Unlike many of its competitors which have embraced venture capital funds to back their participating startups, The Founder Institute has taken a different route. Graduates from its programmes have traditionally secured funding from external investors, often via the FI Venture Network – a collective of angel investors, venture capitalists, and industry heavyweights.

This strategic move follows a broader trend among accelerators seeking to amplify their involvement in subsequent funding rounds. Adeo Ressi, Co-Founder and Chairman of The Founder Institute, did establish an independent venture firm in 2014, but this was a completely separate endevour to The Founder Institute.

The filing also names key players involved in the fund, including The Founder Institute’s Co-Founder and CEO Jonathan Greechan, Finance Lead Andrew Crawford, Global Operations Head Ryan Micheletti, Regional Director Mohd Santarissy, and Middle East Managing Director Maher Santarissy. Despite

The Founder Institute, which proudly identifies as "the world’s largest pre-seed startup accelerator," boasts an impressive portfolio of 7,500 companies, collectively valued at $20 billion. The organisation has also teamed up with VC Lab, an incubator designed to empower emerging venture general partners, further solidifying its foothold in the startup ecosystem.

This venture fund could well be the catalyst that propels The Founder Institute into a new era of influence and innovation.

For more startup news, check out the other articles on the website, and subscribe to the magazine for free. Listen to The Cereal Entrepreneur podcast for more interviews with entrepreneurs and big-hitters in the startup ecosystem.