Since launcing in Miami in 2015, the Founder Institute has helped launch several promising companies in the region, like Dronelancer, LiVi , and VoiceYourVoice, and our efforts in Miami have also been profiled by several high profile media channels, including the South Florida Insider, the Miami Herald, and the South Florida Technology Alliance.
Today, the Founder Institute, the world's premier idea-stage accelerator and startup launch program, is excited to announce that we are now accepting applications for the Miami 2026 Semester!
If you are serious about launching a startup in Miami and could use expert training and feedback, then apply to the Miami Founder Institute today, or attend a free event.
Those who apply by the Early Admissions Deadline (May 10, 2026) will have their application fees waived (typically $50), and if you enroll by the Early Deadline you are also eligible for Founder Institute Fellowships.
The Founder Institute is the most challenging and effective step-by-step startup launch program the Founder Institute can give you the structured process, constant feedback and evaluation from expert mentors, and global network of entrepreneurs you need to start an enduring company. In addition, the Founder Institute is the only program of its kind that focuses on people versus ideas, accepts founders with day jobs, and shares equity with all participants.
In order to celebrate the launch, the Miami Founder Institute will several free startup events for the general public, where you can meet top entrepreneurs and learn more about the program:
Miami Events:
- Building Real Products with AI: 6:30pm, May 19, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/397881
Global or Regional Events:
- Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
- Stop Guessing: How to Use AI to Validate Your Startup Idea in Days : 12:00pm, May 12, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/396673
- How to Choose the Right Startup Idea Before You Build: 8:00am, May 18, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/390317
- How to Tell Stories That Win Clients and Investors with Lubna Forzley: 12:00pm, May 19, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/396340
- [Restricted] VIP Pitch Lounge: Get Unfiltered Feedback from Global Investors & Advisors: 12:00pm, May 26, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/395474
- Vibecoding 101 for Startups: Build Your First App w/ Mark Montalban: 12:30pm, Jun 01, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/398095
- Inside the Founder Institute: Real Stories From Alumni: 12:00pm, Jun 02, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/390493
- Startup Advisors 101: How to Find Advisors and Maximize their Impact (POSTPONED): 8:30pm, Jun 08, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/388433
- What It Takes to Get Funded: Live Investor Q&A w/ Maayan Teper: 12:00pm, Jun 09, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/396176
- Turn Startup Hesitation Into Action: A Founder Mindset Framework: 8:00pm, Jun 15, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/393198
- Stop Guessing, Start Raising: An Investor Q&A : 8:00pm, Jul 06, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/392828
- Stop Overthinking and Build a Great Startup Idea: 12:00pm, Jul 20, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/390631
- From Idea to Action: The Startup Mindset : 8:30am, Aug 10, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/393321
- Meet FI Alumni Founders: High-Growth Startups Panel : 12:00pm, Aug 10, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/391183
- Build a Startup Idea Investors Won’t Ignore: 8:00pm, Aug 18, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/391271
- What Makes Investors Say Yes: Startup Funding AMA: 12:00pm, Sep 01, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/392938
- Break the Idea Loop and Decide What to Build: 8:00pm, Sep 21, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/391550
- From Idea to Traction: Lessons From Global FI Alumni: 8:30pm, Oct 05, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/390907
- From Dreamer to Doer: Build the Founder Mindset: 12:00pm, Oct 13, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/393451
- From Founder to Funded: Interactive Q&A with Top Startup Investor: 12:00pm, Nov 03, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/393068
- From “Maybe” to Momentum: Building a Great Startup Idea: 8:00pm, Nov 17, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/391412
- From First Idea to First Funding: Global Alumni Stories: 12:00pm, Dec 01, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/391025
Leaders of the world’s fastest-growing startups have used the Founder Institute to transition from employee to entrepreneur, test their startup ideas, build a team, get their first customers, raise funding, and more - like Udemy, Realty Mogul, iCarsClub, Itembase, goplaceit, and Appota. Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 200 cities and 100 countries, the Founder Institute's mission is to "Globalize Silicon Valley" and create sustainable startup ecosystems that will create one million new jobs worldwide.
Running the Founder Institute's efforts in Miami include local startup leaders Enrique Sierra (Managing Director, Nadevco), Gustavo Fernandez (Managing Member/CFO, Royal Oak Kapital, LLC), and Juan Meza (Strategic Business Development Manager, Sony Electronics Inc).
In addition, some of Miami's top entrepreneurs will mentor founders in the program, providing them with expert training, feedback, and evaluation. The list of mentors for the Miami 2026 includes:
- Aaron Chavez: Managing Partner, (un)conventional ventures
- Adam Garfield: Exited Founder & CEO, Stealth, SpeedETab
- Anna Ratala: 2x Founder & CEO, Zvook
- Anuj Maheshwari: Investor, Fuel Venture Capital
- Ayal Stern: Co-Founder, The LAB Miami
- Charles Masters Rodriguez: Co-Founder & CEO, Supply Veins
- Chris Anderson: General Partner, A2ZVenture.com
- David Chitester: Founder, SeedFunders
- Dean Hatton: Founding Partner, Las Olas VC
- Diana Fox: Co-Founder, Odyssey Gaming
- Elvia Perez: Investor, Las Olas Venture Capital (LOVC)
- Esteban Reyes: Founding Partner, Las Olas Venture Capital
- Ethan Werner: Principal, BlueLake VC
- Grace Spindel: Director, Founder Institute Miami
- Hilmon Sorey: Co-Founder & Partner, The Source Groups
- Janet Todorova: Head of Expansion, Founder Institute
- Julia Lucidi: Founder, Fort Lauderdale Tech Meetup
- June W Choi: Managing Partner, Serval Ventures
- Justis Mendez: Managing Partner, OneSixOne Ventures
- Ken Hall: Vice President, DeepWork Capital
- Kristen Corpion: Founder, CORPlaw
- Lauren Pencek: COO, Graphika
- Marcelo Ricigliano: CEO, 4Geeks Academy
- Mark Volchek: Founder, Las Olas Venture Capital
- Michael Assraf: CEO & Founder, Flamingo
- Michel Triana: General Partner, Mises Capital
- Mike Sherbakov: General Partner, The Veteran Fund
- Miriam Altman Reyes: Founding CEO & Managing Partner, Brass Ring Ventures
- Mitali Saxena: Founder & CEO, Fashom
- Nelson Telemaco: GP, Eden Capital
- Olivia Ramos: Founder & CEO, Deepblocks
- Peter Livingston: General Partner, Unpopular Ventures
- Ryan Martin: Director, Founder Institute Miami
- Ryan Pruitt: Managing Director, Ocean Azul Partners
- Sam Payrovi: Founder & CEO, ARKHAUS
- Satadru Sengupta: Co-Founder & CEO, Nimbus
- Sonja Markova: Executive Director, University of Miami Cane Angel Network
- Tahl Milburn: Investor, Seedfunders
- Tigre Wenrich: Managing Partner, LAB Ventures
- Timothy Cartwright: Chairman, Tamiami Angel Funds
- And many more to be announced.
We hope you will join us in Miami and launch a company in 2016.
