
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.\
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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+)
See all- Founder’s Guide to AI: Using Agentic Workflows to Automate Repetitive TasksLink visible for attendees
Running a startup means wearing every hat—often at once. But what if you could hand off repetitive tasks to AI and reclaim your focus for the work that really matters? In this hands-on session, we'll demystify agentic workflows and show you how to use tools like MCP to automate parts of your business. You'll get behind-the-scenes looks at real systems in action—from how HeyVail manages calls to how CrowdTamers and Insight use AI-driven agents to run marketing.
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❯ What you’ll learn:- What agentic workflows actually are—and how they work (minus the jargon).
- Real examples in action: call handling with HeyVail, and marketing automation with Insight and CrowdTamers.
- How to set up simple, scalable workflows that automate key parts of your business.
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❯ The Founder’s Guide to AI Workshop
This is part one of the "The Founder's Guide to AI Workshop” - a four-part series of free online events designed to help entrepreneurs utilize AI to supercharge their productivity and growth. Hosted by Trevor Longino (Founder of Crowdtamers), these workshops will provide attendees with practical, step-by-step strategies to use AI tools for startup growth across topics like content creation, product development, productivity, task automation, and more. If you are looking to “scale yourself” and tap into the power of AI for entrepreneurship, then you won’t want to miss these free online events.
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❯ Missed the previous workshops? Get access to the recordings:Learn more at FI.co/bootcamp/AI4Founders
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❯❯ This live, interactive online event promises valuable insights! Ensure your participation by RSVPing now at 👉 https://fi.co/startupwebinar/19056 to receive the link to join us live! - Best Practices on Building Innovation Hubs for Universities & CollegesLink visible for attendees
Join our event to gain a comprehensive blueprint for launching and enhancing world-class startup programs. Designed for higher education leaders, faculty, and program managers, this session provides actionable best practices for fostering innovation on campus. We will explore how to build essential infrastructure, design impactful curricula, secure diverse funding streams, and leverage powerful mentorship networks. You will leave equipped with the strategies and tools needed to create a dynamic environment that enhances your institution's reputation, drives economic growth, and empowers the next generation of entrepreneurs to succeed.
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❯ What You'll Learn:- Learn to establish the pillars of a successful startup ecosystem, including accelerators, venture funds, and centralized innovation hubs.
- Discover best practices for creating action-oriented curricula and leveraging alumni networks to provide continuous guidance and support.
- Master a range of funding strategies, from non-dilutive grants and pitch competitions to institutional venture funds and corporate partnerships.
- Understand how to forge international partnerships
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❯ Featured Experts:- Daniel Francavilla - Innovation Partner & marketing advisor, strategist at Daniel Does Consulting
- Bianca Diosdado - Innovation Partner & Founder & CEO at ITRADE Innovations
- Vincent Perez - Strategic Advisor & Innovation Partner at Founder Institute
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❯❯ This live, interactive online event promises valuable insights! Ensure your participation by RSVPing now at 👉 https://fi.co/startupwebinar/19274 to receive the link to join us live! - Intro to Agentic AI: What It Is and Why It Matters for New FoundersLink visible for attendees
Agentic AI is more than a buzzword—it's a shift in how tech can work for you. In this live Zoom workshop, we'll break down what Agentic AI actually is, how it's different from traditional AI, and why it matters for founders building new products and companies. Whether you're tech-savvy or just AI-curious, this session will help you find real use cases for your startup. By the end, you'll understand where Agentic AI fits into your business, what tools are available, and how to start testing today.
❯ What You'll Learn:
- What Agentic AI is and how it differs from tools like ChatGPT.
- Real startup use cases where Agentic AI is already creating value.
- How to experiment with Agentic AI tools as a non-technical founder.
- Where to start if you’re building a product or exploring ideas.
❯ Featured Speaker:
- Michael Pendleton, The AI Cowboys - A veteran leader with 20+ years of experience using AI, data science, and machine learning to drive strategy and innovation across sectors. As Chief of Civilian Education for the U.S. Air Force, he led workforce development for 180K employees, leveraging AI to transform talent and performance systems. He’s now deepening his technical expertise through a Master’s in Data Analytics and seeks opportunities where AI meets impact.
❯❯ This is a live, interactive online event, so be sure to RSVP at https://fi.co/e/376500/meetup to receive the Zoom URL 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.
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❯ 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
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❯ 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.
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❯❯ 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!