The Founder Institute was founded in Silicon Valley in 2009. Since 2013, the accelerator has also enriched the Munich ecosystem. We asked Nathan Evans from the Founder Institute's leadership team how exactly.
Munich Startup: Please introduce yourselves briefly.
Nathan Evans: The Founder Institute is the world's leading preseed startup accelerator: We bring founders and those who want to become founders to the next level within our 14-week Acceleratorprogram from idea to owning your own company. The core of the program is weekly mentoring sessions with founders, CEOs, investors, and leading figures from the Munich startup ecosystem.
What do you focus on when working with startups?
The Founder Institute is known as one of the toughest accelerator programs in the world. Our approach can probably be described as "tough love." Founders receive honest feedback and open criticism from our experienced mentors and local directors. It's important to us that founders fully focus on company building during our 14-week program: Participants must plan on committing 20-30 hours per week. Those who can't manage this will struggle to keep up with the pace of the program.
Don't lose sight of the bigger picture
“To be successful, a startup must…”
…have a good team, a good product-market fit, experienced mentors and the right timing.
Why does a good startup need an accelerator at all?
Founders typically face significant challenges at the beginning: branding, funding, and hiring—to name just a few. Those who don't receive appropriate support here often lose sight of the bigger picture. A good accelerator helps with best practices and access to experienced partners who provide startups with quick and competent support on a variety of topics, enabling them to move forward quickly.
Sustainability, Impact and Female Founders
What is the biggest mistake a startup can make?
After CB Insights The main reason startups fail is a lack of product-market fit. To identify this misfit and pivot, if necessary, startups need time and money. Many founders underestimate how difficult it is to build a company.
The trend of the year is…!
Sustainability, Impact and Female Founders.
What characteristics make the Munich startup scene so special?
The variety of diverse programs and networks makes Munich a highly relevant startup hub. The two universities and the university of applied sciences ensure that there is a wealth of talent interested in startups.
Last but not least: Who do startups approach when they want to talk to you?
All Local Directors are happy to exchange ideas with potential founders. You can reach us via LinkedIn, by email or in person at one of our events, which we organize through our Meetup Group organize.
