The Founder Institute Expands To Singapore, Announces New Spring 2010 Semester. Institute aims to graduate over 50 founders and 30 start-ups in Singapore by end-2010

SINGAPORE, February 8th, 2010 – Silicon Valley-based The Founder Institute (www.FounderInstitute.com), a four-month training and mentoring programme for technology entrepreneurs, announces its first-ever Spring 2010 semester for Singapore. With this expansion, the Institute will be the first Silicon Valley mentoring programme in Singapore, and will now be on pace to graduate over 700 founders creating over 500 companies per year in nine cities worldwide.

The Founder Institute has appointed Singapore-based venture advisory and investment firm Battle Ventures (www.battleventures.com), who is partnered with iAxil (www.iaxil.net), the venture accelerator arm of Ascendas, to jointly bring their programme to Singapore and Southeast Asia-based entrepreneurs.

Run by founders for founders, this unique mentoring programme nurtures aspiring and current high-tech entrepreneurs and employs a unique, team-work oriented ecosystem to foster the establishment of new start-up ventures. The programme also allows a small amount of equity to be shared amongst all participants in the companies formed – including the experienced mentors who help grow the new businesses.

“We have discovered a formula to help passionate founders create meaningful and enduring companies in different markets around the world,” says Adeo Ressi, CEO of TheFunded.com and the Founder Institute. “We leverage leading social science methods to identify top talent, and then we offer an intense start-up curriculum focused on teamwork and guidance from leading local and global CEOs. Our unique approach has allowed the Institute to scale almost ten times larger than comparable incubators or accelerators.”

“iAxil is committed to fostering a nurturing and vibrant start-up environment that is vital to spawning innovative high-tech start-ups with the global potential and appeal,” says Mr Tan Yew Chin, Director of iAxil and CEO of Ascendas Land (Singapore). “The iAxil team of senior incubator managers will combine their business skills; domain expertise and start-up experience with our wide network of partners to help graduates from the Founder Institute Mentoring Programme jumpstart their ventures.”

During the semesters, local aspiring and current entrepreneurs can gain access to founders and CEOs of world-renown companies, such as Philip Kaplan, Co-Founder of Blippy, Jeff Stewart, Founder and CEO of Urgent Career, Pete Deemer, Co-Founder of Scrum Training Institute, Dr. KF Lai, Co-Founder and CEO of Buzzcity and Jared Morgenstern, Product Ninja of Facebook as mentors amongst others.

“One of the greatest problems facing local entrepreneurs is the lack of credible and experienced mentors to help guide and advise them,” said Jeffrey Paine, Managing Partner at Battle Ventures. “With this programme, our entrepreneurs now have access to founders who have successfully created and run multiple start-ups themselves and who are best placed to advise them.”

Applications for early acceptance into the Singapore semester are due on February 15th, 2010, with the final application deadline on February 28th. Anyone starting a technology company or with a dream to launch an innovative business in Singapore is invited to apply at http://www.founderinstitute.com/apply/11.

The Singapore Founder Institute mentoring programme is administered by iAxil, and is supported by SPRING Singapore under the Incubator Development Programme (IDP).

About The Founder Institute

The Founder Institute (www.FounderInstitute.com) is a four month training program for both new and seasoned entrepreneurs. Through weekly sessions guided by renowned CEOs, the Founder Institute breeds disciplined founders ready to lead the next generation of high-tech companies. Program participants also enjoy discounted services from Institute Partners, fundraising opportunities at fair market value, and a teamwork-oriented startup environment where equity is shared among all participants in the companies formed. Currently operating in nine cities worldwide, the Founder Institute is on pace to launch over 500 companies per year.

About iAxil

iAxil (www.iaxil.net) is the venture accelerator arm of Ascendas (Asia’s leading business space solutions provider). Established in 1996 as the first privately owned and managed incubator in Singapore and leveraging on more than 14 years of experience, iAxil has grown into Asia’s leading venture acceleration centre offering start-up companies access to venture capital, business planning, financial modelling, market intelligence, deal structuring, pilot testing, mentoring, recruitment of talent, branding and PR, IP management, access to international markets and quick start-up space. Besides the Founder’s Institute Mentoring programme, iAxil also runs the Global Market Access Programme, helping startups to venture into overseas markets such as US, China and Europe.  iAxil also sets up incubator and venture accelerator programs for local and foreign government organizations, science and technology parks and universities.

About Battle Ventures

Formed in 2009, Battle Ventures (www.battleventures.com) is a venture advisory and investment firm formed by a collection of technology and media entrepreneurs who have proven track records in building successful companies. Battle Ventures aims to provide entrepreneurs with operational and strategic expertise, mentorship, global networking opportunities, and access to seed capital.

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For more information, contact:

Mr. Jeffrey Paine                                       
Partner, Battle Ventures                        
jeff@battleventures.com
Tel: +65 9800 5948                                 

Mr. Chew Mun Hou
CEO, iAxil Pte Ltd
munhou@iaxil.net
Tel: +65 6774 4048