FoundersForge

Believes in the Underdog

Entrepreneurs

Innovators

Startups

Small Business

Investors

Founders

Entrepreneurs

Innovators

Startups

Small Business

Investors

Founders

We Exist to Amplify the Startup Community in the Appalachian Highlands and Beyond.

JOIN US AT APPALACHIA’S

BIGGEST STARTUP CONFERENCE
Sept. 30th & Oct. 1st in Johnson City, TN

With Industry Leaders as Your Guide You Will Discover New Tools, New Connections, and Inspiration That Will Grow Your Startup for Years to Come. Join Us This Fall and Reach the Summit of Your Startup Mountain.

Startup

Community

No one understands what it’s like to start a business better than other entrepreneurs. Get connected to our vibrant startup community and meet Founders just like you.

Impactful

Events

Build your network and learn from experts at events that provide hands-on experience, insights, and inspiration. Join us monthly or when it’s convenient for you.

STARTUP

Coaching

If you aren’t sure where to start or even if you feel you know what you need to do, coaching can accelerate your business. Even Michael Jordan had a coach!

We Put Founders First

We strive to be approachable, available, and supportive while challenging you to build your own success.

  • We don’t charge for our general services and most events are also free.
  • We don’t tell you what to do.
    We offer advice to help you decide.
  • We put Founders on center stage. Never in the back
  • We don’t take equity for our general services or programs
  • We work with everyone, from all backgrounds, and experiences
  • We advocate for Founders Interests
  • We Don’t Tell You What To Do.
    We Offer Advice to Help You Decide
  • We Put Founders on Center Stage
    and Never in the Background
  • Most of what we offer is free
  • We Don’t Take Equity for Our General Services and Programs
  • We Work with Everyone, From All Backgrounds, and Experiences
  • We advocate for Founder’s Interests

FoundersForge is a 501c3 nonprofit that focuses on being an independent organization.

This allows us to always have our Founder’s interests and needs at the center of everything we do.

FoundersForge is a 501c3 nonprofit that focuses on being an independent organization.
This allows us to always have our Founder’s interests and needs at the center of everything we do.

Upcoming Events

Turn Your

Ideas


into


Reality

We Help Entrepreneurs Turn Ideas Into Companies in Appalachia

  1. Validation

We help aspiring Founders validate their ideas before they start to give them the best chance at success

  1. Resources

We help you find and get the resources you need so you will have the tools to build your own success

  1. Launch

Most Founders that go through our programs launch their new ventures faster and more successfully

  1. Support

Our supporting networks will help you with capital, mentorship, and discovering new opportunities

1. VALIDATION

We help aspiring Founders validate their ideas before they start, to give them the best chance of success

2. RESOURCES

We help you find and get the resources you need so you have the tools to build your own success

3. LAUNCH

Most Founders that go through our programs launch their new ventures faster and more successfully

4. SUPPORT

Our networks of suppor will help you with capital, mentorship, and discovering new opportunities

FoundersForge is Run by Startup Founders

who have built companies, supported startups, and understand what it
takes to find success.


Too often, those supporting founders have never built a high-growth business. Our advice comes from a place of understanding, not investing in real-estate or economic development. We believe in helping founders succeed by guiding them on their own journey.

Not controlling it.

FoundersForge never judges idea viability. We help you decide what is right for your own goals and ambitions. However, it is our job to challenge your assumptions and force you to face the hard decisions early-on in your startup journey.

Experienced Mentors & Coaches

Founders benefit from experienced mentors and coaches. Most have built their own companies and the rest come from a strong background in their expertise. We believe true experience is the best fuel to accelerate your venture.

Network of Support

When you are building a new startup or small business, gaining access to customers and support can greatly accelerate your business. Our network of support spans the Appalachian Highlands and beyond into multiple states across the country.

Startup Community

By working with FoundersForge, you gain access to the Appalachian Startup Alliance – a community of entrepreneurs, ecosystem builders, and investors across the Southeast and beyond. Find and connect with programs, investors, and other support in the Alliance today.

Experienced Mentors

Founders benefit from experienced mentors and coaches. Most have built their own companies and the rest come from a strong background in their expertise. We believe true experience is the best fuel to accelerate your venture.

Network of Support

When you are building a new startup or small business, gaining access to customers and support can greatly accelerate your business. Our network of support spans the Appalachian Highlands and beyond into multiple states across the country.

Startup Community

By working with FoundersForge, you gain access to the Appalachian Startup Alliance – a community of entrepreneurs, ecosystem builders, and investors across the Southeast and beyond. Find and connect with programs, investors, and other support in the Alliance today.

Don’t just take our word for it…

“When I made the decision to move back home to East TN to launch my new tech start-up Personality Pool, I was hesitant. I had in my mind that to be successful you had to be in some major city.
Needless to say, I was very wrong. FoundersForge has brought everything Entrepreneurs need in order to succeed right here to our beautiful region.

They are proving that your geographic location is not the factor for success. It’s the community you surround yourself with. I am thankful for the FF community & all they have done to help me on this journey so far. And I have a feeling that the best is yet to come.”


Lauren Glass

Co-Founder, PersonalityPool.com.

“At the time I started ActionVFX, I was not well-connected to the local startup community. I recognized the need to have a better-connected community, particularly for tech companies. This is a great area to start a business, and FoundersForge will only make it better.”


Rodolphe Pierre-Louis

CEO, ActionVFX

Stay Connected

Join our list to be the first to learn about special events, programs, and when applications open to Startup Bootcamp, The Pitch, and the Startup Mountain Summit. We send out a monthly email and special events from time to time.