NEWS: Silicon Valley-based Founder Institute to Test Area for Interest in Cultivating Entrepreneursh

Idea-stage accelerator to launch if entrepreneurs show sufficient demand

Charleston, WV -- The Founder Institute (http://fi.co), the world’s premier idea-stage accelerator and startup launch program, announced today that it is exploring a new chapter launch in West Virginia’s Greater Kanawha Valley region, in conjunction with Create West Virginia, and the Appalachian Alliance.

Beginning with the Founder Night Out, at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 28, at Bricks & Barrels restaurant in Charleston, the Founder Institute will host a series of free, face-to-face and online introductory entrepreneurship events to gauge interest in a 2016 program. Anyone interested in launching an innovative company in West Virginia is welcome to apply to the program today at http://fi.co/apply/charleston, or attend one of the upcoming events:

• Founder Night Out (April 28th, 06:30 PM): http://fi.co/e/88731

• Making the Leap from Employee to Entrepreneur (May 12th, 06:30 PM): http://fi.co/e/88141

• Startup Funding 101: How to Raise Capital for Your Idea (May 26th, 06:30 PM): http://fi.co/e/88751

Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across over 110 cities and 60 countries, the Founder Institute has helped aspiring technology entrepreneurs launch over 2,100 companies, which have created over 15,000 new jobs. Through the Founder Institute’s challenging and comprehensive step-by-step program, aspiring entrepreneurs can get the structure, mentor support, and global network of entrepreneurs needed to start an enduring company. 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 many of the world’s fastest growing startups have launched with the Founder Institute, including companies like Udemy, Realty Mogul, Itembase, goplaceit, Appota, and many more.

“The key to building a sustainable startup ecosystem is through training collaboration and mentorship at the idea-stage of the company-building process,” says Adeo Ressi, founder and CEO of the Founder Institute. “If we can launch a Founder Institute chapter in West Virginia, we can leverage Silicon Valley-best practices and our global network to help guide the creation of new innovative companies in West Virginia, and the development of a strong local startup culture.”

Ressi is an American entrepreneur and Silicon Valley investor also known as the founder and CEO of TheFunded, which he established in 2007. His previous business ventures include methodfive, Game Trust, and Total New York. He has also served on the board of the X Prize Foundation. In 2014, he co-founded Expansive Ventures, a venture capital investment firm with Jon Soberg.

Leading the Founder Institute’s efforts in Charleston are Sarah Halstead, president of the board of the non-profit Create West Virginia, and Duane Thomas, founder of the Appalachian Alliance.

“The Founder Institute offers us a chance to connect to some of the most committed, forward-thinking experts in Silicon Valley and around the world,” says Halstead. “But more importantly, we’ll be using proven methodologies that enable us to help each other learn, test ideas, and to fail forward. By launching a Founder Institute chapter in this region, we can have access to tech investors, fellow founders, and Silicon Valley expertise, without having to move, or give up what we love about our home state.”

Duane Thomas, co-director of the local Founder Institute, added, “Starting and sustaining a technology business is an arduous journey. Having ties to experienced Silicon Valley entrepreneurs would be an invaluable asset.”

Local, regional and global tech entrepreneurs with ties to West Virginia have signed on to mentor the courses, including serial entrepreneurs Andrew Evans, CPO, StartMonday, Bret Chandler, partner, Triana Energy and president, Propane Technologies, and Dr. Mark Bates of Vascular Dynamics, West Virginia University, and Nexeon MedSystems). The growing list of mentors can be viewed at http://fi.co/mentors/charleston.

Interested participants may fill out an interest form at http://fi.co/apply/charleston before June 5. There is no obligation. Launching a Founder Institute depends on a critical mass of participants. Learn more about the Founder Institute at http://FI.co.

About The Founder Institute

The Founder Institute (http://fi.co) is the world's premier idea-stage accelerator and startup launch program. The Founder Institute offers a comprehensive, step-by-step program providing structure, mentor support, and a global network of entrepreneurs needed to start an enduring company. It’s 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,” says founder Adeo Ressi. Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters in 110 cities and 60 countries, the Founder Institute’s mission is to “Globalize Silicon Valley” and build sustainable startup ecosystems that will create one million new jobs.

The Founder Institute was established in 2009 by Ressi and Jonathan Greechan. It is based in Palo Alto, California. ##