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Founders Helping Founders®

Build a thriving tech startup with the support of a powerful network of experienced founders behind you.

We’ve helped 2,000+ startups
  • Paystand
  • Productboard
  • Docker
  • Incode
  • Appthority
  • Braze
Jason Gardner
Cohort - Jun ’19Marqeta
Jason Gardner
Founder, Marqeta
$1.4B Exit
1 of 11

Founders Network is a global startup mentoring community for tech founders.

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Network & Learn

Connect with founders who can answer your questions, offer guidance, and share their invaluable experience via 100+ annual in person and virtual events.

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Why Founders Network

Gain expert insights, access exclusive resources, and accelerate your growth with personalized startup mentoring.

Mentors

Tap into a High‑Value Network

Our network of 600+ experienced founders is at your fingertips. Get fast, accurate answers through our active forum with 10+ years of archives, and connect with founders in person or virtually at 100+ annual events.

Founders Network members at an event
Investors

Navigate Fundraising with Confidence

Access expert guidance and strategic connections that smooth your journey to securing funding with mentorship from our network of 200+ VCs and angel investors.

Founders connecting with investors
Partners & Deals

Cut Your Burn Rate

We offer $500k+ in accelerator-grade discounts on vital infrastructure and services. These carefully negotiated deals cover everything from cloud hosting and software tools to legal services, helping you allocate more capital towards building and scaling your business.

Founders at a Founders Network event
Founders Network partners
FoundersEdge

Your Startup Playbook

Discover the latest trends and strategies in the tech startup ecosystem with insights on growth hacking, startup funding, product development, customer acquisition, startup culture, and more.

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Testimonials

Why our members love Founders Network

“Talk to any seasoned entrepreneur and they’ll tell you: don’t go it alone; find folks you can confide in. FN is exactly that: an invaluable resource of peers walking the same path as you.”
Richard WhiteRichard WhiteFounder, UserVoice
“With over 600 members in the Founders Network community, there’s always someone who can answer your startup questions.”
Adam CheyerAdam Cheyer, Co-founder of SiriFounders Network Membership Committee
“Entrepreneurship is a very personal journey and every traveler has their own reason for being. Building a supportive network is critical and asking for help is something we should all learn very early. Founders network allows entrepreneurs the freedom to contribute and receive support in a very simple way.”
Sonal PuriSonal PuriCEO of Webscale
“By receiving 1-1 contact via the forum with fellow founders and investors, Founders Network led to my startup successfully raising and negotiating funding.”
Michael MeinhardtMichael MeinhardtFounder Of Cloudwords
“Through FN, I’ve connected with Tier-1 investors like Sequoia Capital. From a series of ideas to our Series B, Founders Network has helped every step of the way.”
Domingo GuerraDomingo GuerraPresident & Founder of Appthority

Membership Plans

Founders Network offers full lifecycle mentoring for tech startup founders.

For Idea Stage Founders

  • Mentorship Platform: Solve problems fast with real-time advice from 600+ vetted tech founders and over a decade of hard-earned wisdom in our archives.

  • Success Coach: Fast-track your progress with 1-1 onboarding and warm introductions to founders and partners in your sector, stage, chapter and more.

  • Skill-Building Webinars: Learn essential skills through 40+ live webinars annually and an extensive video library covering product, fundraising, growth and more.

  • Chapter Meetings: Celebrate your journey with in-person gatherings in major tech hubs like San Francisco, Silicon Valley, New York, and beyond.

  • Accelerator-Grade Discounts: Save on essential tools and services to extend your runway, including Hosting, Banking, Legal, HR & Payroll, CRM, Marketing, Analytics, Cloud Services, and more.

Launch Plan Focus

Find co-founders, build an MVP and validate with customers (pre-revenue to $10K, self-funded to $100K raised)

Get Started
Founded
2011
Tech Founders
600+
Startups per member
4.6
Average Funding
$1.1m
Serial Entrepreneurs
50%
Collectively Raised
$5B

Founder's Network Membership FAQs

What is the membership experience like?

FN is easily integrated into your daily routine. With our intelligent distribution system, we extend the information flowing through our platform to other channels that you are already monitoring, such as Slack and email. We support many kinds of engagement, including over 100 events a year, our Online Forum and 1-1 support from our Success Team. Our busiest members usually end up as some of our best members.

Is my activity on FN going to be confidential?

All information shared within Founders Network is strictly confidential. We are built on a foundation of trust, and the community takes confidentiality seriously. Investors, members, and staff all share experiences and opinions off the record.

What is your service level agreement?

The Founders Network staff is full time and promises to respond to emails, phone calls, and messages via the website in under 24 hours, Monday-Friday. All emails sent Sat-Sun will be answered the following Monday.

What will my dues be?

Your membership dues are based on your experience as defined by the funding or revenue of your current or past companies. All memberships are annual commitments. We do not take equity.

Can I upgrade later?

Upgrades are always available, and each level comes with a higher level of benefits, and features geared towards founders with more experience. We encourage joining at the appropriate level based on your past experience as this will impact the quality of your membership experience.

How does Founders Network handle direct competitors in the network?

We believe collaboration moves startups forward. Founders can share 90% of their general questions and experiences on the forum. The other 10% that includes IP or "secret sauce" can be shared at their Peer Advisory Board. Your local Peer Advisory Board will never contain any direct competitors to your startup.

Do you offer discounts?

We currently offer discounts to portfolio members of tier 1 VC's like Accel, Andreessen Horowitz, Sequoia Capital, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Benchmark, Greylock Partners, Bessemer Venture Partners and graduates of select accelerators including Y-Combinator, 500Startups, TechStars and Blue Startups. If your VC or accelerator is not on the list, please contact us to see if you qualify for a discount.

How are you different than an accelerator?

Founders Network is a community that can work in place of, alongside, or bookending an accelerator. Unlike an accelerator, we do not take equity and we do not limit your time with us. FN strives to facilitate meaningful relationships with a network of peers who can help you get through any challenge and celebrate every achievement.

What is involved in the approval process?

FN is an invite-only community. If you do not have an invite, you can find our membership requirements and request an invitation here. We'll research your background and reach out if we feel you could add value to the community. If you already have an invite, you can apply before the monthly application deadline. Applications take 2 minutes to complete and are followed by an optional addendum that can take up to 10 minutes to complete. By the last Friday of the month, our Membership Committee will review your complete application and you'll receive a notification of their decision on the same day.

Does FN endorse members visa applications?

Yes. Per US Immigration Policy, FN only endorses members who have demonstrated a record of extraordinary achievement within the context of membership. This can include membership tenure greater than 3 years, status as a Lifetime Member and/or volunteer leadership through a Chapter or other initiative. We will not endorse your visa application under any other circumstances.

Become a Member

Founders Network gives you everything you need for your startup to succeed

We offer full lifecycle mentoring programs for founders without taking equity. Membership is by invitation only.

Founders at a chapter meetingFounders networkingFounders Network event

Founders Helping Founders®

Founders Network is a supportive community of 600+ experienced tech founders.

  • Get startup questions answered fast