Last week, Founders Embassy hosted the first-ever virtual intensive course for international entrepreneurs. The founders of 34 startups from 18 different countries joined us to participate in over 15 back-to-back roundtable discussions with some of Silicon Valley’s most respected investors, founders, and tech experts. We learned that despite the pandemic, “Silicon Valley is open” and investors are still actively looking for companies with compelling stories, impressive growth, and strong teams, no matter where they’re based. While proximity to Silicon Valley is no longer considered essential, it is imperative that you understand the mindset here and build a robust network. During the series, founders discovered new ways to identify customers, think about growth, authentically tell their story, and approach investors and mentors in the Valley.
Read MoreIt goes without saying that these are unprecedented times. Founders and investors are making drastic adjustments on a daily, even hourly basis in hopes to adjust to the unknown. Every company and team is unique, and our hope is that through sharing best practices and collaborating, we will come out of this season stronger and more resilient than ever before.
Last week, we sat down with one of our Fall 2020 class founders Xan, founder and CEO of Sportside, to learn what’s keeping them up at night, how they’re adjusting to the COVID-19 crisis, and more:
Read MoreFE's Fall 2019 program wouldn't have been possible if it weren't for the generous time given by the incredible Thought Leader community of mentors, experts, investors and coaches. Congratulations to the Fall 2019 class and a huge thank you to the 45 outstanding individuals who contributed to the program!
Read More*Founders Embassy was named one of the top 40 accelerators in North America in 2019 - and top 7 in Silicon Valley!*
Joining a top accelerator or incubator might be a smart idea when your startup company is looking to take the next step in its growth.
From funding to mentorship to networking to swanky coworking spaces to educational resources, there are tons of great accelerators and incubators out there that are designed to build and grow successful startups.
But because there are so many out there, it can sometimes be an overwhelming process to really know which one is right for you.
Read MoreFounders Embassy and their partners are dedicated to the support, education, and advancement of international entrepreneurs, and together with their sponsors are proud to invite applications for the fourth Founders Embassy class, taking place in San Francisco from June 6th to 20th. Post-seed funded startups with traction in their home markets, an international presence or at least one immigrant co-founder, and a demonstrated need for Silicon Valley connections, knowledge, and/or capital are invited to apply here.
Read MoreDear Friends,
Your incredible contributions have made the first calendar year of Founders Embassy a remarkable success. Thank you! Together, we're democratizing access to Silicon Valley so innovators from all over the world can thrive. We couldn’t be more excited for what we have in store for 2019.
Over the last 12 months, we have developed and hosted two of our flagship two-week programs, welcoming companies from around the globe to San Francisco for arguably the most intensive entrepreneur bootcamp in existence. Experts from our community have led workshops in hiring, growth, sales, fundraising and more to give these founders a leg up in the startup scene.
Read More…the startup was selected as the only German company from over 400 international applicants by the Founders Embassy and invited to San Francisco. The Founders Embassy addresses its offer to international entrepreneurs to give them access to Silicon Valley.
Andee Gardiner, co-founder of Founders Embassy is more than happy to have ClickClickDrive as a part of their fall 2018 class: "There are a handful of things that stood out to us about Aibek's company during our initial interview process, including his breadth of knowledge regarding how the company could translate into the US and other markets, the impressive traction their company has achieved with narrow resources, and their focus on creating a solution for a specific major life moment. We look forward to supporting the company in creating this solution at scale as they continue to expand internationally."
Read MoreAndee Gardiner noticed that many of the companies she worked with at her accelerator had the same strategy for attracting interest from U.S. investors: Change the location of their company on LinkedIn. “We’ve had 400 applicants and I can’t tell you how many of them say San Francisco on their LinkedIn (profile) and of course it took a phone call to learn that they’re not here,” said Gardiner, who is a co-founder of San Francisco-based Founders Embassy, an accelerator for international and immigrant founders. This type of startup catfishing is a symptom of a bigger challenge for international founders, Gardiner said: How do you raise money from top tier venture capital firms if you’re company is in another country? That’s where Founders Embassy comes in. The accelerator bills itself a two week crash course in all things Silicon Valley for international or immigrant founders.
Read MoreFounders Embassy’s Borderless Summit was held on June 5th, 2018, in the heart of the Mission, one of San Francisco’s most beloved neighborhoods. Attendees packed into the Grand Theater, a unique historic venue which gave the day a vibrant, eclectic feel from the moment guests stepped in the door. As chatter increased throughout the networking breakfast, excitement grew as the first-ever Founders Embassy class demoed their startups in front of hundreds of investors, thought leaders and fellow Silicon Valley entrepreneurs.
The day ahead would include 18 on-stage talks, startup pitches, panels and fireside chats, making it perhaps one of the most packed lineups ever to be attempted in one short day. Below is a comprehensive recap of what you missed:
Read MoreImmigrants are twice as likely to start businesses in the United States than American-born citizens, according to the Kauffman Foundation. However, because the Department of Homeland Security is rescinding the Obama Administration’s International Entrepreneur Rule, which allowed foreign-born entrepreneurs to stay in the US for up to five years to expand their businesses, immigrant entrepreneurship is declining.
Read MoreKnowledge is power, and knowledge from Silicon Valley's brightest minds is the kind of power that lives with international founders forever. We're thrilled to share some of the most important takeaways from the Summer 2018 Founders Embassy class. Several seasons a year, Founders Embassy selects and welcomes small classes of founders from diverse backgrounds to Silicon Valley for a rigorous two-week-long bootcamp-style acceleration program.
Read MoreIt’s time to democratize access to Silicon Valley. That’s why we started Founders Embassy. It’s the first accelerator with the mission to give international entrepreneurs the connections, capital, and know-how to build successful companies here or at home. Too often, these resources are reserved exclusively for privileged founders with Ivy League educations who look like the last crop of big CEOs. So we’ve launched an equity-free two-week bootcamp-style accelerator in San Francisco that gives top global startups an entryway to the epicenter of technology.
Read MoreStartups who are looking to get a deep-dive into Silicon Valley but don’t want to give away equity have not had many options to choose from in the past. There are several government-backed accelerators which simply house startups in facilities and arrange pitch nights. But many of those demos tend to sink without trace. What if you were hand-picked by a programme which simply charged you for a service?
That’s the general idea behind Founders Embassy which is now releasing its first class of 8 founders joining them in SF this summer.
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