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 (3)
See all- Startup Funding: Navigating the Grant LandscapeLink visible for attendees
Join Founder Institute Keystone for a special Lunch & Learn presentation featuring Co-Founder & CEO, Ryan Alcorn of GrantExec, a platform transforming the grant funding landscape with AI-powered discovery and expert human support. Originally born from a web-scraping side project, GrantExec now connects organizations to over $80B in active funding opportunities through tools like GrantGPT™ and a nationwide network of grant writers. Ryan is passionate about removing barriers to funding and empowering innovators to do more good, faster.
# ❯❯ Lunch & Learn presentation featuring Co-Founder & CEO, Ryan Alcorn of GrantExec
Securing grant funding shouldn’t feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. Each year, foundations, governments, and other funders pour billions into worthy causes—yet finding and connecting with the right organizations can be surprisingly difficult.
GrantExec is a platform transforming the grant funding landscape with AI-powered discovery and expert human support, now connecting organizations to over $80B in active funding opportunities. GrantExec bridges the gap by aggregating opportunities from across the web and providing clear, focused guidance, we help grantseekers navigate what was once a daunting landscape.
This special presentation by Ryan Alcorn, Co-Founder and CEO of GrantExec, is geared for Startup Founders and Entrepreneurs looking for new ideas to find funding. Whether you've investigated grant options but gave up when faced with the myriad of challenges to find the right organizations, or you have no clue about grant funding - this session is for you! You'll learn:
- The current fragmentation of the grant funding landscape and federal changes
- How GrantExec reimagines discovery, access, and equity in funding with AI and human intelligence
- Practical strategies for startups to increase their grant competitiveness.
❯❯ Join us, Thursday, May 1 at 12:00 pm ET. The program will be recorded. Be sure to RSVP at https://fi.co/e/369931/meetup to receive the Zoom URL to join us live!
- Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business PartnerLink visible for attendees
Building a great Co-Founder team is one of the most difficult yet important steps in founding a startup. While many founders may start alone, there are multiple benefits of having a Co-Founder, and taking the time ⏳ to establish a quality team can mean the difference between failure ❌ and success ✅.
Join us for this fun 🎉 and interactive 💬 event where you will learn best practices for building and formalizing a Co-Founder relationship. In addition, you will have the opportunity to network with other entrepreneurs who are looking for a Co-Founder at virtual tables and speed networking sessions.
❯ 🤝 What You'll Accomplish:
- You will learn the best practices for finding the right Co-Founder
- You will meet startup enthusiasts and experts from around the world
- You will shortlist potential Co-Founders
❯ To get the most out of this Co-Founder networking event:
- Come ready for live video networking
- Prepare by visiting our Guide to Find a Co-Founder
- Fill out our Co-Founder Networking Worksheet
To access all of the networking features of this event, please join using Chrome or Firefox from a desktop or tablet, or download the Airmeet Mobile App.
❯❯ This live, interactive online event promises valuable insights! Ensure your participation by RSVPing now at 👉 https://fi.co/startupwebinar/18819 to receive the link to join us live!
- Corporate Innovation in Action: How to Overcome RoadblocksLink visible for attendees
Corporate innovation is no longer a luxury—it's a necessity. In this insightful fireside chat, we'll explore why innovation is both crucial and challenging for large organizations, and how leaders can begin building future-ready, growth-oriented strategies. You'll gain practical advice on creating a culture of innovation, avoiding common pitfalls, and forming meaningful partnerships with startups to stay ahead in a rapidly changing market.
❯ Featured Speakers:
- Ingeborg Gasser-Kriss, Innovation Partner, and Advisory Board Member at FoodTech companies. Ingeborg brings decades of experience guiding large organizations through complex innovation and transformation challenges. She specializes in aligning corporate strategy with emerging trends and customer needs.
- Sandy Gomez, Innovation Partner & Founder at Arca Análisis Económico. Sandy combines private sector expertise from Henkel, KPMG, and Diageo with deep experience in international development through roles at the Founder Institute, IESA, and IDB Lab. She helps LATAM corporations align innovation strategies with business goals and impact standards, making her a trusted partner for running effective acceleration programs.
❯ Hosted by:
- Misha de Sterke, Innovation Partner, and Founder & CEO of 10X Growth. Misha is a leading voice in corporate innovation and the creator of the 10X Growth Framework. He’s helped global giants like Nestlé and Unilever develop repeatable innovation strategies to drive growth at scale.
❯ What You’ll Learn:
- Why innovation is essential for long-term competitiveness
- How to align innovation with business goals and customer insight
- Common pitfalls to avoid (“wicked patterns”)
- Frameworks for internal culture change and startup engagement
- How to invest smartly with strategies like “Buy, Build, Hold”
❯❯ This live, interactive online event promises valuable insights! Ensure your participation by RSVPing now at 👉 https://fi.co/startupwebinar/18818 to receive the link to join us live!
