Turn Your Idea into a Real AI Product. No Coding Required.
A free, hands-on bootcamp for Eastside entrepreneurs ready to scope, build, and launch a working MVP using AI tools in just 8 weeks.
Program Dates
Deadline
Jun 14, 2026
Why Enroll in the Startup425 AI Intensive?
The only regional bootcamp that combines hands-on AI product training with local support and real-world validation at a global stage.
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Expert Guidance from Experienced Builders and Mentors
- Live feedback, AMA sessions, and direct mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs and subject matter experts, including Jonathan Greechan, Co-Founder and CEO of the Founder Institute.
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Local Support, Global Exposure
- Startup425 connects you with Eastside area experts and resources, while top participants earn a spotlight at App Demo Day during Seattle Tech Week 2026.
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Receive Personalized Help from a Local Team
- Supported and operated through a partnership of 6 cities who are invested in your success. We're directly connected with resources throughout the region that can help you navigate specific challenges as you scope, build, and launch your product.
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A Structured Process to Go from Idea to Shipped MVP
- The Founder Institute's proven methodology gives you a clear path to define your customer, build with AI and no-code tools, launch to real users, and iterate — all in under 8 weeks.
Who Should Apply?
The Startup425 AI Bootcamp is designed for aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs from the Eastside who want to turn an idea into a real, working software product, no coding required.
- An aspiring entrepreneur with an idea, or just a curiosity - No finished concept or technical background needed. If you've wondered whether AI tools could bring your idea to life, this is where you start.
- Someone who wants to build a real product using AI - Ready to go beyond talking about AI and actually use it to scope, build, and launch a working MVP using tools like Replit, Lovable, and no-code platforms.
- A founder who wants to validate before going all-in - Test whether your idea solves a real problem using a structured process and real customer feedback before committing fully.
- Living in or building your business in a Startup425 partner city - Free for entrepreneurs in western Washington with preference given to those in a Startup425 partner city: Bellevue, Bothell, Issaquah, Kirkland, Redmond, or Renton.
Apply Now
Submit an application for the upcoming program
Program Mentors
Meet the mentors that will help you build your startup in the program.
Session Calendar
Below are the dates for the upcoming program
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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)
Powered by the Founder Institute
Based in Silicon Valley, the Founder Institute is the world's largest pre-seed startup accelerator. Since 2009, FI's accelerators have helped launch thousands of fast-growing, funded technology companies across nearly every geography, industry, and sector.
9,000+
Portfolio Companies
2BN+
Portfolio Company Funding
200+
Chapter Cities
100+
Chapter Countries
6
Continents
40,000+
Global Mentors & Advisors
Delivered via World Class Tools
Participants get access to the Founder Institute's 'FounderGen Platform' - the world's leading LMS for startup creation.
- Experiential learning and structured, action-oriented sprints
- Embedded videos, templates, and resources to help with every step of the business-building process
- State of the art AI tools to help students augment their capabilities and speed up progress
Frequently Asked Questions
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The Startup425 AI Intensive is a free, 9-session program running June through August 2026 that helps aspiring entrepreneurs from the Eastside build and launch a working AI-powered MVP. The program culminates with an in-person App Demo Day during Seattle Tech Week 2026, hosted by Jonathan Greechan, Co-Founder and CEO of the Founder Institute.
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The bootcamp is ideal for aspiring founders and early-stage entrepreneurs who want to build a real product using AI tools. Whether you have a polished idea or just a curiosity about what's possible, the program provides the structure, tools, and mentorship to move from concept to shipped product.
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No. The bootcamp is specifically designed for non-technical founders. You'll learn to use AI coding agents and no-code tools like Replit, Lovable, and n8n to build a fully functional product without writing code yourself.
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Yes. Startup425 is funded by a coalition of local cities and partners, meaning founders pay no fees and give up no equity to participate.
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The program includes 9 live online sessions, typically 2 hours each, plus weekly hands-on goals between sessions. Most participants spend 5 to 8 hours per week depending on how far along they want to push their product.
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You'll build a functional, deployed MVP, a real product with a live URL, user authentication, and real data, using AI tools and no-code platforms. By Demo Day, you'll have a working product you've tested with actual users.
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Absolutely. Many participants join with an idea they've been thinking about for a while, or an early prototype they want to properly scope and validate. The structured methodology helps at any starting point.
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The program prioritizes founders who live or operate in Bellevue, Bothell, Issaquah, Kirkland, Redmond, and Renton, but others may be considered depending on availability.
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Demo Day is a live in-person event during Seattle Tech Week 2026 on July 29 where top bootcamp participants present their AI-built products to an audience of founders, mentors, and community members, with Jonathan Greechan as special guest host. It's your first real stage.
Apply Now
Complete your Application Today
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