
Founder Institute Texas Builds Ideas and Scales Startups Through Its Global Network
Updated: Apr 22
Founded in Silicon Valley, the accelerator operates throughout the state to invest in the next generation of innovators.

The Founder Institute (FI), the world's largest pre-seed accelerator, uses its presence in Texas to provide resources to early-stage founders. FI helps entrepreneurs build businesses that last through constant feedback from global startup experts and a structured process that sharpens focus to reduce time and cost.
Since 2009, more than 6,000 companies have used FI to build international businesses, solve large issues, raise funding, build a co-founding team, recruit a team, transition from employee to entrepreneur, etc. The program has raised over $1.75 billion for participating founders and created over 25,000 new jobs since its existence.
Adeo Ressi and Jonathan Greechan co-founded the Founder Institue accelerator. FI is based in Silicon Valley with chapters across 60 + countries and six continents and has scaled notable brands like Udemy and Realty Mogul. Currently, the organization has state chapters in Austin, Dallas, and Houston.
FI Texas Leadership
Martín Martinez - Executive Director, Founder Institute Texas
Javy Martinez - Venture Partner & Director, Founder Institute Dallas
Holly Burrow - Founder, eqall.co
Through its "FI Core" accelerator, startups are challenged in the pre-seed stages to develop, measure, and achieve KPIs and goals necessary for long-term funding and growth. A unique aspect of FI is that every founder in a Founder Institute Cohort shares equity evenly with all the companies founded in each unit. FI has a structured approach to unlock the potential of an idea and scale the companies of the future.
"Pitch Your Startup Idea to Top Texas Investors & Stakeholders Online" Webinar
FI Texas hosted its first online pitch webinar on Tuesday, April 12, 2022. The event was stacked with startup natives, investors, and thought leaders to provide an outlet for founders to pitch their ideas and receive feedback.
Speakers
Tiana Laurence - GP, Laurence Innovation
Sloan Foster - Principal, Envisage Associates
Anu Pansare - CEO, Volyx
Dana Abramovitz - Founding Team, SXSW
Jodie Slater Hastings - Co-founder, The Slate
The contest was the first of its kind from FI Texas and was a great way to engage the Texas startup community on a Tuesday afternoon. Follow FI's social pages to be informed about upcoming pitch contests and webinars.
Upcoming FI Texas Events
Founders Night Out: Network with DFW Entrepreneurs, Investors & Startups
April 27 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
331 Singleton Blvd Dallas, TX 75212
Join the Dallas - Texas Virtual Summer 2022 FI Core Program
June 14 - September 27
Early Deadline - May 1
Final Deadline - June 5
Entrance Fee: $899
Looking for more information?
Click here for pitch templates and an outline of how to pitch a startup.