What we’re about
Startup Founder 101 brings together aspiring and experienced tech entrepreneurs to discuss, meet, and collaborate to build great new startups, and to push the local startup ecosystem forward.\
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This group hosts numerous free events throughout the year where you can learn the best practices of starting a company from people who have been there and done that. You’ll have the opportunity to meet local founders and investors, exchange ideas with experts, get feedback on your idea, participate in startup workshops, and more.\
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Typical startup event topics include:\
• Coming up with a strong startup idea\
• Startup legal basics\
• How to pitch your startup\
• Starting a company without quitting your day job\
• How to raise funding for your startup\
• And much more!\
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Join the group to be invited to our next event!
Upcoming events (4)
See all- Startup to Scale-Up: Mastering Sales & Branding with Mark KosoglowLink visible for attendees
In the world of startups, mastering go-to-market (GTM) strategies and building robust sales functions are key to driving growth. Join us for an exclusive fireside chat and AMA session with Mark Kosoglow, a luminary in the SaaS industry, known for his pioneering GTM leadership. As the first sales hire at Outreach.io, Mark played a pivotal role in scaling the company to unicorn status by building and refining their sales development function. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from one of the top leaders in SaaS sales. Come prepared with your questions and get direct answers in this interactive event!
❯ What You'll Learn:
- Proven GTM strategies and outbound sales techniques to drive growth in 2025.
- Building and scaling high-performing sales teams, from founder-led sales to Series B.
- Effective sales leadership and personal branding insights.
❯ Featured Speakers:
- Mark Kosoglow - Co-Founder & CEO at Operator - A seasoned sales and business leader with a proven track record of scaling organizations and driving growth. He started his career as a teenager learning sales through instructional videos, and later ran a small business with 200+ employees. He successfully revitalized a dormant sales territory and managed a team of 12 across 9 states, solidifying his sales philosophy. At one of the fastest-growing SaaS companies, he helped scale revenue to over $250M while balancing growth and customer experience. Today, he’s honored to work with a customer-focused team of the best and brightest professionals he's ever known.
❯❯ This live, interactive online event promises valuable insights. Ensure your participation by RSVPing at https://fi.co/startupwebinar/18324 to receive the link to join us live.
- Founder Night Out: In-Person Startup Networking in ChicagoMoe's Cantina - River North, Chicago, IL
RSVP at https://fi.co/e/362933
If you have a startup idea or a growing company and you want to expand your network in , then join us for the in-person 'Founder Night Out' event. At this informal networking event, you can connect with other early-stage entrepreneurs, startup mentors, and advisors from the Founder Institute network. Socialize over drinks with potential co-founders, advisors, mentors and partners. Most of all, get away from the computer and have fun!
❯ Who should Attend?
- Anyone interested in entrepreneurship
- Anyone who has a pre-seed tech company or a startup idea
- Anyone interested in joining a startup accelerator
❯❯ This is an in-person event. To RSVP visit https://fi.co/e/362933
- Pitch Your Ideas to Chicago Investors & Experts, OnlineLink visible for attendees
Do you have a startup, or a strong idea for a startup? On this live and interactive online event you can pitch your ideas to a panel of Chicago startup investors and experts for ratings and feedback, and no formal pitch deck is needed. Even if you don't want to pitch, you are invited to hear startup ideas and watch how the experts analyze business ideas.
❯❯To pre-submit your pitch, visit https://forms.gle/g9VVAkMjGYauEmUa9
❯ Additional Information:
To prepare, start with your one-sentence pitch. See how it's done using our Madlibs format.❯ What You'll Learn:
- How to give a concise, yet compelling, elevator pitch.
- What investors are looking for in a startup pitch.
- If selected, specific advice and feedback on your pitch and startup ideas.
Additional Resources:
Find more Startup Events, discover Pitch Deck formats, learn about Funding Benchmarks and Milestones, or visit our Insights Blog for more startup tips.❯❯ This is a live, interactive online event, so be sure to RSVP at https://fi.co/e/357375/meetup to receive the Zoom URL to join us live!
- How to Align Your Brand Messaging with Your Startup MissionLink visible for attendees
How do you build a standout brand that resonates and drives impact? At this live online event, attendees will get actionable insights on crafting effective messaging and branding strategies from Daniel Francavilla, a Marketing Advisor & Brand Strategist at Daniel Does Consulting and an award-winning entrepreneur. With over a decade of experience helping startups and purpose-driven organizations, Daniel will discuss key branding principles, common pitfalls, and how to align your brand with your mission. If you're ready to elevate your startup's brand and messaging, this is a must-attend event!
❯ What You'll Learn:
- How to build a memorable and impactful startup brand
- Common branding mistakes and how to avoid them
- Strategies to align your brand messaging with your mission
❯ Featured Speaker:
- Daniel Francavilla - Marketing Advisor & Brand Strategist at Daniel Does Consulting - A marketing advisor, strategist, founder and mentor making a positive impact. He is a Certified Brand Strategist, college educator, member of the Canadian Marketing Association and a recipient of a 40 Under 40 Award. His latest venture, The Good Growth Company, provides training for social good organizations to upskill their teams and scale their mission. After graduating from OCAD University, Daniel founded Now Creative Group in 2013, later acquired by King Street Media in 2021 where he became a partner, which also launched CreatorClub, a content platform and studio. As an advocate for social good Daniel continues to run ACCESS, a nonprofit he founded as a student in 2006, which provides funding and mentorship for youth-led initiatives.
❯❯ This live, interactive online event promises valuable insights. Ensure your participation by RSVPing at https://fi.co/startupwebinar/18446 to receive the link to join us live.
