World’s largest startup accelerator testing programme launch in Cape Town

Having set up shop in Johannesburg earlier this year, the Founder Institute is now looking to expand to Cape Town.

The Founder Institute is an early-stage startup accelerator and global launch network with a part-time four month programme. The idea is that entrepreneurs can launch their dream company with training, feedback, and support from experienced startup CEOs, while not being required to quit their day job.

The Founder Institute touts its “Graduate Liquidity Pool” which ropes in graduates and mentors to share in the equity upside of each class. Since being founded by serial entrepreneur Adeo Ressi in 2009, the Founder Institute has helped launch over 800 companies across 42 cities and five continents — by this measure it claims to be the world’s largest startup accelerator.

Those wanting to learn more about the Cape Town launch can attend a free upcoming Founder Institute event:

• Startup Pitch Bootcamp, 22nd April 2013
• Founder Institute Information Session, 29th April 2013
• Startup Ideation Bootcamp, 6th May 2013

The programme is open to anybody that is passionate about building a technology company: idea or no idea, full-time job or unemployed, experienced in business or straight out of school. With sufficient interest shown, the Founder Institute plans to launch in Cape Town in the next couple of months.

Leading the Founder Institute’s efforts in Cape Town are Nevo Hadas and Paul Salvage, two seasoned entrepreneurs with multiple startups successes and experience in corporate venturing of new businesses inside large existing ones.

Other leaders of local tech companies who have signed on to mentor the courses include Alan Lipschitz (CEO, Interface Holdings/Webmail), Geoff Cohen (CEO, 24.com), Bryan Hattingh (CEO Cycan), Michael Law (CEO, Attix5), Nic Haralambous (Former CEO, Motribe), Roy Ingle (MD, Hipzone), Tinus Le Roux (CEO, Fancam) and Gavin Moffat (join.the.dots).

“I am well informed that there is a large amount of creative talent in Cape Town, but not always the infrastructure and community necessary for early-stage companies to succeed,” says Ressi. “I am hoping the Founder Institute can set that foundation at the very early-stage and strengthen the ecosystem as a whole.”

If you’d like to help bring the Founder Institute to Cape Town, then fill out an Interest Form before June 9th 2013.