About us
Startup Founder 101 brings together aspiring and experienced tech entrepreneurs to discuss, meet, and collaborate to build great new startups, and to push the local startup ecosystem forward.\
\
This group hosts numerous free events throughout the year where you can learn the best practices of starting a company from people who have been there and done that. You’ll have the opportunity to meet local founders and investors, exchange ideas with experts, get feedback on your idea, participate in startup workshops, and more.\
\
Typical startup event topics include:\
• Coming up with a strong startup idea\
• Startup legal basics\
• How to pitch your startup\
• Starting a company without quitting your day job\
• How to raise funding for your startup\
• And much more!\
\
Join the group to be invited to our next event!
Upcoming events
2
Growing Innovation Districts through Regional & Private Partnerships
·OnlineOnlineInnovation districts thrive when they are not isolated but instead connected to broader networks. By leveraging regional and private partnerships, these districts can tap into global talent, investors, and mentors, accelerating growth and fostering innovation. Using Penn West as a successful example, this session will demonstrate how collaboration between local governments and private enterprises can create vibrant ecosystems that attract resources from beyond local boundaries. Learn how these strategic partnerships can transform innovation districts into dynamic hubs for startup success and economic growth.
❯ What You'll Learn:
- Learn how local governments and private companies can work together effectively.
- Understand how connecting with global networks can drive growth and innovation.
- Discover how partnerships can create long-term economic success for innovation districts.
❯❯ RSVP now at 👉 https://fi.co/startupwebinar/22895 to get your link and join us live!
❯ Featured Experts:
- Paul O'Brien - Head of Public Affairs @ Founder Institute: a startup economist and ecosystem strategist with 25 years in venture capital, public policy, and economic development.
- Elizabeth Packer - Director of Economic Development @ Golden Triangle: an urban planner and economic development strategist with more than a decade of experience advancing entrepreneurship, investment, and community revitalization.
- Guc Ozenci - Innovation Partner at Founder Institute: Managing Director of Founder Institute in Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia, where he has built a portfolio of over 40 early-stage companies.
- Adam Lattimore - Director of Technology and Innovation at the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development: an experienced leader with over 10 years in the nonprofit and government sectors.
❯ Who Should Attend?
If you work in economic development, government, or civic leadership, this is not another “innovation showcase.” It’s a reckoning with what your region needs to stop doing, and what you must do next, if you want your founders to thrive and your city to serve and attract venture capital to close the gap on the challenges entrepreneurs there have finding it.❯❯ Don’t miss this live, interactive online event packed with valuable insights! RSVP now at 👉 https://fi.co/startupwebinar/22895 to get your link and join us live!
1 attendee
Build Your AI-Powered MVP in 90 Minutes with Lovable
·OnlineOnlineYou have an idea that will not leave you alone, and now it is time to turn it into something people can actually click, explore, and respond to. In this 90-minute, hands-on Founder Institute session, we will walk through how to build your first MVP and landing page with Lovable, from Figma designs all the way to real AI features powered by Gemini or OpenAI.
We will move step by step, keeping things practical and accessible, even if you do not consider yourself technical. You will see how to turn early drafts into clear screens, how to think in user journeys instead of isolated features, and how to use AI as a real engine for value, not just as a buzzword.
❯ Guest Speakers include Kasia Sadowska (Founder, FutureHabits Tech).
❯ You will learn how to:
- Turn a product idea into a simple, testable MVP scope and user flow
- Use Lovable to generate clean interfaces and responsive landing pages
- Move from Figma designs to working screens without getting stuck in handover chaos
- Craft effective prompt templates for Lovable so it builds what you actually need
- Connect your app to Gemini or OpenAI to implement AI features such as chat, assistants, or smart forms
- Avoid common early-stage mistakes so you can launch, learn, and iterate faster
This session is designed for early-stage founders, builders, and curious innovators who want to stop planning endlessly and start shipping. Come with an idea and leave with a clear path, practical templates, and the confidence to build your own AI-powered MVP.
❯❯ This is a live, interactive online event, so be sure to RSVP at https://fi.co/e/387198/meetup to receive the Zoom URL to join us live!
7 attendees
Past events
356
