About Founder Institute

The world's most proven tech startup-building network.

Based in Silicon Valley with chapters across more than 100 countries, the Founder Institute turns ideas into fundable tech startups, and tech startups into global businesses. Since 2009, its structured pre-seed programs have helped over 9,000 entrepreneurs raise more than $2 billion.

Its mission is to empower communities of talented, motivated people to build impactful technology companies worldwide. That mission sits right alongside our own.

Critical support network

An Equity Collective of mentors and founders invested in each company's success, plus a lifetime of support programs and partners.

Structured methodology

Proven business-building sprints tell founders what to work on and when, backed by the world's largest network of startup mentors.

A challenging process

Fewer than 40% of founders make it through. Those who do are fast-tracked toward funding via the Funding Lab and Virtual Demo Days.

Hands-on mentorship

Our CEO mentors the "Cofounders and Team" session.

In addition to the partnership, our founder and CEO, Manoj Ranaweera, personally mentors the Founder Institute "Cofounders and Team" session. Drawing on 22 years of tech startup experience, he helps founders optimise the team, make the early hires that matter and build a structured team that can carry the company through the cohort and beyond.

20% off for every cohort member.

Every Founder Institute founder in our partner chapters can claim up to 20% off SkilledUp Life monthly and annual plans for their first year. It is a tangible benefit you extend to your cohort at no cost to you.

• Up to 20% off monthly and annual plans in the first year.
• Cohort founders build whole teams from skilled Volunteers.
• Capital stretches further between funding rounds.

Cohort members, reach out to your Chapter leader to obtain the discount code.

Case study · FI Berlin

travelsales.ai built a product team in under a month.

travelsales.ai, a Founder Institute Berlin cohort startup building the first AI-powered ground group transportation network, joined SkilledUp Life and, in less than one month of subscribing, already recruited 4 skilled Volunteers to strengthen its product team.

• Skilled Volunteers recruited: 4
• From subscribing to building: <1 month
• FI Berlin Cohort startup

Built for every stage

Three plans that map to the cohort journey.

Our plans follow the same path Founder Institute founders travel, from validating an idea to building the product and going to market. Volunteers join at the stage that matters most right now.

[Plan 01
Idea Validation
Pressure test the problem, the market and the early concept with skilled Volunteers before writing a line of code, exactly the work the cohort starts with.
\

• Market research
• Customer interviews
• Strategy
  Explore this plan →](/content/idea-validation-team-for-tech-startups/index.html)
  [Plan 02
  Product Development
  Build a first version with designers, developers and product Volunteers, so founders arrive at Demo Day with something real to show.
  \
• Product
• Design
• Engineering
  Explore this plan →](/content/product-development-team-for-tech-startups/index.html)
  [Plan 03
  Go To Market
  Find first users and traction with marketing, sales and growth Volunteers, the momentum that makes a startup fundable.
  \
• Marketing
• Sales
• Growth
  Explore this plan →](/content/go-to-market-team-marketing-sales-and-customer-success-for-tech-startups/index.html)

Our chapters

Where we partner with the Founder Institute.

We work with Founder Institute communities, giving tech founders in Europe, South Asia and other regions access to the 69,000+ strong SkilledUp Life Volunteer network.

FI Berlin

Germany · Europe

The Founder Institute Berlin and Germany chapter helps founders build fundable, global startups through a structured, mentor-led program, with SkilledUp Life among its support partners.

• Format: Virtual, with in-person networking
• Focus: Pre-seed idea to fundable startup
• Community: Berlin, Munich, Cologne, Frankfurt
• Mentor network: Funding Lab, Demo Days

FI South Asia

Regional · South Asia

The Founder Institute South Asia program brings the same proven methodology to founders across the region, spanning multiple country chapters and a fast-growing startup community.

• Format: Virtual, region-wide cohort
• Focus: Pre-seed idea to fundable startup
• Community: Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives and more

How to put SkilledUp Life to work.

If you are building your company through the Founder Institute, here is how to tap the Volunteer community.

STEP 01

Create a company account

Set up your startup on the SkilledUp Life platform in minutes.

STEP 02

Post your Opportunities

Describe the roles you need across product, marketing, sales, HR and more.

STEP 03

Build your team

Review applications from skilled Volunteers and sign Volunteer Agreements.

STEP 04

Accelerate

Ship faster, stretch your runway and arrive at your next round in stronger shape.

Start with us on Day 1 of the cohort.

Do not wait for the "Cofounders and Team" session to begin building. Founders who join SkilledUp Life from Day 1 put a team to work straight away and show real growth across the cohort, arriving at the team session with momentum instead of a to-do list.

Run a Founder Institute chapter?

We would love to extend this partnership to more FI communities. Reach out through Contact Us and our partnerships team will be in touch.