Founder Institute

Pre-seed startup accelerator that helps first-time and solo founders go from idea to funded company.

🇺🇸 Palo Alto, California (Silicon Valley) · Founded 2009 · 11–50 people

EstablishedStartup accelerationEntrepreneurship educationVenture capitalCorporate innovation

Founder Institute is a pre-seed startup accelerator founded in 2009 in Silicon Valley by Adeo Ressi and Jonathan Greechan. It helps aspiring, first-time and solo founders build technology companies using AI tools, a structured method and a global network of mentors and investors. It runs chapters in more than 200 cities across 95 countries. It also runs VC Lab for emerging fund managers and partner programs for corporations, universities and economic development bodies.

Open to

Hiring

The careers page lists remote, full-time roles in partnership sales, regional success and portfolio success.

Services

ServiceOpen for applications

FI Agentic Program

An accelerator program that turns an idea into a fundable company, with an AI-personalized curriculum and weekly mentor feedback.

Who it's for: Founders aged over 18 with a technology or technology-enabled business, between idea and early revenue

10 sessions plus a Demo Day
AI tools for the curriculum, deliverables and investor pitch practice
Founders pledge 2.5% of future equity to the Equity Collective, active only after $100,000 or more of outside funding

$1,199 USD entrance fee for the Silicon Valley cohort

Service

Bootcamps

Short, cohort-based online programs on topics such as Startup Ideation, Vibe Coding and AI Productivity.

Who it's for: Entrepreneurs, students and executives

Live feedback and training sessions with experts
Self-serve videos, AI tools and step-by-step sprints
No equity component

Free for enrolled Agentic founders, 50% discount for others

Service

Partner Programs

Innovation programs for corporations, universities and economic development bodies.

Who it's for: Corporations, universities and government bodies

Intrapreneurship and closed innovation
Startup scouting and open innovation
Uses the Founder Institute network, data and platform

Customers

Aspiring, first-time and solo founders building technology companies. Bootcamps also serve students and executives. Partner programs serve corporations, universities and economic development bodies.