Institute may aid Bay startups

TAMPA — Entrepreneur and author Michael O'Donnell has moved to Tampa Bay from Seattle, and aims to launch a local chapter of the Founder Institute this spring if enough potential clients demonstrate interest.

Based in California's Silicon Valley, the Founder Institute is a startup accelerator that has helped more than 650 technology companies around the world. The institute offers a part-time, four-month program that helps company founders plan, launch or bolster their business through training and support from experienced CEOs.

O'Donnell, who describes himself as a “serial entrepreneur,” and workshop facilitator John Spence, will lead the Founder Institute program in Tampa Bay.