About us
The Startup Traction & Funding Network 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:
• Refining your startup idea
• Startup legal basics
• How to pitch your startup
• How to launch a global company
• How to raise funding for your startup
• And much more!
Join the group to be invited to our next event!
For information about the investors, incubators, and tech events available, see our list of Startup Resources (https://fi.co/startup_resources). Interested in perfecting your pitch? Read our Pitch Deck Guide (https://fi.co/pitch_deck) and download templates.
Upcoming events
5
What Startup Ecosystems Get Wrong, and How to Fix Them
·OnlineOnlineMost governments are getting startups wrong, and this is the conversation they've been avoiding. If your city is celebrating trivial startup events while founders quietly leave... if your programs optimize for attendance instead of outcomes... if capital keeps flowing but nothing compounds - then you're not building a sustainable ecosystem. On this live event, "Startup Economist" Paul O'Brien will provide a sharp, unapologetic deep dive into his new book, 'Startup Ecosystems' - already being called "the long-overdue operating manual for fixing how cities approach entrepreneurship".
❯ What You’ll Walk Away With
A completely different lens on how startup economies actually work (and why most don’t):- Why treating startups like small businesses quietly destroys both
- Why capital follows value (and what founders keep getting wrong about fundraising)
- Why copying Silicon Valley guarantees failure
- Why job creation targets kill early-stage innovation
- Why talent doesn’t follow programs — it follows optionality
- What metrics actually matter (and why most cities avoid them)
❯ Featured Speaker:
- Paul O'Brien - Author of the book Startup Ecosystems: Paul is the Founder of MediaTech Ventures, former Director of Founder Institute Texas, Writer at The Startup Economist, and has spent his career at the intersection of startups, venture capital, and public policy. As a founder, investor, accelerator leader, and policy strategist, he has built ecosystems from the inside and developed a rare, firsthand understanding of why most of them fail. His work spans legislative strategy, coalition building, and founder support across public, private, and civic sectors. Startup Ecosystems is the culmination of everything he has learned.
The Startup Ecosystems Book is an architectural examination of why startup ecosystems fail structurally, why capital behaves exactly as it is designed to, and why most regions are measuring the wrong things entirely. The patterns he documents don't point to bad intentions. They point to misaligned incentives, flawed design, and a stubborn unwillingness to distinguish innovation theater from actual value creation.
❯ Who Should Be There
If you have any role in shaping entrepreneurship, this isn’t optional:- Founders tired of performative ecosystems
- Investors trying to understand why regions stall
- Policymakers and economic developers funding the wrong things
- Accelerator and program leaders ready to be challenged
❯❯ Don’t miss this live, interactive online event packed with valuable insights! RSVP now at https://fi.co/startupwebinar/24281 to get your link and join us live!
4 attendees
Solo-Founder 101: How Anyone Can Start a Business Using AI
·OnlineOnlineSavvy entrepreneurs are using AI to augment their capabilities and move faster than ever before, with less resources. On this webinar with Jonathan Greechan (Co-Founder & CEO of Founder Institute, GP at Founder Capital), we'll share the prompts and processes solo-founders are using to supercharge processes like customer development, market research, product scoping, and more. Don't miss this opportunity to level up your toolkit and connect with fellow builders.
❯ What You'll Learn:
- How to use AI to stress-test your startup idea and run faster customer development.
- Specific prompts and tool combinations for market research, competitive analysis, and prototyping.
- How to craft and practice your pitch using AI, including building a full pitch deck with Claude Skills.
❯❯ RSVP now at https://fi.co/startupwebinar/23951 to get your link and join us live!
❯ Featured Speaker:
- Jonathan Greechan - Co-Founder & CEO of the Founder Institute - Jonathan Greechan is the Co-Founder & CEO of the Founder Institute, the world's largest pre-seed startup accelerator. Since 2009, he has grown and scaled the organization to chapters in over 200 cities and over 100 countries, producing over 8,900 portfolio companies with nearly $[total funding] in venture funding. In his long career in tech and marketing, Jonathan has advised thousands of startups on marketing, growth, and product strategy and has spoken at startup conferences on four continents.
❯ Who Should Attend?
- Aspiring founders who want to start a business but lack technical skills
- Entrepreneurs exploring how AI can accelerate their startup journey
- Professionals considering launching a side project or solo startup
- Early-stage founders interested in AI-powered workflows
Additional Resources:
Find more Startup Events, check our AI Tools for Startup Ideation and Validation, learn about the Entrepreneur DNA test or sign up for the Insights Newsletter to get the latest startup tips and trends.❯❯ Don’t miss this live, interactive online event packed with valuable insights! RSVP now at https://fi.co/startupwebinar/23951 to get your link and join us live!
6 attendees
AI & The Future of Work in Africa
·OnlineOnlineJoin the Founder Institute - Abuja for this free online event: "AI & The Future of Work in Africa." In a rapidly evolving landscape, AI is no longer a luxury—it's a necessity for African founders and professionals. We'll dive into how AI is reshaping local Tech industries, closing skill gaps, and creating new economic opportunities across the continent. Discover how to leverage emerging tech to scale your startup and stay competitive in a global market. Don't miss this chance to learn from top experts and network with Africa's tech leaders!
❯ Guest Speakers include:
- Dr Odiong Akpan (Digital Innovation Expert, Ubulu Africa)
- Pascal Okeke (Founder, Thrivora (Formerly StartupAnambra))
- Haris Ali (Founder and CEO, Vertechx Technologies)
❯ What You'll Learn:
- Strategic AI Integration
- The New Talent Landscape
- Productivity & Scaling
- Navigating Ethics & Policy
❯❯ This is a live, interactive online event, so be sure to RSVP at https://fi.co/e/380509/meetup to receive the Zoom URL to join us live!
20 attendees
Real Startup Lessons From FI Alumni Across the World
·OnlineOnlineIf you're building a startup, it's hard to know which advice actually matters — and which mistakes will cost you months (or years). This live, interactive Q&A brings together Founder Institute alumni from different regions who started exactly where you are today. They'll share what worked, what didn't, and what they would do differently if they were starting again. You'll hear honest perspectives on the FI accelerator experience, early traction, fundraising realities, and common founder traps — and you'll have the chance to ask your own questions.
❯ What You'll Learn:
- The different types of startup companies that go through Founder Institute
- The experience of being part of an accelerator program
- Success metrics that investors want to see
- The tactics required to build a strong startup
❯❯ RSVP now at https://fi.co/startupwebinar/23170 to get your link and join us live!
❯ Featured Speakers:
- Mario Edoardo Simmaco (FI Alumni) - CEO @ GreenAnt: Mario brings deep expertise in climate risk, governance, and entrepreneurship — holding an honours degree in Governance, Economics and Development from Leiden University College.
- GreenAnt is a climate risk platform that uses AI and radar satellite data to forecast floods, monitor crops, and deliver anticipatory insurance solutions to vulnerable communities worldwide.
- Maria Sucgang (FI Philippines Alumni) - CEO @ Remotify: Maria brings 20 years of leadership across APAC and EMEA — including roles supporting Apple, Tesla, and Netflix.
- Remotify is the Employer of Record platform built for the Philippines — handling hiring, payroll, and compliance so global companies can access top Filipino talent without setting up a local entity.
- Mustafa Al Momin (FI South Asia Alumni) - CEO @ Palki Motors: Mustafa is a second-time founder and Electrical Engineering graduate from Montana State University who sold his house to build his first EV prototype.
- Palki Motors is Bangladesh's first homegrown electric vehicle company, building affordable EVs purpose-built for commercial drivers.
❯❯ Don’t miss this live, interactive online event packed with valuable insights! RSVP now at https://fi.co/startupwebinar/23170 to get your link and join us live!
2 attendees
Past events
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