Mentor the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs

Join the world's largest startup advisory network and receive equity upside

Join the world's largest startup advisory network, and mentor alongside top experts like...

Jason Calacanis

Launch

Eric Reis

Lean Startup

Gina Bianchini

Mightybell

Phil Libin

Evernote

Benefits of Mentorship

Go beyond simply "giving back" to your startup community

Network with other startup thought leaders

Join exclusive events such as our Venture Trailblazers and FounderX series

Increase your brand presence locally and globally

Mentors typically spend a few hours per month working with the local program, but the total time commitment is flexible and at your discretion.

How Mentors Support our Programs

Our Mentors help in several ways:

Provide Office Hours to Founders

Meet one-on-one with founders and offer advice, connections, and feedback

Present during our Sessions

Give impactful presentations on our weekly Growth Sprint topic

Critique Founder pitches

Provide critical feedback on Founder pitches

Participate in Events

Sit on panel events and attend local networking events

Refer Founders

Create a stronger startup ecosystem when local founders participate in our program

Mentor Compensation

Mentors join our Equity Collective, where they participate in our alumni's success. After successfully mentoring for your local chapter, you are invited to mentor other world chapters, where you can participate in the success of those programs as well.

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2.5% Contributions

0.5%

Mentors

Local Leaders

FI HQ

Global Startup Mentor Awards

Founder Institute highlights the top mentors devoting time and energy to make an impact on the next generation of startups. View our recent Nominees and Winners.

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Build your startup with AI agents doing the work

Join the FI Agentic Program: an AI-powered curriculum, world-class mentors, and free AI agents to turn your idea into a fundable company.

9,000+ companies launched since 2009

Turn your idea into the next unicorn

Our programs helped launch Udemy, Esusu, and thousands more, with a portfolio worth an estimated $20B. Yours could be next.

200+ cities and 95 countries

Join the world's largest agentic company builder

A global network of founders, mentors, and investors building enduring companies, with free AI agents to help you do the work.

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The Founder Institute is the world’s largest agentic company builder, turning ideas into fundable startups, and startups into unicorns. Since 2009, the Founder Institute program has helped over 9,000 entrepreneurs build 9,000+ companies, including unicorns like Udemy and Esusu, raise over 2BN in funding, and grow a portfolio worth an estimated $20BN. Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 200+ cities and 95 countries, our mission is to empower communities of talented and motivated people to build impactful technology companies worldwide. Learn more about the Founder Institute.