StartOut Smart: The Founder Institute

The objective of the StartOut Smart: The Founder Institute program is to promote StartOut’s mission by providing education in entrepreneurship for the next generation of LGBT founders. With StartOut Smart, LGBT founders can develop online or technology based business ideas into meaningful and enduring companies. In partnership with the Founder Institute (fi.co), StartOut will sponsor and pay the associated course fee for a pre-determined number of qualified LGBT candidates to participate in the Founder Institute’s four month accelerator program, beginning in the spring 2013 semester for chapters in San Francisco, New York, and Los Angeles.

Admission to the program is based on a comprehensive qualitative application process, which is administered by the Founder Institute. In addition to the Founder Institute curriculum, StartOut Smart candidates will have access to StartOut’s mentors and access to potential sources of funding.

For an initial pilot, StartOut will sponsor up to 20 eligible LGBT founders in the Spring 2013 semester, from U.S. chapters where StartOut and The Founder Institute operate. This opportunity is for applicants in StartOut’s chapters in San Francisco Bay Area and New York.

Key Program Dates

- February 17, 2013: StartOut Smart online questionnaire completion deadline

- March 5, 2013: StartOut Smart scholarship recipients announced

- March 20, 2013: Founder Institute Spring semester start date

Application Page

The application period for the StartOut Smart: The Founder Institute program has ended. We will update this page with the next application cycle for the Fall 2013 semester.