The Founder Institute, world's premier startup bootcamp for talented entrepreneurs, is now accepting applications for the Silicon Valley Fall 2025 Semester. The flagship Silicon Valley semester will now be in its 15th edition, with previous semesters having graduated great companies like Udemy, Retailigence, Cake Health, Getable, Breezy, Shopalize, Skimble, Yumvy, Spikes, and many more.
If you could benefit from expert training and advice to launch a technology startup in Silicon Valley, click here to apply today.
Those who apply by the Early Admissions Deadline (May 25, 2025) will have their application fees waived (typically $50) and are eligible for Founder Institute Fellowships.
In the Founder Institute's four-month, part-time program, promising startup entrepreneurs "learn by doing" and launch a company through structured training courses and expert feedback from a large network of business mentors. Plus, you are not required to quit you day job to participate, so you can begin building a business around your ideas without putting your livelihood at risk.
In order to celebrate the launch, the Silicon Valley Founder Institute will host a "Pre-Curriculum" of free startup events for the general public:
Silicon Valley Events:
- Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 5:00pm, May 05, 2025 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/369950
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 10:00am, May 26, 2025 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/370295
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 10:00am, Jun 02, 2025 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/370522
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 5:00pm, Jun 09, 2025 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/370728
Global or Regional Events:
- Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
- FI Alumni Panel: Meet Portfolio Companies and Ask Questions: 5:00pm, Apr 23, 2025 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/368784
- Investing in Change: Monique Woodard on Building the Future with Cake Ventures: 11:00am, Apr 24, 2025 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/369905
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 5:00pm, Apr 28, 2025 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/368782
- What is the DNA of an Entrepreneur? Insights from 15 Years of Research: 5:00pm, May 07, 2025 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/368780
- Corporate Innovation in Action: How to Overcome Roadblocks: 10:00am, May 08, 2025 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/371091
- Ask an Investor Anything: Q&A with Nathan Beckord: 10:00am, May 12, 2025 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/368778
- Future-proofing CPG Brands: Key Strategies for Sustainable Growth: 7:00am, May 15, 2025 (America/Los_Angeles): https://FI.co/e/371038
For the Silicon Valley Fall 2025 semester, a team of local Directors will bring fresh energy, international startup experience, intimate knowledge of the Founder Institute program and curriculum, and the personal support and network of Founder Institute CEO, Adeo Ressi. The directors include:
- Ana Baltodano: Ana Baltodano is the founder and CEO of Visualyst, an innovative social-retail destination for today's generation of online shoppers. She is also the co-founder of LocalHero, a friends-helping-friends location-based mobile application that connects people who need something with friends and people nearby who are more likely to be of help; and trip-Jane, the first social travel engine inside Facebook.
- Ryan Micheletti: Ryan Micheletti is the Regional Success Manager of the Americas at the Founder Institute, and is an Investor and Manager of Micheletti Enterprises, LLC, an investment company focused on early-stage startups, real estate, and bars. He is also the Director of Operations at Vet-Tech Startup Accelerator, the nation's leading entrepreneurship training center for military veterans.
- Tuyet Tan: Tuyet Tan is the Regional Success Manager of Asia at the Founder Institute. With considerable legal experience, Tuyet has functioned in a variety of legal roles, including Project Manager and Senior Research Associate at Mason Tillman Associates, Judicial Extern at San Francisco Superior Court, and contract attorney for numerous companies.
In addition, the Silicon Valley Founder Institute features some of the world's most experienced entrepreneurs as Mentors to help our new companies succeed. See the full list of mentors here.
In only 15 years of operation, over 7,500 graduate companies across 200 cities have used the Founder Institute to validate their idea, develop their plans, refine their product, build an advisory board, prepare for seed funding, and more.
