What we’re about
San Antonio Startup Founder 101 is a community powered by the Founder Institute, the world’s largest pre-seed tech accelerator. This group is for aspiring and early-stage founders who want to go from idea to real business with support, structure, and a global network behind them.
We host events that focus on startup fundamentals, founder stories, and practical tools (not just theory). You’ll meet others building in public, learn what works (and what doesn’t), and discover how to plug into the FI San Antonio ecosystem.
Who should join?
First-time founders, solo builders, creatives, and anyone serious about starting something in San Antonio.
If you’re tired of building alone, this is where to start.
Upcoming events (4)
See all- Ideation Bootcamp: Pitch ShowcaseLink visible for attendees
Join us for the Ideation Bootcamp: Pitch Showcase, where the top 5-7 startups from our latest Startup Ideation Bootcamp will present their innovative ideas to a select group of investors. These founders have gone through an intensive 8-week program, receiving expert feedback, leveraging AI tools, and applying a proven methodology to shape their startup concepts.During this event, you'll get a chance to see the next generation of startups pitch their ideas, followed by a Q&A session where founders will answer questions from VCs. Don't miss out on this exclusive showcase of entrepreneurial innovation!
.
❯ What You'll Learn:- Key insights from top startup pitches and ideas.
- How founders refine their concepts with expert feedback.
- What investors look for in successful startup presentations.
.
❯ Featured Speakers:- 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 90 countries, producing over 7000 portfolio companies with nearly $2B in venture funding.
- Sonam Velani - Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Streetlife Ventures - A mission-driven leader bridging capital, policy, and technology, she has led multi-billion-dollar investments in climate infrastructure, affordable housing, and inclusive economic growth across roles at Goldman Sachs, the World Bank, Zipline, and the NYC Mayor’s Office.
- Olivia O'Sullivan - Head of Platform at Forum Ventures - Olivia is the Head of Platform at Forum Ventures, where she leads efforts to build communities and resources that help early-stage founders scale. With a background in brand and product marketing, Olivia has played pivotal roles in launching major initiatives and working across GTM, operations, and community to drive growth.
- Tahira Dosani - Co-founder and Managing Partner at ResilenceVC - Tahira Dosani is the co-founder and Managing Partner of ResilienceVC, an early-stage fintech fund investing in startups that drive financial resilience.
.
About the Ideation Bootcamp:
The Startup Ideation Bootcamp is an intensive 8-week program to help aspiring entrepreneurs build a great startup idea using expert feedback, helpful AI tools, and a proven process. The next bootcamp will be scheduled soon, register here to get updates.
.
❯❯ This live, interactive online event promises valuable insights! Ensure your participation by RSVPing now at 👉 https://fi.co/startupwebinar/20057 to receive the link to join us live! - Ask an Investor Anything: Q&A with Rich MaloyLink visible for attendees
Do you want to ask questions to startup investors about fundraising in a friendly, judgment-free environment? Are you looking to raise funding in the future, and want to learn what investors look for and how they evaluate potential investments? Then join us for this live, interactive Q&A event featuring Rich Maloy, Managing Partner at SpringTime Ventures. Don't miss this opportunity to expand your network and ask in-depth questions - Register now!
.
❯ What You'll Learn:- Key metrics and pre-requisites for raising funding
- How to make yourself more attractive to investors
- The best ways to source different funding resources such as Angel investors, Venture Capitalists, grants and loans
.
❯ Featured Speakers:- Rich Maloy - Managing Partner at SpringTime Ventures - Rich's mission is to rebuild the American dream through entrepreneurship. He works with early stage startups transforming the world, giving all people the opportunity to grow, learn and earn. With prior careers in finance and sales, he's now focused on startups investing through SpringTime Ventures where he is a Managing Partner. He's a father of two young children and loves sci-fi, skiing, and video games.
About the FI Venture Network
The FI Venture Network is an exclusive network of investors actively funding pre-seed and seed-stage startups before anyone else. Learn more by visiting the FI Venture Network page.
.
❯❯ This live, interactive online event promises valuable insights! Ensure your participation by RSVPing now at 👉 https://fi.co/startupwebinar/19495 to receive the link to join us live! - Responsible AI for Startups: Frameworks You Can Apply from Day OneLink visible for attendees
AI startups face high stakes when it comes to Responsible AI as decisions made early can't be undone. At this live online event, attendees will learn how to adopt robust responsible AI frameworks from day one to stay compliant and competitive. Fion Lee-Madan, Technical Co-Founder of Asenion, will share how early-stage founders can navigate AI governance, risk, and compliance. If you're building with AI and want to learn about responsibility from the ground up, don't miss this essential session.
.
❯ What You’ll Learn- How to integrate Responsible AI into your startup from day one
- Why implementing compliance and ethics early sets your AI up for long-term success
- Practical frameworks to future-proof your AI product
.
❯ Featured Speaker:- Fion Lee Madan - Technical Co-Founder, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Asenion (formerly Fairly AI + anch AI) - A founder, leader, lifelong learner, and catalyst of change, Fion Lee-Madan understands the shifting B2B enterprise software landscape and the transformative impact of AI. As a technical and business executive for Fortune 500 companies and at ATG through its Oracle acquisition, she led initiatives in product-market fit, demand generation, and customer success, thriving in competitive markets. Her experience living, working, and raising children internationally over the past 20 years fuels a deep commitment to promoting the fair and responsible use of technology, and to building a global network to operationalize Responsible AI to Fairly AI standards.
.
❯❯ This live, interactive online event promises valuable insights! Ensure your participation by RSVPing now at 👉 https://fi.co/startupwebinar/19296 to receive the link to join us live! - Texas Venture Fest: San Antonio 2025Emerge and Rise (FI SA HQ), San Antonio, TX
## 🤠 TEXAS VENTURE FEST: SAN ANTONIO
CO-HOSTS: Founder Institute, Emerge and Rise, The AI Cowboys
LOCAL SPONSORS: TBA, indicate interest via form
VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS: TBA, indicate interest via form
AGENDA: Register to save the date here + we'll post agenda updates here as the event approaches. Use this event registration form to share your interest in attending, co-hosting, volunteering, or sponsoring. In the meantime, follow Texas Venture Fest on LinkedIn & Instagram to stay up-to-date as well.## 🏆 ABOUT TEXAS VENTURE FEST (Awards & Gala)
The Lone Star State shouldn’t have Lone Star founders. The Texas Venture Fest is the only truly "Texas-sized" day of networking and programming, highlighting the ecosystem of startup support. More than 10 cities simultaneously host this statewide phenomenon, co-creating a record-breaking event for the country & proud moment for the state. Across our small towns and the nation's biggest metropoles, 3,000+ Texans gather to help innovation flourish and to network & learn from each other! We also use the statewide event registration to ask for your favorite investor, startup, and community leader, and why, for the Texan's Choice Awards. It's the "People's Choice Awards" for our statewide innovation community presented at the Fest's sister signature event, the Texas Venture Gala & Forum.
## ⭐️ ALL TEXAS VENTURE FESTS 2025:
This is a free statewide event to attend, but please consider making a donation in lieu of a purchase to support Hill Country: Texas Venture Fest: Hill Country Edition. View all Texas Venture
Fests and share with your fellow Texans, the link here: www.texasventurefest.com.
