Founder Institute Australia & New Zealand

The Founder Institute Australia & New Zealand is the local chapter of the world's largest pre-seed startup accelerator, dedicated to transforming early-stage ideas into fundable and impactful technology companies. Operating across Australia and New Zealand, the institute provides a highly structured program designed to guide aspiring entrepreneurs through the challenging journey of startup creation, from ideation to initial traction and funding. Since its inception in 2009, the global Founder Institute network has supported over 9,000 entrepreneurs in raising over $2 billion in funding across 100 countries. The Sydney chapter alone has helped launch over 30 companies since its establishment in 2012.

The program serves a diverse group of founders, including individuals with nascent ideas, those with prototypes in progress, or even those with early customer traction. It also caters to aspiring founders who are still employed full-time, solo-founders, teams, and founders of established companies generally less than a few years old, and prior to significant funding or revenue. The core 'FI Core' accelerator is a rigorous, part-time commitment, allowing participants to build their businesses without necessarily quitting their day jobs. The curriculum, refined over 17 years and more than 1,200 cohorts, focuses on practical, business-building assignments, covering critical areas such as customer development, business model generation, team building, and fundraising preparation.

A key differentiator for the Founder Institute is its emphasis on the founder's entrepreneurial DNA rather than solely on the idea itself. The admissions process includes an Entrepreneur DNA Assessment, which has proven highly accurate in predicting entrepreneurial success. Participants receive constant, direct feedback from a vast network of local mentors, comprising experienced operators, investors, and exited founders who understand the specific nuances of the Australian and New Zealand startup ecosystem. These mentors provide weekly guidance during sessions and are available for one-on-one advising. Graduates of the FI Core program gain lifetime access to advanced 'Founder Lab' accelerators and are matched with prospective investors through the FI Venture Network, a global collective of funds actively investing in early funding rounds.

Leadership for the Australia & New Zealand chapter includes Local Directors such as Benjamin Chong, a Partner at Right Click Capital, and Paul Krajewski, who also serves as a Co-Director and is a professional in Product Management and MarTech SaaS. Phoebe Zhang is also a Co-Director for Founder Institute Australia & New Zealand. Their local leadership is crucial in fostering an environment conducive to building great companies in the region. The Founder Institute's mission is to globalise Silicon Valley by empowering talented and motivated entrepreneurs worldwide to build impactful technology companies.