The Founder Institute is on the hunt for Australian and NZ startups for its Spring program

The world’s largest pre-seed accelerator, the Founder Institute, has opened its Spring program for aspiring entrepreneurs in Australia and New Zealand.

The trans-Tasman 16-week part-time program follows the recent visit to Australia by New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern as part of a trade mission.

Sydney-based Founder Institute co-director and Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Centre ambassador Phoebe Zhang said the Institute is connecting the two countries through a 100% online program designed to provide both local and international support for local emerging startups.

“Founder Institute has always been about founders first and is the number one place in the world to turn ideas into fundable startups, and startups into global businesses,” she said.

“The upcoming Spring 2022 program will be running in cities all across Australia and New Zealand in hosting the Founder Institute’s virtual for early-stage entrepreneurs.”

Any aspiring entrepreneur or team interested in building a startup with some of Australia’s and New Zealand’s top mentors can apply for the program here.

On August 2, there’s also a free online startup information night giving founders the chance to meet and talk with people from accelerators, venture capital and business advice to find out more. Those involved include Zhang, Right Click Capital’s Ben Chong, Aussie Angels founder Cheryl Mack, Climate Salad’s Mick Liubinskas, Fishburners CEO and VC partner Alan Jones, and William Buck director Jack Qi among more than a dozen speakers.

Phoebe Zhang said today’s economic ‘new normal’ is full of reshuffling industries, and new problems in need of solutions, so now is a time for budding entrepreneurs to act.

“Whether founders need to test and validate early hypotheses before making a large financial commitment to their startup idea, or they are ready to push their startup to the next level through aggressive weekly growth sprints to refine their vision, improve key metrics, and prepare for investor diligence, Founder Institute has the proven processes and network to help founders do it,” she said.