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
How to Transform Your Region into a Hub for Cross-Border Entrepreneurship
·OnlineOnlineOne of the greatest challenges facing entrepreneurs is the silos our ecosystems naturally create when supporting local interests. Here, we'll explore how cross-border collaboration serves not only the interests of founders, but also investors who need access and connection to that which matters most to their needs. This event will focus on creating actionable pathways for economic development through global entrepreneurship. We will explore the concept of cross-border innovation ecosystems, using the strategic triangle between Germany, Japan, and Cyprus as a case study.
Discover how regional strengths can be leveraged to boost global partnerships, attract capital, and foster talent retention. Attendees will gain a clear understanding of how to help their regions create environments that facilitate innovation and attract investment, benefiting both local economies and international collaboration.
❯ What You'll Learn:
- Strategies for fostering innovation across borders and leveraging the Japan-Europe corridor.
- Moving beyond physical spaces to focus on talent development and measurable economic outcomes.
❯ Featured Experts:
- Richard Mort - Japan-Europe Ecosystem Strategist: Richard is a strategic intelligence consultant and Japan-Europe business connector based in Düsseldorf, Germany's "Little Tokyo." With 20 years living in Japan and fluency in Japanese, German, French, and English, he specialises in bridging European and Asian ecosystems through event mapping, stakeholder matching, and market entry strategy. His comprehensive mapping of Web Summit 2024 - covering 1,131 stakeholders and 2,200+ startups - generated over 34,000 views and earned recognition from major corporations including SoftBank. Richard works with Japanese city governments, trade delegations, and European companies seeking Asia market access, operating under "The Human API" brand.
- Alberto Martellini - Managing Director @ Funder Advisor: Alberto is an Entrepreneurship Director bridging corporate innovation with high-growth ventures across fintech, energy, mobility, and traveltech. With 20+ years of corporate leadership experience? including leading $20B+ B2B product portfolios at American Express. He specializes in go-to-market strategy, commercialization, and strategic financing. As an Innovation Partner with FI, he works with governments and universities to design and manage accelerator programs focused on economic development and capacity building. He brings deep expertise in fundraising, mentor network development, institutional partnerships, and navigating regulatory and investment frameworks.
- Paul O'Brien - Head of Public Affairs @ Founder Institute: A startup economist and ecosystem strategist with 25 years in venture capital, public policy, and economic development. As Head of Public Affairs at the Founder Institute and Managing Partner of Startup Economist, he helps governments, investors, and civic leaders build stronger startup ecosystems that drive real economic growth.
❯❯ This is a live, interactive online event, so be sure to RSVP at https://fi.co/startupwebinar/22629 to receive the Zoom URL to join us live!
5 attendees
Build Your AI-Powered MVP in 90 Minutes with Lovable
·OnlineOnlineYou have an idea that will not leave you alone, and now it is time to turn it into something people can actually click, explore, and respond to. In this 90-minute, hands-on Founder Institute session, we will walk through how to build your first MVP and landing page with Lovable, from Figma designs all the way to real AI features powered by Gemini or OpenAI.
We will move step by step, keeping things practical and accessible, even if you do not consider yourself technical. You will see how to turn early drafts into clear screens, how to think in user journeys instead of isolated features, and how to use AI as a real engine for value, not just as a buzzword.
❯ Guest Speakers include Kasia Sadowska (Founder, FutureHabits Tech).
❯ You will learn how to:
- Turn a product idea into a simple, testable MVP scope and user flow
- Use Lovable to generate clean interfaces and responsive landing pages
- Move from Figma designs to working screens without getting stuck in handover chaos
- Craft effective prompt templates for Lovable so it builds what you actually need
- Connect your app to Gemini or OpenAI to implement AI features such as chat, assistants, or smart forms
- Avoid common early-stage mistakes so you can launch, learn, and iterate faster
This session is designed for early-stage founders, builders, and curious innovators who want to stop planning endlessly and start shipping. Come with an idea and leave with a clear path, practical templates, and the confidence to build your own AI-powered MVP.
❯❯ This is a live, interactive online event, so be sure to RSVP at https://fi.co/e/386103/meetup to receive the Zoom URL to join us live!
29 attendees
Past events
390
