The document provides information about becoming a director for the Founder Institute, the world's largest pre-seed accelerator program. As a director, you would help run an accelerator program in your local community to support entrepreneurs. Key responsibilities include facilitating weekly events, mentoring founders, recruiting local mentors and sponsors, and helping startups grow. In return, directors gain experience, build their professional network, and can earn equity from successful companies. The application process involves filling out forms, interviews, and a trial period to launch and run an accelerator semester locally.
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What does Founder Institute (FI) Do?
FI’s flagship pre-seed accelerator* program validates startups for further growth
Hackathon Venture CapitalSeed AcceleratorPre-Seed Accelerator
Ideation Validation Early Growth Expansion
Weeks 1-5 Weeks 6-14
*An ‘accelerator’ is a ~3 month intensive program to push a company forward. ‘Incubators’ provide space, and no fixed curriculum.
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Why Be a Director?
Community
You want to join a robust global network with deep roots in Silicon Valley.
Leadership
You want to position yourself as a leader in your local startup ecosystem.
Use Your Time Efficiently
Run your own accelerator in only 8-10 hours a week.
Own a Diverse Portfolio
You want equity in the most exciting startups in your ecosystem.
Help Entrepreneurs
You are looking to give back to your startup community.
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A tech entrepreneur, whose active involvement in the Silicon Valley startup
ecosystem, and links to Tunisia, make her invaluable to her founders
around the world.
Emna Ghariani, Tunisia
A former tech entrepreneur, deeply involved in the entrepreneurial scene
globally through his involvement in Startup Chile, Startup Peru, Techstars
and more.
Sergio A. Escobar, Montreal
Meet Some of Our Directors
Director
Characteristics:
• You have 5-10 years
of entrepreneurial
experience
• You have a robust
local entrepreneurial
network
• Open to part time
work to supplement
other activities
Canadian entrepreneur now building companies in Brazil via the multi-
accelerator hub, Jupter. Helping to expand the Founder Institute, which
boosts his abilities to find, fund and launch the next great startups.
Nima Kaz, Brazil
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FI Headquarters
Utilizes a combination of
both automated,
ongoing, and special
endeavors to help local
directors and create
successful semesters.
Global Marketing Channels
Global Webinars
Global Updates
List
Social Media Global
Conference Call
Automated
Emails
Public Relations Meetup Group
Global Insight
Newsletter
Content
Marketing
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Operational Support
FI Headquarters
Utilizes a combination of
both automated,
ongoing, and special
endeavors to help local
directors and create
successful semesters. Online Teaching
Platform
Full Curriculum Billing &
Collections
Dedicated
Support Contact
Online
Management Tools
Simple
Methodology
Best Practice
Calls
Sales Materials
for Sponsors
Compelling
Mentor Offering
Legal
Agreements
All
Admissions
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What You Do
Build a team of 2-3 directors who between you make a 6 month
commitment to:
• run / facilitate local events (1 night/week)
• support and monitor the work of your founders
• recruit local mentors
• recruit / partner with local ecosystem players
• recruit local sponsors (optional: For Personal Income)
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What does an FI Founder Look Like?
Founder
Demographics:
• Average age: 32-34
depending on the
region
• Many have between
5 and 15 years of
experience in their
field
• The majority of our
founders have a
technical
background.
Founder Characteristics
• Often founders are hardworking and organized, but are looking to
leave their current job, or they are experienced entrepreneurs
who are looking to start another company, this time with more
structure.
• Based on our DNA Assessment, we know that many of our
founders have high conscientiousness, high extroversion,
moderate agreeableness, and are self starters.
• Most of our founders excel in problem solving and enjoy daily
challenges.
• Many have extensive experience in their vertical, but could use a
network like FI to find their co-founder, and refine skills they don’t
have.
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Our Shared Equity Pool
Graduates25%
75%
Distributed to
the other
participants
25% Directors
Returns are shared among
everyone who supported
the cohort (including
graduates)
Everyone is incentivized
to help build great
companies
Graduates contribute
4% in warrants to a
15-year pool
Mentors25%
25%
Founder
Institute
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Puerto Rico
“The connections, networks
and camaraderie you develop
with other entrepreneurs
doing amazing things are
unparalleled. Join the FI
community today - you won't
regret it!”
Director, Toronto
“The online tools and support
team let me get the fun of
running an accelerator, where
I can help founders achieve
their dreams, for only a one
day per week commitment.”
Director Testimonials
Our directors are
founders and local
community builders
Directors often play
multiple roles, giving
them a wide reach
within their startup
ecosystems. This
makes them strong
advocates.
Eugenio Perea
Director, Mexico City
“The Founder Institute has
helped me immensely. It has
opened doors at every level,
and increased my credibility
in the ecosystem.”
Marjeta Tomulic
Vehovec
Director, Zagreb
“I love that my work has an
impact on the whole
ecosystem, because every
new company potentially
creates new and added value
for everyone.”
Sofia Stolberg Kamal Hassan
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Your Next Steps From Here
1. Director
Onboarding
1.Fill out application and
survey.
2.Q&A call with FI’s founder,
Adeo Ressi
3.Take our entrepreneurial
DNA test (see fi.co/DNA)
4.Recommend candidate(s)
to complete team of 2-3
5.Team Assessment
(~2-4 weeks)
Month 1
2. Exploratory
Market Test
7.3-4 Market Test Events
8.75 Applicants and 30
Mentors
9.Launch Semester
(~3-4 weeks)
Month 2 Month 3
3. Launch
11. Recruiting Events
12. Run the
Semester
13. Graduation
(~ 20 weeks)