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FOUNDER.org

North America, California, United States, San Francisco

Description

FOUNDER.org is a distinctive San Francisco-based non-profit organization dedicated to fostering the next generation of entrepreneurs by supporting student-led startups. Established with a mission to help university students transform their innovative ideas into viable companies, FOUNDER.org operates a comprehensive company-building program. It specifically targets student founders, providing them with the essential resources, mentorship, and capital needed to navigate the early stages of venture creation.

The core of FOUNDER.org's support is its intensive 12-month program, which is designed to guide student entrepreneurs through the complexities of launching and scaling a business. A key component of this program is the direct financial assistance provided; each company selected for the program receives $100,000 in capital. This significant initial funding is crucial for student teams who often lack access to traditional venture capital sources at such an early stage. Annually, FOUNDER.org selects approximately 20 promising student-led companies to join its cohort, ensuring focused attention and tailored support for each participant.

Beyond the financial investment, FOUNDER.org offers a robust ecosystem of support. This includes access to a network of experienced mentors, industry experts, and fellow entrepreneurs who provide invaluable guidance on product development, market strategy, fundraising, and team building. The program emphasizes practical learning and hands-on development, aiming to equip students with the entrepreneurial skills and mindset necessary for long-term success. By bridging the gap between academia and the startup world, FOUNDER.org plays a vital role in cultivating a new wave of innovation.

Investor Profile

FOUNDER.org has backed more than 41 startups, with 0 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 22 rounds, about 54% of its total and boasts 6 exits across its portfolio.

Investment Focus Highlights

  • Concentrates on Grant, Seed, Series A rounds (top funding stages).
  • Majority of deals are located in United States, United Kingdom, Germany.
  • Strong thematic focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI), Software, Machine Learning.
  • Typical check size: $100K.

Stage Focus

  • Grant (46%)
  • Seed (22%)
  • Series A (12%)
  • Convertible Note (7%)
  • Angel (5%)
  • Pre Seed (5%)
  • Series Unknown (2%)

Country Focus

  • United States (56%)
  • United Kingdom (15%)
  • Germany (10%)
  • Sweden (7%)
  • France (5%)
  • Finland (2%)
  • Switzerland (2%)
  • United Arab Emirates (2%)

Industry Focus

  • Artificial Intelligence (Ai)
  • Software
  • Machine Learning
  • Health Care
  • Health Diagnostics
  • Information Technology
  • Medical Device
  • Mhealth
  • Saas
  • Biotechnology
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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn who this investor regularly partners with—both firms and angels—and explore their latest activity.

Who does FOUNDER.org frequently co-invest with?

Oyster Angel Fund
North America, Massachusetts, United States, Belmont
Co-Investments: 1
Team Builder Ventures
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Co-Investments: 1
IS
North America, California, United States, Palo Alto
Co-Investments: 2
DigiTx Partners
North America, California, United States, Brisbane
Co-Investments: 1
Artis Ventures (AV)
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Co-Investments: 1
AME Cloud Ventures
North America, California, United States, Palo Alto
Co-Investments: 1
Scrum Ventures
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Co-Investments: 1
Metatron Global
Europe, Hlavni mesto Praha, Czech Republic, Prague
Co-Investments: 1
DHVC
North America, California, United States, Palo Alto
Co-Investments: 1
StartX (Stanford-StartX Fund)
North America, California, United States, Palo Alto
Co-Investments: 3

Which angels does FOUNDER.org often collaborate with?

GT
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Shared Deals: 1
AL
North America, United States
Shared Deals: 1
SE
North America, California, United States, Burlingame
Shared Deals: 1
BL
North America, California, United States, Palo Alto
Shared Deals: 1
Damon Ball
North America, New York, United States, New York
Shared Deals: 1
MB
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Shared Deals: 2
Shared Deals: 1
BC
North America, Massachusetts, United States, Boston
Shared Deals: 1
David G Brown
North America, Wyoming, United States, Jackson
Shared Deals: 1
JD
North America, Massachusetts, United States, Boston
Shared Deals: 1

What are some of recent deals done by FOUNDER.org?

Upward Farms

Brooklyn, New York, United States

Upward Farms grows high ecological and quality standard leafy greens and fish to nourish people, families, and the planet.

AgricultureAgTechFarmers MarketFarming
SeedMay 31, 2018
Amount Raised: $5,000,000
Eko Health

Emeryville, California, United States

Eko Health is a digital health company providing digital stethoscopes and an AI detection platform for diagnosing heart and lung diseases.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)Health CareHealth DiagnosticsMachine LearningMedical DevicemHealthSoftware
Series AMar 1, 2018
Amount Raised: $5,000,000
RapidSOS

New York, New York, United States

RapidSOS is an intelligent safety platform that connects devices, apps, and sensors for safety agents.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)Mobile AppsPublic Safety
Series AApr 25, 2017
Amount Raised: $14,000,000
HeySuccess

London, England, United Kingdom

The default platform for international student mobility.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)Career PlanningEducationHigher EducationUniversities
AngelSep 23, 2016
Amount Raised: $200,000
KONUX

Munich, Bayern, Germany

KONUX is the first AI scale-up offering predictive maintenance, network usage, monitoring and planning solutions for railway infrastructure.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)Information TechnologyMachine LearningRailroadSoftware
Series AApr 8, 2016
Amount Raised: $7,500,000
Verdigris Technologies

Moffett Field, California, United States

Verdigris Technologies is a SaaS-based platform that develops artificial intelligence in order to optimize energy consumption.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)Big DataEnergyInternet of ThingsSaaS
Series AMar 24, 2016
Amount Raised: $6,000,000
AlphaSheets

San Francisco, California, United States

Intelligent interfaces to computing

CollaborationFinanceProfessional ServicesSoftware
SeedDec 5, 2015
Amount Raised: $5,465,000
Stringr

New York, New York, United States

Stringr is a remote video gathering and GenAI video production platform for broadcast and online journalism.

BroadcastingContent MarketingDigital MediaGenerative AINewsSaaSSoftwareVideoVideo EditingVideo Streaming
AngelDec 1, 2015
Amount Raised: $1,500,000
Clara Health

San Francisco, California, United States

Clara Health empowers patients to find the right clinical trial for them.

Clinical TrialsHealth CarePharmaceuticalSaaSSoftware
Convertible NoteNov 15, 2015
Amount Raised: $10,000
ICEYE

Espoo, Southern Finland, Finland

ICEYE is a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite imaging company that provides remote sensing capabilities.

AerospaceInformation TechnologyRemote SensingSatellite Communication
Series ANov 12, 2015
Amount Raised: $2,800,000