Silicon Valley-based Founder Institute Testing a Columbus Chapter to Guide Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Written by Innovate New Albany@InnovateNA8 years ago

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World’s Premier Idea-Stage Accelerator and Startup Launch Program Testing Events in Columbus

The Founder Institute, the world’s premier idea-stage accelerator and startup launch program, announced today that it is exploring a new semester launch in Columbus, Ohio.

Based in Silicon Valley with chapters across more than 150 cities and 60 countries, the Founder Institute has helped aspiring technology entrepreneurs launch thousands of companies across 6 continents, creating 15,000+ new jobs.

Throughout the next several weeks, the Founder Institute will host a series of free, beginner entrepreneurship events to gauge the startup community’s interest in a Columbus 2017 program.

Anyone interested in getting expert guidance and feedback to launch a technology company in Columbus is invited to apply to the program today at www.fi.co/nas/content/live/innovatenaly/Columbus and to attend one or more of the upcoming events:

• Startup Ideation Bootcamp (June 15th, 6:30pm at Rev1 Ventures): RSVP
• Founder Institute Information Session (June 29th, 6:30pm at Innovate New Albany): RSVP

For aspiring and idea-stage entrepreneurs up to the challenge, the Founder Institute’s comprehensive step-by-step program provides the structure, mentor support, and global network of entrepreneurs needed to start an enduring company. In addition, the Founder Institute is the only program of its kind that focuses on people versus ideas, accepts founders with day jobs, and shares equity with all participants.

Founder Institute graduate companies include fast-rising startups including Udemy, Realty Mogul, Itembase, goplaceit, Appota, and many more.

“The Columbus startup ecosystem is growing,” Adeo Ressi, Founder & CEO of the Founder Institute, said. “The Founder Institute’s step-by-step curriculum and global mentor network combined with the amount of early stage investment in Columbus will make an excellent resource for local startup founders.”

Leading the Founder Institute’s efforts in Columbus are Eric Fulkert (CEO at Campus Suite CMS), Kevin Hiser (President at QStart Labs), Brian Penick (Founder at Soundstr), and Neil Collins, (President of Results Marketing Group and On-Site Leader at Innovate New Albany).

“FI is going to open the door for the Fortune 1000 employees of Columbus to enter the startup scene,” Eric Fulkert, Co-Director of the Columbus Founder Institute, said. “Columbus needs this new wave of startups. I’m excited to be a part of this change by bringing FI to Columbus.”

“I have been helping launch successful startups over the last 8 years and observed many others fail due to poor planning, understanding of the future, and lack of direction,” Kevin Hiser, Co-Director of the Columbus Founder Institute, said. “I believe Founder Institute is a great program to help entrepreneurs know what to expect on their journey, get expert advice at the earliest stages, validate their ideas, and put them on a path for success.”

“Incubation is the key to building a strong foundation for any startup. Founder Institute brings a wealth of knowledge, tools, resources and network to help entrepreneurs grow their company from a small idea to a successful business,” Brian Penick, Co-Director of the Columbus Founder Institute, said.

“Every week, I meet many new people here in Central Ohio, and I am continually amazed at how many of them have an idea for a new business or dream about launching their own company,” Neil Collins, Co-Director of the Columbus Founder Institute, said. “Founder Institute will be a great avenue for these people to develop and test their ideas through a process designed to reduce risk and prevent costly mistakes.”

Other leaders of local tech companies who have committed to mentor in Columbus include Rich Langdale (NCT Ventures), Curtis Crocker (Reservoir Venture Partners), Hugh Cathey (ChromoCare / Columbus Partners), Lindsay Karas Stencel (NCT Ventures / Lindsay Karas Stencel Law LLC), Alex Purtell (Lumos Accelerator / Fintech71), Terry Ziegler (T-Pro Solutions), Jeff Lamb (DOmedia), Chris Shirer (JoinMyTable LLC / Madison + Fifth), Tom Krouse (Donatos), and more.

The full list of expected mentors can be viewed here.

If you’d like to participate in the Columbus chapter’s semester, fill out an interest form before July 2nd, 2017. Your application fee will be waived.

Learn more about the Founder Institute at www.FI.co.

About the Founder Institute

The Founder Institute (http://fi.co) is the world’s premier idea-stage accelerator and startup launch program. For aspiring and idea-stage entrepreneurs up to the challenge, our comprehensive step-by-step program provides the structure, mentor support, and global network of entrepreneurs needed to start an enduring company. In addition, the Founder Institute is the only program of its kind that focuses on people versus ideas, accepts founders with day jobs, and shares equity with all participants. Leaders of the world’s fastest-growing startups have used our program to transition from employee to entrepreneur, test their startup ideas, build a team, get their first customers, raise funding, and more. Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 150 cities and 60 countries, the Founder Institute’s mission is to “Globalize Silicon Valley” and empower talented and motivated entrepreneurs to build companies that will create one million new jobs.

The Founder Institute was founded in 2009 by Adeo Ressi and Jonathan Greechan. It is operated out of Palo Alto, California.

Press Contact: Jonathan Greechan (j AT fi DOT co)

Innovate New Albany, the city’s incubator for technology startups, entrepreneurs and small businesses, features 16,000 square feet of space within the New Albany Business Park’s Signature Office Building, 8000 Walton Parkway.