Mac Goswami: Senior Technical Program Manager, Fiserv Inc

Mansi Pathak

Mario Casabona: Angel Investor, Casabona Ventures

Martina Truche: Healthcare Innovator , Space Medicine Enthusiast

Matiullah Rahmaty: Founder/President , BrightPoint Consulting Services

Max Thalheimer: Co-Founder & CEO, Fynd

Melissa Li: Managing Partner and Head of Community, Dorm Room Fund

Mellie Chow: Venture Partner, Archangel Axion

Michael Bertoni: Founder and CEO, SaaS Talent

Michael Spidaliere: Principal, First Time Founder Capital

Michael Marks: Founder and CBDO, Catapult Corporate Growth

Michelle Peters: Co-Founder & CEO, Supplino

Nadia Al-Banna, PHD, MBA: Innovation Management Expert/Founder, , Value-N-Action Consulting

Nadine Campbell: Founder | Strategic Consultant , ACE Entrepreneurs

Nate Hecker: CEO, Big Idea, Inc.

Nathan Mancine: FI Mentor, LeanTaaS

Noah Wallach: Founder, Hope OS

Oluyomi Ojo: Founder, Cova

Oluyomi Ojo: CEO/Co-founder, Agora Visa

Orly Zeewy: Brand Strategist, Zeewy Brands

Owen Occhetti: Consultant, Avant Technology Group

Oz Merchant: CEO, Futureproof

Ozan Sonmez: Co-Founder, Brutally Honest Group

Pam Knox: CEO/Chief Strategist, Pam Knox LLC

PASCHAL OFFORDUM: Associate , Shujaa Capital

Patrick Clancey

Paul Mosenson: Owner, NuSpark Consulting and NuSpark Media

Pete Biggam: Director / Mentor / Advisor, Founder Institute

Peter Chmiel: Owner, Cutting Edge Consulting

Rafael Kartaszynski: CEO, TechEdge Dynamics

Raghu Rao: CEO, Splitbyte Inc

Rajiv Madhok: Founder, Oorja

Rajprasath Subramanian: Principal Enterprise architect and Start-up Advisor, SAP

Randy Fisher: CEO, Expand to New Markets

Raphael Gnn: Founder & CEO, SMMA Incubator & Ace Up Media

Rich Heckelmann: Mentor and Professional Consultant , Keystone Founders + Forward Vision Consulting

Ronda Siegel: Partner, RSiegel Consulting LLC

Ryan Long: CPO & Founder, OnPurpose Studio

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

Seth Goldstein: Principal Creative Director, Goldstein Media LLC

Shaun Gold: Entrepreneur, storyteller, GP at Improve Ventures, Improve Ventures

Sonya Trivedi: Founder and CEO, AIMAR

Soujanya Mukka: Founder and CEO , MyB2BNetwork

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

Temitope Dawodu: Growth Strategist , Amazon

Tim Dodd: Founder, JTD Group

Tobi Walter: Partner, Cofounders Capital

Tovit Neizer: Chief Storyteller, Yellow Bricks

Trevor Longino: Founder & CEO, CrowdTamers

Vincent Perez: Strategic Advisor | Venture, AI, and Ecosystem Strategy, Long View Partners

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

Zach Messler: Founder, 26th Letter LLC (zachmessler.com)

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.