What we’re about
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
3
•OnlineFounder Showcase: Startup Pitch & Networking Event, with Jenny Fielding
OnlineThe Founder Showcase is Silicon Valley's leading international startup pitch event, helping pre-seed startups learn, launch, and connect with investors. At this interactive online event, you can watch the pitches of promising pre-seed startups from across the globe. We'll also have an inspiring keynote presentation from Jenny Fielding, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Everywhere Ventures, where she shares insights into the evolving startup funding landscape, her book Venture Everywhere, how to build a startup in the age of AI, and more. Stay after the pitches to network with international founders, investors, and executives.
❯❯ For complete event and speaker details, visit 👉 https://fi.co/startupwebinar/20979
❯ Keynote Speaker:
- Jenny Fielding - Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Everywhere Ventures - is one of the most active global pre-seed investors, having invested in 300+ companies as the first money in. As the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Everywhere Ventures, Jenny has built a thriving community of 500+ founders and operators who help source, diligence, and invest in the next generation of startups across three core verticals: money, health, and work.
❯ Featured Investors:
- Ignacio Marchionna - Director at Draper Startup House Americas - Prepares, connects, and inspires entrepreneurs through equity-free programs, networking events, and demo days across Latin America and New York City. He has supported 225+ founders through 25+ programs and co-leads early-stage investments via the Draper Startup House Angel Club.
- Aidan McKee - Executive Board Member at WaterWipes & Director of Recruitment & HR Talent Development at Integr8 Resources - Investor, business strategist, and board advisor, driving global business growth and organisational effectiveness. He has played a pivotal role in scaling WaterWipes from 24 to over 400 employees, aligning people strategy with business performance to achieve sustainable expansion.
❯ Featured Founder Pitches:
- Jai Chinnakonda - Founder & CEO at ENGAIZ
- Obinna Umeh - CEO at Growwr AI
- Abbas Ibrahim - CEO & Co-Founder at WeekOne
- Inderjeet Singh - Co-Founder at Jsmon
.
❯ About the Founder Showcase:
The Founder Showcase is Silicon Valley's leading international startup pitch event, helping seed-stage startups learn, launch, and connect to investors. Since 2008, speakers like Elon Musk and startups like Udemy and Thumbtack have presented on our stage. Learn more about this premier event at FounderShowcase.
.
❯❯ Don’t miss this live, interactive online event packed with valuable insights! RSVP now at 👉 https://fi.co/startupwebinar/20979
to get your link and join us live!10 attendees
•OnlineFI Midwest Fall 2025 Graduation: Meet the New Portfolio Companies
OnlineJoin us for the most recent Midwest Graduation, where you can see an inspiring talk by and a few debut presentations from the new Alumni. Learn about some of the companies that will go onto seed-accelerators, raise funding, and build the next great Midwest startups. There will also be an opportunity to network with other entrepreneurs and celebrate the new Graduates.
❯ Graduation Keynote Address:
- Nick Farina - Co-Founder & CEO of EeroQ - Nick Farina is co-founder and CEO of EeroQ, a Chicago-based company building a highly differentiated quantum computer using trapped electrons above the surface of liquid helium. Nick is also a founding member of the U.S. Quantum Industry Coalition. Prior launching EeroQ, Nick founded and exited GiftedHire, a job platform.
❯ We Proudly Announce the Following Graduating Companies:
- CraftPath - Skills based training and certification for trades people
- Createmyai - Tactical AI operator for backend workflow automations
- Doomsday Mode - The video-meeting platform that rebuilds how meetings work — restoring time, focus, and humanity to the workday
- DustOff Reset - Early warning system to prevent workplace burnout at call centers
- WAiK - Connected clinical checklist and narrative to capture data for nurses in senior care living facilities
❯❯ This is a live, interactive online event, so be sure to RSVP at https://fi.co/e/384387/meetup to receive the Zoom URL to join us live!
5 attendees
Founder Night Out: In-Person Startup Networking in Chicago
Moe's Cantina River North, 155 West Kinzie Street, Chicago, IL, USIf you have a startup idea or a growing company and you want to expand your network in Chicago, then join us for the in-person 'Founder Night Out' event. At this informal networking event, you can connect with other early-stage entrepreneurs, startup mentors, and advisors from the Founder Institute network. Socialize over drinks with potential co-founders, advisors, mentors and partners. Most of all, get away from the computer and have fun!
❯ Guests include:
- Jason Jacobsohn (Managing Director, Propellant Ventures)
- Andy Cwik (Co-Founder & CEO, hubub)
❯❯ This is an in-person event, so be sure to RSVP at https://FI.co/e/384980 to secure your spot and receive further details.
❯ Who should Attend?
- Anyone interested in entrepreneurship
- Anyone who has a pre-seed tech company or a startup idea
- Anyone interested in joining a startup accelerator
.
❯❯ This is an in-person event, so be sure to RSVP at https://FI.co/e/384980 to secure your spot and receive further details.35 attendees
Past events
781
