In early 2007 a new website was founded by someone only known as Ted. The website was simply called The Funded. Simply put, The Funded allows entrepreneurs to rate and review venture capital firms and angel investor groups. While the site, and its founder, has been highly criticized, The Funded took off. For the first time ever, entrepreneurs had a place to go and rate and review investors, and for those searching for potential financing, a place to read those ratings and reviews. The Funded has, in it’s own small way, leveled the playing field and has served the entrepreneurial and VC communities well. For the first time ever, VCs were publicly being held accountable. For example, see here for the most loved VCs of 2009. Some say it’s a one-sided forum, and many just don’t care. Most entrepreneurs agree though – The Funded is a good thing.

The whole idea of The Funded really intrigued me, and had something in common with this little side project of mine (The Founder’s Quandary). But I had no idea who was behind The Funded, so I had no idea who to contact about getting involved or at least offering a virtual high-five.

For it’s first six months it was unknown who “Ted” really was. That is, until Ted unveiled himself as Adeo Ressi, a well known, somewhat controversial, entrepreneur. In the past couple of years Adeo and I have exchanged a number of emails, mostly about how I might help The Funded and perhaps even help with something here in Boston. Well, the good news is that The Funded has announced Founder Institute, and it’s arrived in Boston!

The Funded Founder Institute, a four month program to help founders build the next generation of world-class technology companies, is launching a new semester in Boston from July, 2010, until October, 2010. The program is run by founders for founders, providing a structure for successful entrepreneurs to share their experiences and to provide guidance. Everyone that graduates from the program is invited to join a pool to share in the equity upside generated from the success of their peers. This adds a unique camaraderie to the program and creates a long-term peer support group with a vested interest in your success. If you have a new company or if you are thinking to start a company, take a moment and apply to the program. The program has an early acceptance deadline of May 23rd. Apply here.

If you’re an entrepreneur in Boston I hope you’ll take a look at this opportunity and get involved! I’m just thrilled to see this happen, and I’m eager to see Founder Institute nurture and provide fertile ground for entrepreneurs!

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• Born in Silicon Valley, Founder Institute Expands to Boston (xconomy.com)

I launched this site nearly a year ago and unfortunately while many fellow entrepreneurs and founders found the idea and concept to be interesting and initially committed to contributing to it and participating in one way or another, the website was launched a bit in vain. I’d very much like to see it come alive. I’m committed to helping and learning from other entrepreneurs and founders.

I’m looking for other entrepreneurs and founders who are either actively running their own companies, in any stage, or entrepreneurs and founders who’ve exited.

For those of you who are interested in helping build The Founder’s Quandary, please either comment below or send me an email at ben at yoursuspect dot com.

Nearly a year ago I was having a couple drinks with my co-founder, Bob, and a couple other entrepreneurs. We were venting some frustrations that only founders and entrepreneurs can understand. As you surely know, most people don’t understand what it is to be an entrepreneur and it was somewhat enlightening to be able to relate to one-another. The conversation quickly spawned an idea; a website and online community for entrepreneurs only. A resource, if you will, to learn and to share insights.

This country has a profound and very unique spirit for entrepreneurship, and it’s a spirit that has resulted in a thriving entrepreneurial system that can easily be considered a foundation for the American economic systems. Yet aside from local entrepreneurial meetups and networking events, there is no place for them to meet and learn from one-another at a larger scale. The only good online community that I can think of that even comes remotely close to what seems to be lacking is The Funded, run by Adeo Ressi.

So, I took it upon myself to start a new website called, appropriately, The Founder’s Quandary. The site is very nascent and has the potential to be something that I think we all need – a resource for us to go, to discuss ideas, to work through challenges that we all face every day – be they working with investors and directors and shareholders, to understanding term sheets, to links to other resources, to simply be a part of a like-minded community, to hiring, firing, day-to-day operations, exit strategies and opportunities, liquidations, etc etc etc. The potential is limitless, I think. I’d imagine this site being a few things:

• a free and public resource
• a private resource for members only who’d need to qualify for membership
• a forum for discussion
• a place for budding entrepreneurs to learn from those who’ve been there and done that
• a place for those who’ve been there and done that to share their wisdom
• an opt-in newsletter for anyone
• a social network leveraging all the available resources
  and much more

But right now, it’s just me and perhaps a couple of other entrepreneurs who’ve loosely committed to getting involved and helping to build this.

Anyway, the purpose of this post (and the email I sent to some fellow entrepreneurs) is to recruit you, for your help in building this with me and with others, and to ask you to help recruit others.

I welcome your feedback, your advice, your participation. I’m not asking for you do do anything you don’t want to do, and I’m not asking for a big commitment. If you are passionate about entrepreneurship, you’re likely passionate about helping other entrepreneurs.