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!
Featured event
FounderX Silicon Valley: VIP Gathering of Global Founders/ Investors
FounderX is a highly-curated, intimate conference will gather ~300 investors, founders, technology executives, and startup ecosystem leaders from across the globe for three days of networking events, group workshops, and engaging talks from top Keynote Speakers.
Previous speakers for FI events include Elon Musk, Steve Jurvetson, Yamini Rangan, Naval Ravikant, Esther Dyson, Jason Calacanis, Ben Horowitz, and many more.
❯❯ Meetup members must RSVP at https://luma.com/659pksxq?coupon=WE2SPJ to attend, the early bird price is available until May 31st.
TO REGISTER, YOU MUST RSVP AND PAY AT THE LINK ABOVE. RSVPING TO THIS MEETUP DOES NOT GRANT YOU ACCESS TO THIS EVENT.
See all the latest event details at http://FounderX.com (exact details and speakers will not be updated on this Meetup page).
Please note: this event is mainly for Founder Institute investors, alumni, mentors, and leaders - so Meetup availability will expire.
The goal of FounderX is to facilitate meaningful connections and learning across the FI and Decile Group Networks, which span 40,000+ innovators across 100+ countries and 6 continents.
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❯ See all the latest event details at http://FounderX.com (exact details and speakers will not be updated on this Meetup page).
❯ Meetup members must RSVP at https://luma.com/659pksxq?coupon=WE2SPJ to attend, the early bird price is available until May 31st.
⚠️ IMPORTANT: To register, you MUST RSVP and pay at the link above.
❌ RSVPing to this Meetup does NOT grant you access to this event.
Upcoming events
5
FI Silicon Valley Spring 2026 Graduation: Meet the New Portfolio Companies
·OnlineOnlineMeet the newest startups joining the Founder Institute portfolio at the FI Silicon Valley Spring 2026 Graduation. In this live online event, you'll watch selected founders pitch their companies, hear an inspiring keynote, and learn what it really takes to build a fundable startup. More than a celebration, this is a showcase of real execution and a chance to connect with founders, mentors, and investors shaping the next generation of startups.
❯❯ Graduation Keynote Address
Keynote Speaker: Torrey Smith
Co-Founder & Engineering Fellow, EndiatxTorrey Smith is a medtech entrepreneur and the co-founder of Endiatx, maker of PillBot — a swallowable, remote-controlled micro-robot that transmits live video from inside the stomach, poised to transform gastrointestinal diagnostics. PillBot has been demonstrated on the TED stage, at Jeff Bezos's invitation-only MARS conference, and at FORTUNE Brainstorm AI. Endiatx is currently conducting pivotal clinical trials with Mayo Clinic.
Before Endiatx, Torrey spent over a decade as an R&D engineer at three medical device startups that all achieved successful exits to Cordis/J&J, Philips, and CooperSurgical. He holds a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and is also the founder of Sextant, a Burning Man arts collective whose team went on to help build Endiatx.
❯ What You’ll See:
- 3-minute debut pitches from selected Graduates
- Real-world lessons from completing the FI accelerator
- Insights into what investors look for at pre-seed
- Clear next steps if you want to build a fundable startup
❯ Who Should Attend:
- Early-stage founders preparing to launch their startup
- Founders looking to raise pre-seed funding
- Entrepreneurs validating an idea and seeking real-world benchmarks
- Aspiring founders considering applying to the next Founder Institute cohort
❯❯ This is a live, interactive online event, so be sure to RSVP at https://fi.co/e/400030/meetup to receive the Zoom URL to join us live!
2 attendees
How to Think Like a Founder and Take Action
·OnlineOnlineWhat separates successful founders from those who never start? Mindset. Join Jonathan Greechan, Co-Founder & CEO of the Founder Institute, for a live online session where you'll discover what's really holding you back — and how to break free. You'll explore the mental barriers that keep aspiring founders stuck, and walk away with a clear, actionable framework to move forward with confidence. Whether you have a rough idea or a fleshed-out concept, this session will give you the mental tools to stop waiting and start building. A live networking session follows so you can immediately put your new mindset to work.
❯❯ RSVP now at https://fi.co/startupwebinar/24085 to get your link and join us live!
❯ What You’ll Learn
- The 4 mental barriers that keep aspiring founders stuck — and how to dismantle them
- Why the "perfect moment" is a myth and what to do instead
- The mindset shift that separates action-takers from chronic planners
- How to build resilience and clarity so obstacles fuel rather than stop you
- A practical exercise to walk away with your next concrete 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
❯❯ Don’t miss this live, interactive online event packed with valuable insights! RSVP now at https://fi.co/startupwebinar/24085 to get your link and join us live!
4 attendees
How to Get Your First 10 Customers Without a Marketing Team or Budget
·OnlineOnlineYou have an idea. But no customers yet, and no budget to go get them. Here's the truth: the founders who get their first 10 customers fastest don't outspend everyone else. They out-think them. They find the right people, say the right thing, and convert conversations into commitments. Jonathan Greechan, Co-Founder and CEO of the Founder Institute, has helped thousands of founders crack this exact problem. In this session, he'll share what actually works at zero before you have a team, a brand, or a runway. Register now and come ready to take notes.
❯ What You'll Learn:
- A step-by-step framework to find your first customers in places you're already overlooked;
- How to write a three-sentence outreach message that doesn't read like a sales pitch;
- What a "validation sale" is and how to use it to de-risk your idea before building more;
- How to build a simple referral loop from your very first customer conversation;
- Which AI tools cut your customer discovery time in half without sacrificing quality.
❯❯ RSVP now at https://fi.co/startupwebinar/25830 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 $2BN in 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:
- Experienced professionals who know their industry but have never sold their own product;
- First-time solo founders who are stuck between building and selling;
- AI-curious professionals who want to use AI to accelerate their go-to-market from day one;
- Pre-revenue founders who need to prove demand before their runway runs out.
❯❯ Don’t miss this live, interactive online event packed with valuable insights! RSVP now at https://fi.co/startupwebinar/25830 to get your link and join us live!
3 attendees
Economic Development: How to Build Entrepreneurial Communities
·OnlineOnlineJoin Founder Institute for an online panel discussion on the role of startup ecosystems in economic development. This session will explore how cities, economic development leaders, and ecosystem builders can support entrepreneurs, strengthen local innovation networks, and create long-term community impact.
❯ What You'll Learn:
- How startup ecosystems support economic development and local innovation
- What cities and communities can do to better support entrepreneurs
- How founders, mentors, investors, and ecosystem leaders can work together to build stronger startup communities
❯❯ RSVP now at https://fi.co/startupwebinar/25835 to get your link and join us live!
❯ Featured Speaker:
- Kevin Siskar - CEO @ Finta: Kevin is the CEO of Finta and an experienced founder and startup ecosystem leader focused on helping entrepreneurs access the tools and support they need to grow. He will share insights on ecosystem development, founder support, and how stronger startup communities can create long-term local impact.
- Paul O’Brien - Economist, Publisher, and Consultant: Paul is an economist, publisher, and consultant focused on startups, innovation, and ecosystem development. He will bring a broader perspective on how entrepreneurial communities form, grow, and support long-term economic outcomes.
- Ayhan Isaacs - Head of Global Growth @ Founder Institute: Ayhan leads economic development and partnership initiatives at Founder Institute, helping communities connect entrepreneurship programs with local growth goals. He will moderate the discussion and bring FI’s perspective on using startup ecosystems as a driver for regional economic development.
❯❯ Don’t miss this live, interactive online event packed with valuable insights! RSVP now at https://fi.co/startupwebinar/25835 to get your link and join us live!
3 attendees
Past events
548
Group links
Members
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