The Founder Institute (www.fi.co), the world’s largest entrepreneur training and startup launch program, announced today that it is officially launching two new chapters in South Florida - the Miami Founder Institute, and the Fort Lauderdale- Boca Raton Founder Institute. This simultaneous launch of two chapters in the same region is the first such launch in the Founder Institute’s history, and was prompted by an overwhelming demand of nearly 600 interested applicants in the region.
Applications to the first ever Miami and Fort Lauderdale-Boca Raton Founder Institute programs are open now, and anyone interested in launching a technology company is welcome to apply at http://fi.co/apply/miami or http://fi.co/apply/fort_lauderdale, respectively.
We typically like to stagger launches in the same region, but the tremendous response and support we have encountered in South Florida literally forced us to launch both Miami and Fort Lauderdale- Boca Raton chapters simultaneously,” says Adeo Ressi, Founder & CEO of the Founder Institute. “The region has all of the ingredients for a strong startup ecosystem - with a great mix of diversity, capital, universities, and large technology companies. Given the response we have seen, I have no doubt that the region can support both of these chapters, and provide expert training and mentorship to help produce top-notch companies."
Through the Founder Institute’s four-month program, promising entrepreneurs “learn by doing” and launch a company with structured training, expert feedback, and support from experienced startup CEOs. Since the program is part-time, it is also a great opportunity for full-time professionals to test and build their ideas before making “the leap” from employee to entrepreneur and quitting their jobs. Since 2009, over 1,650 companies worldwide 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 - including fast-rising startups across 6 continents like Udemy, Realty Mogul, iCarsClub, Itembase, goplaceit, Appota, and many more.
In order to celebrate the launch, the Founder Institute will host a series of free startup events for the general public:
- Miami Startup Co-Founder 101: How to Find the Right Partner (Tues, October 13, 6:30 PM)
- Fort Lauderdale Startup Ideation Bootcamp (Tues, October 13, 6:30 PM)
- How to Start a Startup in Fort Lauderdale (Tues, October 20, 6:30 PM)
- For more events, see http://fi.co/curriculum/miami and http://fi.co/curriculum/fort_lauderdale.
Leading the Founder Institute's efforts in Miami are Enrique Sierra, an executive-level leader and action-oriented consultant with broad experience in strategic modeling and implementation of ROI-driven businesses; Gustavo Fernandez, an Alternative Investments Fund Manager passionate about the innovative use of capital and technology to transform ideas into nimble, effective organizations; and Juan Meza, an innovation activist and mediator of entrepreneurship, profitability and social responsibility for Fortune 500 companies.
Leading the Founder Institute’s efforts in Fort Lauderdale are Mark Volchek, a successful entrepreneur that built a project from 3 founders on a college campus into a public company listed on NYSE; Rodolfo Novarini, a seasoned entrepreneur & intrapreneur with over 15 years of experience creating and growing billion dollar businesses; and Michel Triana, the founder of several successful technology companies, including Ninut, Advise.me, and Cine en Casa.
Other technology leaders who have signed on to mentor new entrepreneurs in these chapters include over 60 of South Florida’s top technology entrepreneurs. The full list of mentors for Miami and Fort Lauderdale can be viewed at http://fi.co/mentors/miami and http://fi.co/mentors/fort_lauderdale, respectively.
The Final Application Deadline for both South Florida chapters is on Sunday, November 22nd, but anyone who applies by the Early Application Deadline on Sunday, November 1st is eligible for a variety of scholarships - including the Female Founder Fellowship, which is offered to the best overall female applicant for each chapter.
Read the full press release here.
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About the Founder Institute
The Founder Institute (http://fi.co) is the world’s largest entrepreneur training and startup launch program, helping aspiring founders across the globe build enduring technology companies. In the Founder Institute's four-month, part-time program, promising startup entrepreneurs “learn by doing” and launch a company through structured training courses, practical business-building assignments, and expert feedback from a large network of business mentors. Plus, aspiring founders are not required to quit their day job to participate, so they can begin building a business around their ideas without putting their livelihood at risk. Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 100 cities and 45 countries, the Founder Institute has helped launch over 1,650 companies, which have created over 15,000 new jobs. The company's mission is to “Globalize Silicon Valley” and build sustainable startup ecosystems that will create one million new jobs worldwide.
