Bring the Founder Institute Accelerator to Your City

The Founder Institute is the world's most proven network to turn ideas into fundable startups, and startups into global businesses.

Fully Virtual

Program Dates

Oct 09, 2025 Nov 20, 2025

Early Deadline

Jul 27, 2025

The Core Experience

Founder Institute is looking for ecosystem builders, startup event organizers, seasoned founders and startup investors to apply to Accelerator Lab and become FI leaders in their city or country.

Step 1: Apply and Get Invited to Become an FI Leader

Tell us about your startup experience, ecosystem involvement and why you want to help run an FI accelerator.

Complete the Entrepreneur DNA Assessment (used across the FI Network).

Step 2: Build a Team or Join an Existing FI Chapter

Recruit or Join a strong team that includes an 1) ecosystem builder; 2) exited founder; 3) operator & event organizer.

Define roles and responsibilities; identify and fill missing skills by adding new team members.

Step 3: Complete a 6-Week Training in Accelerator Lab

Learn how FI chapters operate and work with the FI HQ team to achieve your weekly targets and bring FI to your city.

Organize your first startup event in your city. Start building an FI community of mentors, partners and investors.

Learn more about FI core

Session Calendar

Below are the dates for the upcoming Accelerator Lab program for new FI leaders in training. Apply to join the next cohort.

Welcome

Oct 09, 2025

08:00am PDT

Team Formation

Oct 16, 2025

08:00am PDT

Mentors & Partners

Oct 30, 2025

08:00am PDT

View Full curriculum

Featured Grad

From our Silicon Valley chapter, Udemy is the global leader in online learning, with nearly 200,000 courses. The company went public on the NASDAQ in October 2021, raising $421 million.

The real question is: can the Founder Institute be game-changing for your business? The answer is yes. Without FI, Udemy may have never raised any money.

Gagan Biyani

Udemy (IPO, 2021)

See more Grads

Join an Online Information Session

Sign up for an upcoming info session to learn more and chat with our team. There are several sessions per week across most time zones.

Events

Join us for an upcoming event - local or global - to meet other leaders, founders and experts. Learn what you need to know now to run an FI chapter.

How to Maximize Angel Returns with the New Investment Models, featuring NuFund

Jun 18, 2025

10:00am PDT

Founder Institute Online Information Session

Various Dates

Various Times

See more Events

Leadership

Our Accelerator Lab leadership team are experienced accelerator managers who will take you through the training and onboarding in Accelerator Lab.

Janet Todorova

Head of Expansion @ Founder Institute

Ryan Micheletti

Head of Global Operations @ Founder Institute

Scout Tweedie-Yates

Senior Regional Success Manager @ Founder Institute

Simona Irmova

Program Associate @ Founder Institute

What are the Benefits?

FI Leaders are the face of the Founder Institute in the local startup ecosystem. By leveraging our global brand you can get recognition, speaking opportunities & media coverage. The startups you bring in the FI accelerator become your portfolio companies & you get a share in their equity returns.

Become the face of the Founder Institute in your startup ecosystem, build a strong startup network.

Join a global network of 500+ Founder Institute Leaders in 100+ countries across 6 continents.

Mentor and support the startups in the FI accelerator and get compensated with equity.

FI Accelerator Lab Mentors

Meet the FI HQ team that will support you with Marketing, Admissions, Operations, Portfolio Management and more.

Jonathan Greechan

Co-Founder & CEO @ Founder Institute

Megan Todd

Head of Admissions @ Founder Institute

Ayhan K. Isaacs

Head of Global Growth @ Founder Institute

See all Accelerator Lab Mentors

FI Partners

Get special deals and support worth over $3 million from top support organizations and partners.

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The Founder Institute is the world’s most proven network to turn ideas into fundable startups, and startups into global businesses. Since 2009, our structured accelerator programs have helped over 7,800 entrepreneurs raise over $1.85BN in funding. Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 100 countries, our mission is to empower communities of talented and motivated people to build impactful technology companies worldwide.