The Largest Founder Discovery Initiative in New York.
Throughout 2026, we identify and elevate the most exceptional founders building in New York, and introduce them to the investors backing the next decade.
Browse Featured Founders by Edition
Start with the latest Top Founder edition and drill into each founder story.
Q1 2026 Edition
Top 26 Founders
Spotlighting the most promising founders building in New York and beyond.
Open Edition
All Editions
Q1 2026 is the first release. Future editions will be listed here every quarter.
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Partner Founder Communities
Great founders are everywhere. Most are invisible.
New York has one of the most dynamic startup ecosystems in the world. But exceptional founders who build outside traditional networks rarely get the recognition — or the capital they deserve.
Founder Index exists to change that.
A year-long pipeline. Uncompromising curation.
Each quarter, founders are nominated across our 10 partner communities. Applications are reviewed, vetted, and curated down to 26 finalists per quarter — 78 across the year. Every finalist is featured, amplified, and introduced to our investor network.
Manhattan. One night that defines a year.
The year ends at the Founder Index Gala Award Summit — held at a Manhattan landmark in December 2026 — where the Top 26 Founders of 2026 are announced live from stage.
This is not just about traction.
We believe the greatest founders are defined by both what they build and the story behind it.
Business Excellence
Vision, traction, innovation, and the potential to build something that matters.
Founder Story
Personal journey, resilience, and the distinctiveness of the path that led here.
Our mission is to surface exceptional Pre-seed, Seed and Series A stage founders who may not come from traditional networks, but are building extraordinary companies.
Being selected changes the trajectory.
Selected founders are not just recognized. They are amplified across an ecosystem that reaches hundreds of thousands of founders and investors worldwide.
Recognition & Media
Featured in Founder Index quarterly brochures and ecosystem publications. Promoted across FounderSquare media channels and the global venture community. Featured on the Founder Index video podcast series.
Capital Access
Direct exposure to a network of 20,000+ investors. Introductions matched by stage, sector, and geography.
Resources & Community
Access to partner prizes, founder support programs, and the broader FounderSquare ecosystem.
The Gala
Eligibility to compete at the Founder Index Gala Award Summit in December 2026, where the Top 26 Founders of 2026 are announced live.
The Badge
The 26 founders selected at the Year-End Gala receive the official Founder Index Top Founder Badge — a permanent mark of credibility, trust, and distinction within the global venture ecosystem.
The founders defining the next decade get here first.
Q2 nominations are now open. Spots are limited. Every application is reviewed by our team.
Application Deadlines