Silicon Valley Winter 2019

Program Schedule

Our flagship 'FI Core' program combines structured sprints with constant feedback to help you reach the milestones needed for investment and growth.

Nov 11

Early Application Deadline

Dec 16

Final Application Deadline

Jan 08 06:30 pm week 1

Orientation

During the Accelerator Kickoff, you will meet the Local Leaders and your cohort of Founders, and establish how your startup will use the program to push your business forward.

Date
Jan 08, 2019
Time
09:30pm EST

Sprints

Your cohort will be split up into the "Validate Track", "Launch Track" or "Growth Track", depending on each Founder's stage and existing progress.

The below deliverables are in addition to any custom "Epic Sprints" you may receive based on your specific challenges, and are just high-level previews of the 10-15 deliverables you'll complete through Working Groups and Office Hours:

Deliverables

Validate Track
  1. Introductions - Prepare concise introductions on your background, skillset, and goals in FI to share with the cohort.
  2. Office Hours - Book your first Office Hours with Local Leaders and Mentors to get guidance on the next steps for your business.
Launch Track
  1. Office Hours - Book your first Office Hours with Local Leaders and Mentors to get guidance on the next steps for your business.
  2. Hotseat Pitch - Prepare a one sentence verbal pitch for the weekly "Founder Hotseat", where you present to Mentors during the Feedback Sessions.
Traction track
  1. Hotseat Pitch - Book your first Office Hours with Local Leaders and Mentors to get guidance on the next steps for your business.
  2. Vision Statement - Create a 3-5 sentence "Why Statement" that tells a cohesive story about why your company exists, in preparation for Mentor Feedback during the next session.
Sprints
Research
Jan 09 06:30 pm week 1

Vision and Validation

Jan 16

Refund Deadline

Jan 16 06:30 pm week 2

Customer Development

Jan 23 06:30 pm week 3

Revenue

Feb 06 06:30 pm week 5

Branding and Design

Feb 13 06:30 pm week 6

Mentor Idea Review

Feb 20 06:30 pm week 7

Legal

Feb 27 06:30 pm week 8

Go-to-Market Planning

Mar 06 06:30 pm week 9

Product Development

Mar 20 06:30 pm week 11

Mentor Progress Review

Mar 27 06:30 pm week 12

Hiring and Onboarding

Apr 03 06:30 pm week 13

Growth

Apr 10 06:30 pm week 14

Equity and Funding

Apr 17 06:30 pm week 15

Leadership and Graduation

week 16+

Post Programs

Join CTA image

Apply to FI Core

Join the world's largest pre-seed startup accelerator

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.


Copyright © 2025, Founder Institute, Inc. All Rights Reserved