A Proven Methodology
Since 2009, the Founder Institute's highly-structured accelerator programs, innovative 'Equity Collective', and global network of advisors have been proven to significantly increase a startup's chances of success - across 100+ countries and in any economic environment.
The Problem
One of the biggest challenges entrepreneurs face is knowing what to focus on, and when - especially if you want to raise funding. Meanwhile, every minute you waste brings you closer to running out of time or money.
Our Solution
Our accelerator programs provide unparalleled structure to simplify the startup building process - and we combine it with feedback from the world's largest network of advisors, every step of the way.
Direction from Idea to Exit
Structured programs designed to provide targeted support across your startup journey.
FI Core Program
It all starts with our renowned Founder Institute 'Core Program', which combines aggressive growth sprints and constant feedback to help idea and pre-seed founders reach the milestones needed for investment and sustained growth.
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Make years of progress in just a few months through our proven, business-building Growth Sprints. No theoretical 'homework' here.
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Receive constant feedback and advice from experts through our live Weekly Feedback Sessions, Office Hours, and Working Groups.
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Get the push and accountability you need through weekly ratings, 360 degree reviews, and aggressive milestones.
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Expand your network and connect with entrepreneurs, advisors, and investors - both locally, and globally.
Founder Lab
After completing FI Core, Alumni get FREE access to our additional 'Founder Lab' virtual advisory programs run by our Silicon Valley Headquarters team. The goal of these programs is to continue to providing direction and feedback long after the Core Program ends.
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'Product/ Market Fit Lab' (re-launching in 2023) helps pre-product and early-product startups optimize their offering and finalize a sustainable engine for growth.
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'Funding Lab' (Live) helps startups ready to raise funding build an investor pipeline, manage their fundraising progress, negotiate terms, and secure a lead investor.
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Access private networking events, and get feedback from the world's largest network of mentors and investors (35,000+)
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Take advantage of over $2M in partner discounts, from services like Dell, AWS, Google, Stripe, and more.
FI Venture Network
When ready, Alumni can get featured on events and have their deals syndicated to a diverse pool of investors in the FI Venture Network - an exclusive network of investors actively funding pre-seed and seed-stage startups before anyone else.
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Get access to angels, accelerators, micro-funds, and syndicates that actually invest in startups at the earliest stages.
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Connect to the newest funds and emerging managers coming out of our sister company, VC Lab - an accelerator to launch venture funds.
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Pitch on FI Demo Days and the Founder Showcase, as well as partner pitch competitions and conferences.
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Share advice and see private ratings and reviews of investors across the globe (coming in 2024).
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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 BiyaniUdemy (IPO, 2021) -
Oddbox wouldn't exist without the Founder Institute. FI gave me the structure I needed to take Oddbox from idea to MVP but also pushed, challenged and guided me through the steps, insecurities and excitement of building an impact-led business.
Emilie VanpoperingheOddbox (£20M in funding) -
The Founder Institute was instrumental in helping us understand how to validate our idea in the market, and helped us develop the entrepreneurial mindset required to build a startup.
Renato PaquetPolen (top 10 in Open Startups Ranking)
Featured Portfolio Companies
FI Alumni have raised over $1.85BN in funding and have an estimated value over $20BN+.
Peerby
Peerby is a leading application in the 'sharing economy', enabling people to borrow the things they need from others in their neighborhood. They have raised more than $4.7M in funding.
WebsiteDaan Weddepohl
IPO'd
Udemy
Udemy is the global leader in online learning, with nearly 200,000 courses. The company went public on the NASDAQ in October 2021 (UDMY), raising $421 million.
WebsiteEren Bali, Gagan Biyani
FightCamp
FightCamp is the market-leading at home connected fitness device for boxing, kickboxing, and martial arts sports. They announced its $90M Series B in June 2021 from top investors.
WebsiteKhalil Zahar
Esusu
Esusu reports on-time rent payments to credit bureaus, helping renters boost their credit scores. They became a unicorn in January 2022 with SoftBank Vision Fund 2-led $130M Series B.
WebsiteRob Henning
Upright
Fund That Flip is a market-leading loans and first-class service for fix-and-flip, new construction, and rental properties. The company announced a $20M Series B round in November 2021.
WebsiteMatt Rodak
Unito
Unito is a no-code integration solution that allows you to connect your apps and automate your workflows in minutes. After raising $10.5M in 2020, the company scaled up quickly in 2021.
WebsiteMarc Boscher
Involve.ai
Involve AI helps prevent customer churn and grow revenue through customer intelligence to help companies proactively reach their goals. They closed a $16M Series A in August 2021.
WebsiteGaurav Bhattacharya, Gautam Bhattacharya, Saumya Bhatnagar
Xcapit
Xcapit is a Smart Wallet and fosters a culture of cryptocurrency savings among young people. They announced an ETH 43.7821 investment from UNICEF Innovation Fund in June 2021.
WebsiteJosé Ignacio Trajtenberg, Fernando Boiero
Acquired
VOA educação
VOA Educação helps educators to monitor socio-emotional development in students. The EdTech was acquired by Vivadí in Nov 2021 in a bet on consolidation of the Brazilian soft skills market.
WebsiteTiago Neves
Apply to FI Core
FI Core Programs are accepting applications in 70+ cities and verticals worldwide.
Our Global Network
We live in a global economy, so FI connects you to entrepreneurs, advisors, and investors across 200+ cities and 6 continents.
Making a Global Impact
The Founder Institute's mission is to empower communities of talented and motivated people to build technology businesses that positively impact the world, no matter their location, background, race, age, or sexual orientation.
Female Founder Initiative
The Female Founder Initiative was formed in 2016 to create more opportunities for women to build successful companies through Founder Institute’s global pre-seed accelerator program.
The Global FI Ecosystem
Our mission is to empower talented and motivated people to build businesses that matter, no matter their location, gender, or race. This mission requires a strong global community of entrepreneurs, ecosystem leaders, advisors, and investors... and we have built just that.
Building
Startups
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 7,500 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.