The Chicago Founder Institute, the local chapter of the world's largest pre-seed startup accelerator, is proud to announce the newest Alumni from the Chicago program.
After meticulous selection process and intense four months of aggressive business-building sprints, constant evaluation, and feedback from investors and mentors, just 8 companies were able to make it through.
Each of these Founders have demonstrated a high level of perseverance and creativity, and their businesses have been thoroughly vetted and supported by a panel of Chicago's top startup experts and investors.
And now, without further ado, we present the Alumni of the Chicago program:
- Operation Motors - developing electric cargo moped, Cookee, for urban commuters.
- Kitchen Konnect - AI-driven platform that empowers aspiring chefs by connecting them with affordable, high-quality rental kitchens in churches, schools, and businesses, turning dreams into reality without breaking the bank.
- Hylp - an app designed to help managers and owners who employ hourly and shift staff when employees don’t show up or call out at the last minute
- Vie Inc. - Replacing the life insurance policy loan with a credit card.
- YardWize - Replacing the life insurance policy loan with a credit card.
- Peozzle - helping job seekers, who are frustrated waiting, receive ideal job offers.
- REVVE- helping independent contractors with non traditional incomes qualify for a mortgage hassle-free.
- Green- allowing you to turn your business card into a trackable gift card, giving your potential customers a practical use for the card they receive.
The Chicago program would not have been possible without help, because it truly takes a city to raise a startup.
Join us at Chicago Founder Institute Graduation Event on May 14
Chicago Local Directors
We would first like to thank the Local Directors of the Chicago Founder Institute: Jason Jacobsohn (Managing Partner, Propellant Ventures). Our Local Leaders play an incredibly important role in building the local Founder Institute program, and creating an environment and network in Chicago that is conducive to building to great companies.
In addition, the Chicago program was supported by some of Chicago's top technology organizations, including:
Some of Chicago’s top startup mentors helped our founders in the program, including:
In the Founder Institute's pre-seed accelerator program, early-stage entrepreneurs and teams build their business alongside a critical support network of local startup experts that share equity in their success, and through a structured and challenging business-building process that has helped alumni raise over $1.75BN.
After Graduation, the new Chicago Founder Institute Portfolio Companies now have a fast-growing company that has been fully validated by experienced startup founders, with access to the Founder Institute's global network and post-graduate support programs to continue building their business.
Leaders of the world’s fastest-growing startups have used the Founder Institute to raise funding, building a co-founding team, get into seed-accelerators, generate traction, recruit a team, build a product, transition from employee to entrepreneur, and more. Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 200+ cities and 100+ countries, the Founder Institute’s mission is to Globalize Silicon Valley and empower talented and motivated entrepreneurs to build companies that will create one million new jobs.
The next Chicago Founder Institute program is being planned now. If you are interested in being notified when applications open, visit FI.co/apply/chicago.
Alumni of the Founder Institute are creating some of the world's fastest growing startups, having raised over $1.75BN in funding, and building products people love across over 200 cities worldwide.
See the most recent news from our Grads at FI.co/news, or learn more about their stories at FI.co/graduates.
