1. Company building best practice
Structured company building using the latest proven methods and with continuous direct feedback from mentors with own recent experience.
Benefits
2. Global and local network access
Access to a network of venture capitalists, angel investors, entrepreneurs, experts, graduates from across the globe including Silicon Valley to support you in your company building.
3. Expert training in key skills
Training in key topics (see key program elements) by experienced mentors, connected to every phase of your company building.
4. Graduate funding and support
Top 3 graduates receive grant funding from Desifer. 100 000 SEK for the first and 75 000 SEK for second and third. Weekly mentoring by Adeo Ressi, CEO of Founder Institute, for the top graduate.
Special founder offers and tools :
Office space discount
with impact Hub
Legal help 2h included
as well as discounted
legal services
In-depth user
experience workshop
by Doberman, on top
of standard curriculum
In-depth product tech workshop plus software development deals by
Softhouse
Software and service
deals with the largest
players (e.g. Google Cloud and Amazon)
Who do we help?
Idea Stage
You just have an idea and may still be full time employed :
- Validate and improve your ideas, strategy, and pitch
- Find co-founders, early-team members, and advisors
- Launch your company using a proven step-by-step process
Prototype Stage
You have an MVP or prototype in testing:
- Get expert feedback to make smarter product decisions
- Secure advisors, partners, and key hires
- Nail your go-to-market and begin fundraising (if needed)
Early Company
You have a company and revenue, but are pre-funding :
- Get expert insights on your data to increase traction
- Secure advisors, partners, key hires and investors
- Launch a sustainable business with a global network
What are we looking for in founders?
Passion for solving a certain “customer problem” rather than focusing on a specific technology
A problem where the solution is tech-enabled (software, internet, etc) and can scale
Entrepreneurial DNA with high openness and strong problem solving skills.
A high degree of openness and willingness to receive coaching
Mentors
More than
50 top mentors
Most are serial
entrepreneurs and angel investors.
Together they have
founded 100+
companies
Some are experts in lean
startup, product
development, pitching,
marketing, sales
development, legal,
funding and more
The common
denominator is that they
want to support founders
in building enduring
companies
KEY PROGRAM ELEMENTS
Business idea
Develop vision, Idea
and business model
Orientation & pitch training
Vision and ideas
Research & customer
development
Revenue modelling
Naming & positioning
Mentor idea pitch and review
Product
Develop product end team setup
Startup legal & lP
Team & advisors
Product development
Individual mentoring
Mentor business pitch and review
Launch
Prepare for launch
Sales & traction
Branding & marketing
Bootstrapping & fundraising
Graduation
Constant mentor feedback and evaluation of progress, pitch and plansWHAT IT TAKES
20-30 hours
per week minimum
1 program session
on site in Stockholm
2 group meetings
every week
30%
makes it to graduation
COST
Early bird
$799
USD
Before Oct 7, 2018
Regular
$999
USD
Before Oct 7, 2018
Teams typically cost 1.5x this free
OPEN FELLOWSHIPS
The following fellowships, where selected applicants will participate for free, are open until November 11th:
- StartupGrind – https://fi.co/join/startupgrindse
- Doberman – https://fi.co/join/doberman
- Softhouse – https://fi.co/join/softhouse
- VentureCup – https://fi.co/join/venturecup
EQUITY
4% per company in the form of a 15 year warrant
Returns are shared with all participants (including you!) in each cohort
The 4% is divided like this: 1% to graduates (you!), 1% to mentors, 1% to FI Sthlm and 1% to FI headquarters
What makes FI unique?
Silicon Valley approach and network as well as local network and corporate connections
Unique equity model where everyone in the same cohort is incentivized to help build great companies
Mentoring by high profile active entrepreneurs and our Entrepreneur In Residence (EIR)
“In just fourteen weeks, our Founder Institute program accelerates the development of your company with mentoring by serial entrepreneurs, a structured development agenda, and connections to the right network, equaling a year’s worth of progress.”
Joel Sunnehall
Founder Institute Director & Partner at Desifer
“The Founder Institute is the most raw, ‘street’ program out there for startups”
Jason Calacanis.
Angel investor (e.g. Uber, Evernote and Tumblr), Entrepreneur, Author
Partners
