Founder Institute San Francisco, Oakland & Las Vegas

Want Feedback on Your Pitch? Perfect your pitch through practice and expert feedback! Great founders know pitching isn't just about funding—it's about clearly communicating your vision. Our amazing judges are ready to provide the straight-forward, no BS, actionable feedback you need. Meet our expert panel featuring Madeline Duva, Mohak Saxena and our own Jeni C., who've evaluated hundreds of startups and know exactly what makes a winning pitch. So Let's Get Better Together! Pre-seed founders: Present your startup and receive personalized critique from our renowned judges who've backed successful companies. Spectators: Watch our expert panel break down real pitches in real-time—learn what impresses investors and what falls flat. How It Works: Our judges will evaluate pre-submitted pitches AND surprise elevator pitches Submit your pitch: https://lnkd.in/gjFUEBA5 RSVP for meeting link: https://lu.ma/cf7adxj5 Interested in FI SF/OAK Spring cohort? Join our AMA: https://lu.ma/2lp5f3zg Apply by 4/1: https://lnkd.in/gkgGYxcs Jeni C. Scout Tweedie-Yates Pete Biggam Dominique Kim, MPH Fahima Guemri Janet Todorova Madeline Duva Mohak Saxena Mariane Bekker

Want Feedback? Straight-forward, no bullsh*t, actionable feedback?? I've been judging a lot of pitch events. Afterwards, I've been receiving a lot of follow-up messages: "Which startup pitch I liked the most and why??What characteristics did the pitch winners have that impressed us the most??Advice on what the Pitchers could've done differently to be better?"? And I realized, it's so true!?There isn't really allocated time to provide commentary. Not only to the Founders pitching but also to the audience of Founders listening.?*HUMPH!*? So! If you're a pre-seed startup looking for honest feedback on their start-up, pitch or elevator pitch...?Come pitch! ?? Spectators are welcome! Even if you don't want to pitch, you're invited to watch how the panel critique business ideas. Who Pitches? We will be selecting both pre-submitted pitches & Audience elevator pitches. ??If you'd like to pre-submit your pitch: https://lnkd.in/gjFUEBA5 ??RSVP (for the meeting link): https://lu.ma/cf7adxj5 Interested in learning more about the upcoming FI SF/OAK Spring cohort? ?Join our AMA: https://lu.ma/2lp5f3zg Or ??Apply by 4/1: https://lnkd.in/gkgGYxcs Jeni C., Saro Nikraz, Scout Tweedie-Yates, Pete Biggam, Dominique Kim, MPH, Fahima Guemri, Janet Todorova, Madeline Duva, Mohak Saxena, Mariane Bekker

I will be speaking at the panel on How to Create a Winning Pitch?at?the Nordic Funding Day 2025 organized by?Connect Sverige Region ?st?and?Naimul Abd. The Nordic region is one of my absolute favorite ecosystems in the global startup and venture landscape. The innovation, leadership, vision, and commitment to social impact is like nothing I have seen prior. ?????? I love working with Nordic founders in stakeholder engagement and storytelling - They surely have a lot worth engaging in - and much to tell stories about... but come from a place of humility and authenticity. Kudos. I am looking forward to this upcoming #NordicFundingDay event. Registration information below. - When: 27th March 2025 (All-Day Online?Summit) - Register:?https://lnkd.in/gxQY-NqD #startups #funding #nordics

Need a Mental Break??You're not alone!! Weary founders take the load off. We know you've been hustling. Join us for some good food, libations, cool people ???? Folks have been inquiring as to when our next gathering will be.???? ??It'll be a time to kick back and chill. ??---Building a start-up is hard & the roller coaster is real. By nature it's isolating especially in the early stages. ??---Hangout with folks in the trenches with you! Struggling with similar things & trying to achieve similar goals. Some hustlers just gotta hustle. ??---Meet the investors, Mentors & SF/OAK Team. Ask questions & get to know the people that help entrepreneurs get to traction and funding. ??---Meet FI Grads who've been in your shoes & what helped them. 3/25 @5pm ????Please RSVP (for entry): https://lu.ma/k4ybhocw ??Don't miss this event especially if you'd like to learn more or are interested in SF/OAK's Spring program! ?? https://lnkd.in/gkgGYxcs If you're not, no worries! Come and take break with us! Jeni C., Saro Nikraz, Scout Tweedie-Yates, ?? Mercedes Bankston, Pete Biggam, Dominique Kim, MPH, Mariane Bekker, Jasmine Shih, Merve Isler, Claire Xie, Sako M, Anna Yuan, Natalie Pan, Kyosuke Togami, Eli Al-Shamari, Steven Echtman, Dwayne Campbell, Pavel Vinitsky, PhD, Kristopher Floyd, Dylan Peters, Adam Regent, Janet Todorova

Reclaim. Your. Time. AI is transforming how startups ideate, build, and scale—giving early-stage entrepreneurs a powerful edge in execution and efficiency. Join us for a hands-on session on how pre-seed founders can integrate AI into their workflows to accelerate their path to success. We'll explore key areas where AI can provide immediate value, including: - Customer Development: Use AI-powered tools to analyze market trends and refine your target audience before launching. - Product Development & Testing: Discover how AI can assist in rapid prototyping, code generation, and UX/UI enhancements, reducing development cycles and costs. Whether you're validating an idea, iterating on your MVP, or strategizing for growth, this session will provide actionable insights and AI-powered tools to help you move faster and smarter, while being aware of potential risks and issues. https://lu.ma/rgnh2wgs Hosted by?Founder Institute?&?Founders Bay Learn more about the SF program.?Meet the SF Directors!??Jeni?&?Saro Apply?to our upcoming SF Spring cohort https://lnkd.in/eDvmevrF Jeni C. Saro Nikraz Scout Tweedie-Yates Pete Biggam Dominique Kim, MPH Janet Todorova Jonathan Greechan Ryan Micheletti Daniyal Ashraf Fahima Guemri Mariane Bekker Merve Isler Claire Xie?Natalie Pan? Kyosuke Togami Eli Al-Shamari Steven Echtman?Dwayne Campbell?

Finally back in the Bay, after a 3 month sabbatical. Thrilled that Startup Grind is my first event of the year!?Excited to be sharing the stage with two amazing people and speaking on some of my favorite topics: Investing + How to Invest + Early Stage Founders.? Mariane Bekker & Kristopher Floyd Love this: "We Are Silicon Valley - Uniting the Best of the Bay" James Gee thank you for having me! Interested? ?? Register here: https://lnkd.in/g3sTE72G ?? Founder Institute folks ?? : 25% off w/ FI_WASV_25 *Whew* Look at this line-up!?? ?? 2:00 - 2:05 – Welcome to Springline & We Are Silicon Valley ?? 2:05 - 2:25 – The Art & Science of Bold Bets: Decision-Making, Investing, and Building Movements - Eric Buatois & Michelle Florendo ?? 2:30 - 2:55 – AI at the Early Stage: What Investors Want in 2025 - Jeff Seibert & Tim Tully ? 3:00 - 3:25 – AI Infra Today: Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities - David Goldman ?? 3:30 - 3:55 – How To Start Investing In Startups - Kristopher Floyd & Jeni C. ?? 4:00 - 4:25 – Top FinTech Trends to Watch in 2025 - Karly Ko, Gwyneth Borden & Sharon Olexy ?? 4:30 - 4:55 – Building Billion-Dollar Companies - Ashmeet Sidana, Jeremiah Owyang, Kayvan Baroumand & Preethy Padmanabhan ?? 5:00 - 5:25 – The Future of Crypto and Web3 - Chris Kelly & Jonathan Brill ?? 5:30 - 5:55 – The Founder’s Journey: Scaling Companies and Supporting the Next Wave - Travis Hedge & Vlad Magdalin ??Meet the Bay's Community Pillars! Derek Andersen, Brian?? Sparkes, AJ Thomas, Nick Larson, Mariane Bekker, Bill Barry, Deep S., Preethy Padmanabhan, Dasha Shunina ? #JustAwesome.? ?Hope to see you there!? #WeAreSiliconValley #KillingIt #StartupGrind #CommunityBuilders #Innovation #Networking

?? Silicon Valley is coming together like never before! ?? Excited to be speaking tomorrow at 3:30pm with Kristopher Floyd and Jeni C. at Startup Grind We Are Silicon Valley – Uniting the Best of the Bay about How To Start Investing In Startups This event is bringing together the top founders, investors, and operators to explore the past, present, and future of the Valley. ?? Register here: https://lnkd.in/g3sTE72G 25% off tickets use code:?FoundersBay_25 Comment below for a free ticket!!! #WeAreSiliconValley #StartupGrind #CommunityBuilders #Innovation #Networking

?? The Stage Is Set… LITERALLY! ?? WE ARE SILICON VALLEY is just one week away, and we’re bringing together the best in AI, fintech, crypto, and venture for an unforgettable day of insights, connections, and big ideas. ?? https://lnkd.in/eV9-m8wg ?? Final lineup just dropped! 8 dynamic sessions featuring top-tier speakers and your favorite community builders, all leading up to a powerhouse founder finale before the happy hour kicks off. ?? Full agenda: ?? 2:00 - 2:05 – Welcome to Springline & We Are Silicon Valley ?? 2:05 - 2:25 – The Art & Science of Bold Bets: Decision-Making, Investing, and Building Movements - Eric Buatois & Michelle Florendo ?? 2:30 - 2:55 – AI at the Early Stage: What Investors Want in 2025 - Jeff Seibert & Tim Tully ? 3:00 - 3:25 – AI Infra Today: Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities - David Goldman ?? 3:30 - 3:55 – How To Start Investing In Startups - Kristopher Floyd & Jeni C. ?? 4:00 - 4:25 – Top FinTech Trends to Watch in 2025 - Karly Ko, Gwyneth Borden & Sharon Olexy ?? 4:30 - 4:55 – Building Billion-Dollar Companies - Ashmeet Sidana, Jeremiah Owyang, Kayvan Baroumand & Preethy Padmanabhan ?? 5:00 - 5:25 – The Future of Crypto and Web3 - Chris Kelly & Jonathan Brill ?? 5:30 - 5:55 – The Founder’s Journey: Scaling Companies and Supporting the Next Wave - Travis Hedge & Vlad Magdalin ? Ticket prices go up at midnight! See you there! #startups #venture #AI #crypto #fundraising #founders #WeAreSiliconValley Brian?? Sparkes AJ Thomas ??Mariane Bekker Bill Barry Dasha Shunina Deep S. Nick Larson Derek Andersen

What happens when you assemble the Avengers of Silicon Valley Community Builders? You get: ?? WE ARE SILICON VALLEY ?? On March 7, we’re bringing together the best of the Bay for a one-of-a-kind event at Springline, Menlo Park—a gathering of 350+ founders, investors, and community leaders ready to share insights, make connections, and push boundaries. A powerhouse lineup of your favorite community builders, including: ?? Derek Andersen - Startup Grind ?? Brian?? Sparkes - Silicon Valley Venture ?? AJ Thomas ?? - Good Trouble Ventures ?? Nick Larson - Silicon Zombies Podcast ?? Mariane Bekker - Women Founders Bay ?? Bill Barry - IgniteGTM ?? Deep S. - Bay Area Startup OG ?? Preethy Padmanabhan - 10x Growth Strategist Podcast & Startup Mentor ?? Dasha Shunina - WomenTechMeetup ?? Springline & CANOPY - The new home for founders & investors in Menlo Park ?? Special Guest Host: Jeff Seibert - Digits ?? Location: Springline, Menlo Park ? Doors Open: 1 PM ?? The Agenda - 8 short sessions: ???The Art & Science of Bold Bets: Decision-Making, Investing, and Building Movements ?? AI at the Early Stage: What Investors Want in 2025 ?? Angel Investing in the Bay Area ?? AI Infra Today: Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities ?? Top FinTech Trends to Watch in 2025 ?? Building Billion-Dollar Companies? ?? The Future of?Crypto and Web 3? ?? Special Guest: Closing Keynote (Coming soon) ?? Happy Hour & Live Music (6:00 – 7:30 PM) – Unwind, connect & celebrate with the best in the startup world. ?? Catering by Che Fico (because great ideas need great food). This isn’t just an event—it’s a movement. If you’re building, investing, or innovating in the Valley, this is where you need to be. Don’t miss it. Ticket/Event link in the comments - grab one whilst you can. ?? Tag a founder or investor who should be in the room! ?? #startups #venture #community #AI #crypto #fundraising #founder #investing

When you take Serval's Investability Assessment, below is a sample screenshot of the top of the report you get. Try it now, https://lnkd.in/eBQsSj_h #investable #assessment #startups #investability_assessment #score Serval Ventures Eric J. Becker Tim Garrabrant Suresh Kumar Kundan Malcolm Paul Sledge Smith Siobhan McNamara Ellen Itskovitz, CFA Stanford University Graduate School of Business Stanford LEAD ??Guc Ozenci Jeni C. Dominique Kim, MPH Ferdinand Mühlh?user ?????? Jonathan Greechan Bill Rivkin ?? Mercedes Bankston Ignacio Castro Sunil Sharma Richard Cristina Martín Martinez Kai Malkwitz Juan Lacey Kenneth Parker Reid Hamilton Anush R. Will Lesher-Pierson Victoria Watkins, Esq. Steve Cohen Pam Teagarden, MAPP Doug Applegate Dr. Glennis Mehra