Founder Institute, the world’s largest pre-seed startup accelerator, partners with NASA Ames to offer startups access to space technology

The Founder Institute, the world’s largest pre-seed startup accelerator, announced this week it signed a partnership agreement with NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, to help startup founders connect to selected NASA software and technologies while providing a robust global network of startup resources. The accelerator also announced open applications for the “Founder Institute Advanced Technologies Accelerator” program in Silicon Valley.

The new program will help startup founders and entrepreneurs to leverage NASA Technology and and the Founder Institute’s Global Network to build companies of the future. Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 180+ cities and 60+ countries, the Founder Institute has helped its alumni raise over $800 million in funding.

The application to the program is open to founders who are working on Aerospace/Space, Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, Quantum Computing, Neuroscience, Autonomous Vehicles, Blockchain Technologies, Augmented/Virtual Reality, Genomics, Drones, Robotics and various other forms of Frontier Technologies can apply to the program for free here.

The “Founder Institute Advanced Technologies Accelerator,” which runs as a vertical in parallel with the flagship Silicon Valley Founder Institute program, aims to help ambitious entrepreneurs build world-changing technology companies. As part of the program, the accelerator will connect startup founders with selected NASA software and technologies for licensing opportunities.

The program will also provide mentorship opportunities with the Founder Institute, and other Frontier Innovation Partners, and from NASA technology subject matter experts as appropriate. On top of it all, startup founders will also receive over $2 million in partner deals and resources.

“There is no better time in human history to launch a frontier technology company,” says Ryan Micheletti, Director of Global Operations at Founder Institute, and Co-Director of the Silicon Valley Founder Institute. “Our partnership with NASA symbolizes our continued support of frontier founders who are building technologies that can positively impact humanity.”

“NASA has had a long history of finding new, innovative uses for its space and aeronautics technologies,” says Kimberly Minafra, Software Release Authority, Technology Transfer program, NASA Ames Research Center. “We are excited to work with Founder Institute to help connect NASA technology to start-ups that can effectively commercialize the technology for the betterment of life on Earth.”

In addition to NASA Ames, other supporting partners of the “Founder Institute Advanced Technologies Accelerator” Program include:

• Perkins Coie
• Silicon Valley Space Center
• National Security Innovation Network (NSIN)
• Voyager Space Holdings
• New York Space Alliance
• Acclaim Aerospace and Defense
• GSVlabs
• Diamond Edge Ventures
• C5BDI
• Eagle Point Funding
• Styliff Tech

Besides startup founders, the  Founder Institute also encourages early-stage domestic entrepreneurs interested in building frontier technology startups in Silicon Valley to apply at Fi.co/join/SpaceTech. The final deadline for applications will be on Dec 15, 2019, and the program will run from January 14, 2020 – April 8, 2020.

Founded in 2009, the Founder Institute has helped build over 4,000 companies through its pre-seed startup program. Its mission is to empower talented and motivated people to build impactful technology-enabled companies worldwide. Several space and frontier technology companies have already been through the program, including Ceres Robotics, which is part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services program; Atomos, an award-winning company developing in-space transportation services; Bleximo, a company building quantum computing systems for pharmaceutical companies; Endiatx, which is developing a pill robot capable of traversing GI Tract in 30 minutes; and many more.