
San Diego Startups
& Startup Resources
San Diego Startup Mentor Programs
The 8th largest city in the United States is known for miles of white sand beaches and a laid back vibe. But what is not so laid back is the market for startups, which is fast heating it up in San Diego. As Entrepreneur insists, now is the time to start taking that market seriously. With 9% of the workforce currently employed in startups and tech and 50% of the population under age 39, the promise for growth is strong. While earlier startups have paved the way for success, as they attract more investors to the area, the startup ecosystem is thriving, helped along by resources from the city.
Now as San Diego continues to grow into a global startup hub, Founders Network is proud to provide their Founders and startups with a global support network. With a mission to help startups grow, our Silicon Valley-based company provides our members with unparalleled resources and networks. We are a mentorship program that is designed to work with local startup ecosystems, like San Diego’s, to promote learning and foster connections.

Mentorship from select San Diego founders
Gain Access To:

Peer mentorship program with fellow tech founders
Global, stage and local founder forums
Pitch practice with tier 1 vc's
Proactive support and introductions from staff
Biannual global conferences
Accelerator grade discounts
Exclusive local Founders Network events
Connecting San Diego Founders with each other and the Founders Network community.
FN's most valuable asset is the community‚ All the founders on the network are always willing to schedule time to help a fellow founder out or make a quick introduction to their own network.
The thing that I value the most about Founders Network is that I can get advice from a vetted group of entrepreneurs who have faced or are facing the same challenges as me. With the ability to follow specific threads, mute others, and post/reply directly from my email inbox, my questions get answered fast by founders who know what they're talking about.
The staff of founders network have a sincere desire to help startup founders. I really appreciate the open, transparent philosophy that Founders Network expects from its members.
Local Leadership Team
Each Founders Network Chapter has an appointed Chapter Leadership Team. Made up of founders who have chosen to volunteer their time, they are on deck to give advice, facilitate events, and lead the growth of the Chapter.
Join 600+ Founders Who Love FN
In Africa, there is a saying: 'If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.' The great thing about the Founder's Network is that it's not an either/or! We go together farther AND faster, and actually it's way more fun ;)
The fn community has been along for my journey through four startups including one dissolution, one major restructure, a successful exit and now a high-growth, funded SaaS company. Being a Founder is sometimes overwhelming and lonely. This community provides guidance and the lift you need when facing your most excruciating obstacles. More importantly, it's a community that genuinely celebrates your successes along the way!
Founding a business can be a lonely pursuit, but being surrounded by a like-minded community enriches the experience. Founders Network is a cadre who provides concrete perspective and insights. In my experience, it's just as enriching to me as a serial entrepreneur to see what and who is coming next, as it would have been to me years ago as a first-time founder to avoid (some!) rookie errors.
Upcoming events
Are you a full-time tech founder? Be our guest! During COVID, we’re making our events available to tech founders everywhere. Enjoy a complimentary ticket to come learn from fellow tech founders, partners and investors. Already used your complimentary guest pass? Request an invite to see if you qualify for membership.
Venture Financing Term Sheets 101 with Brian Dillavou
May 27 @ 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm PDT
Venture Financing Term Sheets 101 with Brian Dillavou
Join Brian Dillavou as he hosts a webinar for Founders Network where he’ll detail customary provisions in venture financing term. Last year, global venture financing broke records. In 2021, $329.9 ... Read More
How to Build a Startup in the Real World with Tim Sylvester
June 7 @ 9:30 am - 10:30 am PDT
How to Build a Startup in the Real World with Tim Sylvester
Tim Sylvester details actionable insights on how to build a startup for tech founders who don’t fit the traditional Silicon Valley mold. According to a report released last year, San ... Read More
The Power of Customer Centric Startups with Raja Mukerji
June 15 @ 9:30 am - 11:30 am PDT
The Power of Customer Centric Startups with Raja Mukerji
Join Raja Mukerji as he explains the value of customer centricity and how customer centric startups have a unique advantage. No matter what kind of business you’re operating, prioritizing customers ... Read More
How to Land Investors and Build Your Startup Team with Max Shapiro
June 21 @ 9:30 am - 10:30 am PDT
How to Land Investors and Build Your Startup Team with Max Shapiro
Join Max Shapiro as he shares his secret sauce for building a great team and attracting investors for your startup. Multiple reports have identified that the top reason startups fail ... Read More
fnSummit 2022
October 12 @ 8:00 am - October 14 @ 5:00 pm PDT
fnSummit 2022
Join Our 7th Annual Fall Conference! Three days with founders, investors, partners & off the record discussion, reflection and networking: Wed Oct. 12th – Fri Oct. 14th!
Past events
How Strategic Networking Catalyzed a $110M Exit with Shahar Erez
May 18 @ 9:30 am - 11:30 am PDT
How Strategic Networking Catalyzed a $110M Exit with Shahar Erez
Join Shahar Erez as he shares his founders journey and details how strategic networking helped him access key opportunities along the way. In November 2021, freelance marketplace Fiverr announced it ... Read More
Go to Market Best Practices with Richard White
May 5 @ 9:30 am - 10:30 am PDT
Go to Market Best Practices with Richard White
Richard White discusses different go-to-market models in tech and how deciding on a go-to-market model early on can greatly benefit startups Since its founding in 2020, AI notetaker application Fathom ... Read More
National Small Business Week Happy Hour with WeWork and fnChicago Chapter
May 4 @ 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm PDT
National Small Business Week Happy Hour with WeWork and fnChicago Chapter
Join Founders Network members in Chicago for a National Small Business Week Happy Hour with our Partner, WeWork. Join Founders Network members in Chicago for a National Small Business Week ... Read More
at Chicago
Pandemic-Era Strategies for Hiring & Growing People with Gary Bolles
In the midst of what many have dubbed “The Great Resignation,” many employers are struggling to fill job openings. According to one report, approximately 72 percent of recruiters are struggling …
Why Healthcare isn’t Just Business as Usual with Midori Uehara
Healthcare is a fast-growing market, but entrepreneurs looking to enter the fray should be aware that there is more to it than supply meeting demand, says Midori Uehara, VP and …
How to Succeed as a Niche Startup Founder
The sleep industry is a billion-dollar business and is continuing to expand. Every day medical professionals and the general public are now focused on getting more and better sleep as …
GTM: Where to Start and How to Get it Right with Kris Bondi
Prior to becoming CEO and Co-founder of Mimoto, an XDR cybersecurity company, Kris Bondi spent more than 20 years positioning technologies and companies. Her unique expertise has contributed to seven …
My Journey into Customer Funding with Meetul Shah
Meetul Shah has always known he could build things. An engineer and the founder of technographics provider DemandMatrix, which was recently bought by Demandbase, Shah started creating innovative companies at …
A Guide to Seed Fundraising
Coming up with a great idea for your startup is one thing, but it’s often what comes next that can make all the difference. Without a sustainable source of funding …
Investor Syndicates: How Do They Work?
How to raise money is a crucial question for startup founders. Due to the newness and riskiness of many startup ventures, most founders can’t access capital through traditional means such …
How to Use AngelList to Fund Your Startup
When it comes to raising funds for your startup, connecting with venture capitalists and angel investors is a top priority. In recent years, startup founders are increasingly turning to platforms …
How to Build a Startup in the Real World with Tim Sylvester
According to a report released last year, San Francisco and New York are ranked as the top two startup ecosystems in the world, respectively. The cities were ranked according to …
Advisor Startup Equity: What You Need to Know
Many founders in the growth stage focus on hiring for internal startup roles: technology, marketing, product management, business development, etc. However, it’s just as important to find a knowledgeable and …