Founder Institute

The Founder Institute (FI) is the world's largest pre-seed startup accelerator, founded in 2009 by Adeo Ressi and Jonathan Greechan. Its mission is to empower talented founders to build impactful and enduring technology companies globally. FI's investment thesis centers on identifying and supporting promising individuals at the earliest stages of their entrepreneurial journey, often before they even have a fully formed idea or team. They focus on founder development, providing a structured curriculum, expert mentorship, and a global network to help entrepreneurs validate their ideas, build their initial product, and raise pre-seed funding.

FI operates a flagship four-month program that guides founders through a rigorous process of idea validation, business model development, and pitch refinement. This program culminates in a 'Graduation' where founders are prepared to launch their companies and seek external investment. Unlike many accelerators, FI takes a unique approach to equity, utilizing a 'shared liquidity pool' model where all graduates contribute a small percentage of equity to a pool that is then distributed back to all participating founders, mentors, and local leaders. This fosters a strong sense of community and mutual support among its alumni.

Geographically, FI has a truly global footprint, with chapters in over 200 cities across more than 90 countries. This extensive reach allows them to tap into diverse talent pools and support local innovation ecosystems worldwide. While they invest across various industries, their focus is consistently on technology-driven startups with high growth potential. Notable portfolio companies include Udemy, Traveloka, and App Annie, demonstrating their ability to identify and nurture successful ventures from their nascent stages. What makes FI stand out is its emphasis on individual founder development, its global scale, and its unique shared liquidity pool model, which aligns incentives across its entire ecosystem.

Palo Alto, California, USA Founded 2009

Open Programs

Future Innovators 2025

Founder Institute
Empowering displaced individuals to build new technology businesses, transforming potential into global impact.

Past Programs

Washington DC Spring 2025

Founder Institute
The flagship 'FI Core' program provides structured sprints and constant feedback to help pre-seed startups achieve milestones for investment and growth. This program is Virtual First, combining online and in-person events.

FI Core Program

Founder Institute
Reach investment and growth milestones through structured sprints and constant feedback in our Virtual First program.

Founder Institute

Founder Institute
Great Companies Start with Great People: The pre-seed accelerator focused on founder potential, not just ideas.

VC Lab Emerging Institute Cohort 3

Founder Institute
Empowering emerging fund managers with institutional fundraising strategies and data-driven insights.

VC Lab Cohort 19

Founder Institute
Launch and scale your venture capital fund with expert guidance and a proven framework.

Silicon Valley Fall 2025

Founder Institute
Launch and scale your startup with structured sprints, constant feedback, and a global network, all virtually.

Austria Fall 2025

Founder Institute
Build your startup with structured sprints, expert feedback, and a global network in this 'Virtual First' accelerator.

Founder Institute Silicon Valley Fall 2025

Founder Institute
Launch your startup with Silicon Valley's rigorous, globally connected pre-seed accelerator.

Los Angeles Fall 2025

Founder Institute
Accelerate your pre-seed startup with structured sprints and expert feedback in a 'Virtual First' program.

VC Lab Cohort 18

Founder Institute
Launch and grow your venture capital fund with VC Lab's intensive pre-seed program.

Houston Spring 2025

Founder Institute
Transforming aspiring entrepreneurs into successful founders, in-person.