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My favourite: Founder Institute - run by international group of millionaire magazine-cover entrepreneurs - doesn’t invest a penny in its companies - charges

My favourite: Founder Institute - run by international group of millionaire magazine-cover entrepreneurs - doesn’t invest a penny in its companies - charges founders thousands of dollars for mentorship - well-regarded startup accelerator ------------------- I was once offered the position to head the local chapter, after having a private phonecall with Adeo, I declined as I couldn't see the value offered. The next person took it, and as expected, the local chapter failed spectacularly and the people founding it were out of a lot of work and didn't get anything in return. It's still a mistery to me why that organization has credibility.

argonaut 11y ago
In their limited defense, they do position themselves more as an educational program than as an incubator.
- tomasien 11y ago
  In marketing material they use the word "accelerator" constantly. Poke around Twitter, you'll see it. Not cool IMO.
- tomasien 11y ago
  In marketing material they use the word "accelerator" constantly. Poke around Twitter, you'll see it. Not cool IMO.
elmar 11y ago
Some good answers here. Is the Founder Institute a good deal for entrepreneurs? Why or why not? https://www.quora.com/Is-the-Founder-Institute-a-good-deal-for-entrepreneurs-Why-or-why-not https://www.quora.com/Is-the-Founder-Institute-a-good-deal-f...
- tptacek 11y ago
  After reading these, Founders Institute still seems like a _really_ bad deal.
  - tomasien 11y ago
    I'm surprised people don't talk about this and Draper University more. Draper University has some interesting things about it (room / board / meals in SV) and the fact that it is SPECIFICALLY billing itself as a University (which you'd expect to pay for), but Founder Institute has started billing itself as a "global ACCELERATOR" despite CHARGING $2k up front + $4500 + 3.5% on the backend. I know the 3.5% is technically shared by the founders as well but I'd love to know that breakdown. I don't want to be overly negative on people trying new things in education, but the word "Accelerator" has a specific meaning to people now. Using it for something you charge the founders cash to be a part of is bad news to me. Never thoughts I'd be putting Draper U on the "positive" side of a comparison, but even at 5x the cost it feels a lot more up front and honest.
    - minimaxir 11y ago
      The funny thing about Draper University is that the reality show Startup U (http://abcfamily.go.com/shows/startup-u http://abcfamily.go.com/shows/startup-u) was essentially intended to be an advertisement for Draper University (with a mix of Shark Tank thrown in) I watched every episode. Startup U, if anything, served an anti-advertisement for Draper University. (Spoiler alert: the winner of the show was a 3D printing startup by a non-engineer who wanted to 3D print a house. All he was able to 3D print on-camera was a nonsolid pipe.)
      - overgard 11y ago
        Oh my god, this is like watching The Office, except without the punchlines. Tim Draper might as well be David Brent and Michael Scott rolled into one person. I'm only ten minutes in, but what I love about it so far is the narcissism: none of it is about like, business, it's about what owning a business says about them.
      - S4M 11y ago
        Damn, I have to be in the US to watch the videos :( Oh well, guess I saved some times.
cridenour 11y ago
I had this exact situation - and I told him it felt "off" and was scolded for not being a community leader. Oops!

argonaut 11y ago

In their limited defense, they do position themselves more as an educational program than as an incubator.

tomasien 11y ago
In marketing material they use the word "accelerator" constantly. Poke around Twitter, you'll see it. Not cool IMO.
tomasien 11y ago
In marketing material they use the word "accelerator" constantly. Poke around Twitter, you'll see it. Not cool IMO.

elmar 11y ago

Some good answers here. Is the Founder Institute a good deal for entrepreneurs? Why or why not? https://www.quora.com/Is-the-Founder-Institute-a-good-deal-for-entrepreneurs-Why-or-why-not https://www.quora.com/Is-the-Founder-Institute-a-good-deal-f...

tptacek 11y ago
After reading these, Founders Institute still seems like a _really_ bad deal.
- tomasien 11y ago
  I'm surprised people don't talk about this and Draper University more. Draper University has some interesting things about it (room / board / meals in SV) and the fact that it is SPECIFICALLY billing itself as a University (which you'd expect to pay for), but Founder Institute has started billing itself as a "global ACCELERATOR" despite CHARGING $2k up front + $4500 + 3.5% on the backend. I know the 3.5% is technically shared by the founders as well but I'd love to know that breakdown. I don't want to be overly negative on people trying new things in education, but the word "Accelerator" has a specific meaning to people now. Using it for something you charge the founders cash to be a part of is bad news to me. Never thoughts I'd be putting Draper U on the "positive" side of a comparison, but even at 5x the cost it feels a lot more up front and honest.
  - minimaxir 11y ago
    The funny thing about Draper University is that the reality show Startup U (http://abcfamily.go.com/shows/startup-u http://abcfamily.go.com/shows/startup-u) was essentially intended to be an advertisement for Draper University (with a mix of Shark Tank thrown in) I watched every episode. Startup U, if anything, served an anti-advertisement for Draper University. (Spoiler alert: the winner of the show was a 3D printing startup by a non-engineer who wanted to 3D print a house. All he was able to 3D print on-camera was a nonsolid pipe.)
    - overgard 11y ago
      Oh my god, this is like watching The Office, except without the punchlines. Tim Draper might as well be David Brent and Michael Scott rolled into one person. I'm only ten minutes in, but what I love about it so far is the narcissism: none of it is about like, business, it's about what owning a business says about them.
    - S4M 11y ago
      Damn, I have to be in the US to watch the videos :( Oh well, guess I saved some times.

cridenour 11y ago

I had this exact situation - and I told him it felt "off" and was scolded for not being a community leader. Oops!