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.\
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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.\
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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!\
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Join the group to be invited to our next event!
Upcoming events
4
FI Alumni Panel: Meet Founders of High-Growth Startups (Q&A + Networking)
·OnlineOnline✨ The decisions that shaped these companies were made when nobody was watching and nothing was certain. Founders from across the FI network walk through what they chose early, why, and how those choices look in hindsight.
🤖 What they are building with AI now, and which of their original assumptions survived. 💬 Q&A, then open networking. 👉 Register now to get your link and join us live! . ❯ Featured Speakers:- Jai Chinnakonda — Founder & CEO, ENGAIZ (FI Toronto Alum)
- Kelly Anderson — Founder & CEO, DyeConverter™ (FI Silicon Valley Alum)
- Brenda Bernal — Founder & CEO, Compliagence (FI Los Angeles Alum)
❯ Featured Host:
- Jonathan Greechan - Co-Founder & CIO of the Founder Institute - Jonathan Greechan is the Co-Founder & CIO 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 and across over 100 countries, producing over 9,000 portfolio companies with nearly $2BN 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.
❯ What You'll Learn:
- What these founders decided in their earliest months, and why;
- Which of their original assumptions survived and which did not;
- What they are building with AI now, and how it changed their roadmap;
- What they would tell a founder at idea stage today;
- How the FI network mattered to them, concretely.
❯ Who Should Attend:
- Idea-stage founders who want to see how the early decisions get made;
- Prospective applicants evaluating what the network actually produces;
- Founders in smaller chapters with limited access to breakout founders;
- Anyone who wants to network with founders beyond their own city.
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❯❯ Don’t miss this live, interactive online event packed with valuable insights! RSVP now at https://fi.co/startupwebinar/23175 to get your link and join us live!
2 attendees
Startup Funding in Germany: 2027 Market Outlook & Fundraising Insights
·OnlineOnlineJoin us for an exclusive Founder Institute event, where we bring together a panel of esteemed investors to discuss the German startup funding scene, get their insights on the current investment landscape, trends, and opportunities, and learn how to increase the chances of raising the next round for founders and aspiring entrepreneurs.
Our panel of prominent German investors will share their perspectives on the European fundraising scene in 2026, their expectations for 2027, their insights on securing funding, the key factors they consider when evaluating startups, and the common pitfalls to avoid during the fundraising process.
❯ Panel:
- Olav Carlsen (Innovation Manager, SPRIND - Bundesagentur für Sprunginnovationen)
- Frank Nicolaisen (Managing Director, HypoVereinsbank - UniCredit)
- Katrin Robeck (Managing Director, IBB Ventures)
- Mohammad Hossein Tavangar (Director, Founder Institute Germany)
In addition to gaining expert advice on startup funding, attendees will learn more about the Founder Institute's agentic programs, which have helped 9,000+ entrepreneurs worldwide turn their ideas into successful businesses.
❯ Event Highlights:
- A panel discussion featuring top VCs in the European startup ecosystem
- Q&A session, allowing attendees to ask questions and engage with the speakers
- Networking opportunities with fellow entrepreneurs, investors, and industry professionals
- Information on the Founder Institute's accelerator programs and how they can help startups secure funding and grow
❯ What You'll Learn:
- The current market situation and the market outlook in 2027 for Founders and VCs
- Key metrics and prerequisites for raising funding in 2026
- How to make yourself more attractive to investors
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❯❯ This is a live, interactive online event, so be sure to RSVP at https://fi.co/e/405297/meetup to receive the Zoom URL to join us live!
2 attendees
U.S. Visas & Immigration 101 for Startup Founders
·OnlineOnlineBuilding a company in the U.S. is hard enough. Doing it as a non-citizen founder means navigating an immigration system that was never designed with startups in mind. This 101 session breaks down the essentials in plain English. You'll get a clear map of the visa paths open to founders, how they differ, and what each one actually asks of you when you're the one building the company. We'll also look at how milestones like fundraising and revenue shape your options, and the mistakes that quietly put a founder's status at risk. Bring your questions for a live Q&A at the end.
❯❯ RSVP now at https://fi.co/e/405316/meetup to get your link and join us live! . This event is hosted in partnership with Manifest Law , a modern immigration law firm helps founders and companies get the visas they need to build in the U.S. — O-1A, E-2, L-1, H-1B, and green cards. Learn more at: https://gomanifestlaw.com/founderx
❯ What You'll Learn:
- Which U.S. visas are actually open to founders, and how the main options differ
- What "self-sponsorship" really means, and when it's possible
- How fundraising, revenue, and traction can strengthen or complicate your case
- The status risks hiding in a pivot, a down round, or a slow start, and how to plan ahead
- Where to start if you're building in the U.S. without a visa strategy yet
❯ Who Should Attend:
- Non-citizen founders building, or planning to build, a company in the U.S.
- Founders already on a visa who are fundraising, pivoting, or scaling
- International entrepreneurs deciding which visa path fits their plans
- Anyone who wants the immigration basics before sitting down with a lawyer
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❯❯ Don’t miss this live, interactive online event packed with valuable insights! RSVP now at https://fi.co/e/405316/meetup to get your link and join us live!
1 attendee
From Dreamer to Doer: Build the Founder Mindset
·OnlineOnlineHave you ever wondered why some people take the leap while others stay stuck? The difference isn't luck, resources, or timing — it's the way founders think. Join Jonathan Greechan, Co-Founder & CEO of the Founder Institute, for a fascinating deep-dive into the psychology behind entrepreneurial action. In this live session, you'll unpack the cognitive patterns that hold aspiring founders back and explore the mental frameworks that top entrepreneurs use to push through uncertainty. With practical exercises and a follow-up networking session, you'll leave with both insight and momentum.
❯❯ RSVP now at https://fi.co/startupwebinar/24087 to get your link and join us live!
❯ What You’ll Learn:
- How to move from hesitation to action and stop waiting for the "perfect time"
- The 4 core mental barriers that keep you stuck in the startup journey
- The key mindset shifts from “It’s not my fault” to “What can I do differently?”
- How to train your mind to embrace progress and overcome excuses with clarity and confidence
- Practical exercises to leave the event feeling empowered and ready to take the next step
❯ Featured Speaker:
- Jonathan Greechan - Co-Founder & CEO at Founder Institute: Since 2009, Jonathan has grown and scaled the world's largest pre-seed accelerator to chapters in over 200 cities and 100 countries, producing over 9,000 portfolio companies with an estimated value of $2BN. He also serves as an Advisor to Oxford Entrepreneurs (Oxford University), Horasis, and the USC Incubator (University of Southern California). Previously, Jonathan was a Partner of TheFunded.com, the first website for founders to rate and review venture capitalists, and an Executive Producer of the Founder Showcase. This leading Silicon Valley startup conference hosted speakers like Elon Musk. Jonathan’s writing has been featured in Fortune, TechCrunch, and Entrepreneur Magazine, and he has spoken at startup conferences on four continents.
❯ Who Should Attend:
- Aspiring founders with an idea but who haven’t started building yet
- Entrepreneurs looking to break through mental blocks and move forward with their ideas
- Early-stage founders who feel stuck in analysis paralysis or waiting for the “right moment”
- Anyone eager to develop an entrepreneurial mindset and gain the confidence to move from idea to execution
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❯❯ Don’t miss this live, interactive online event packed with valuable insights! RSVP now at https://fi.co/startupwebinar/24087 to get your link and join us live!
2 attendees
Past events
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