Online Event
Real Startup Lessons From FI Alumni Across the World
Learn how Founder Institute alumni built their startups and what they gained from FI
Date
Apr 14, 2026
Time
12:00 pm - 01:30 pm
Address
Online Event
If you're building a startup, it's hard to know which advice actually matters — and which mistakes will cost you months (or years).This live, interactive Q&A brings together Founder Institute alumni from different regions who started exactly where you are today. They'll share what worked, what didn't, and what they would do differently if they were starting again. You'll hear honest perspectives on the FI accelerator experience, early traction, fundraising realities, and common founder traps — and you'll have the chance to ask your own questions.
What You'll Learn:
- The different types of startup companies that go through Founder Institute
- The experience of being part of an accelerator program
- Success metrics that investors want to see
- The tactics required to build a strong startup
Featured Speakers:
- Mario Edoardo Simmaco (FI Alumni) - CEO @ GreenAnt: Mario brings deep expertise in climate risk, governance, and entrepreneurship — holding an honours degree in Governance, Economics and Development from Leiden University College. A Founder Institute graduate, he built GreenAnt from scratch in 2021 and scaled it across four continents, earning recognition at international startup competitions in Paris and Shenzhen and securing selection for the Australian Red Cross QBE AcceliCITY Humanitarian Challenge.
- GreenAnt is a climate risk platform that uses AI and radar satellite data to forecast floods, monitor crops, and deliver anticipatory insurance solutions to vulnerable communities worldwide. Deployed across Bangladesh, the Philippines, Peru, and the Sahel, GreenAnt's platform delivers 92% forecasting accuracy and proven cost savings — helping humanitarian organizations, insurers, and farmers act before disaster strikes rather than after.
- Maria Sucgang (FI Philippines Alumni) - CEO @ Remotify: Maria brings 20 years of leadership across APAC and EMEA — including roles supporting Apple, Tesla, and Netflix. A Founder Institute alumna and Tatler Gen.T 2025 Leaders of Tomorrow honouree, she is building the infrastructure for global teams to hire and scale in the Philippines. Remotify is the Employer of Record platform built for the Philippines — handling hiring, payroll, and compliance so global companies can access top Filipino talent without setting up a local entity. Fully bootstrapped since 2021, it now manages over €1M in monthly transaction volume across a globally diversified client base.
- Remotify is the Employer of Record platform built for the Philippines — handling hiring, payroll, and compliance so global companies can access top Filipino talent without setting up a local entity. Fully bootstrapped since 2021, it now manages over €1M in monthly transaction volume across a globally diversified client base.
- Mustafa Al Momin (FI South Asia Alumni) - CEO @ Palki Motors: Mustafa is a second-time founder and Electrical Engineering graduate from Montana State University who sold his house to build his first EV prototype. A Founder Institute graduate and Zayed Sustainability Prize winner — receiving a $1M grant from the President of the UAE — he has spent the last four years proving that world-class electric vehicles can be designed, manufactured, and scaled from Bangladesh.
- Palki Motors is Bangladesh's first homegrown electric vehicle company, building affordable EVs purpose-built for commercial drivers. With 84+ vehicles delivered and 850+ tons of CO₂ eliminated, Palki's microfactory model reduces upfront capital while empowering local talent. For commercial drivers, switching to a Palki EV cuts running costs from 13 BDT per km to under 1.5 BDT — saving over 44,000 BDT per month and turning the vehicle into a financial tool, not just transportation. Palki is currently raising a $10M pre-Series A round.
Additional Resources:
Explore more Startup Events, meet Founder Institute Graduates from six continents, get inspired by the latest Graduate News and see what other Alumni say about Founder Institute on our Reviews page.
Explore more Startup Events, meet Founder Institute Graduates from six continents, get inspired by the latest Graduate News and see what other Alumni say about Founder Institute on our Reviews page.
About Founder Institute:
The Founder Institute is the world’s most proven network to turn ideas into fundable startups, and startups into global businesses. Since 2009, our structured accelerator programs have helped over 8,900 entrepreneurs raise over 2BN in funding. Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 100 countries, our mission is to empower communities of talented and motivated people to build impactful technology companies worldwide.
The Founder Institute is the world’s most proven network to turn ideas into fundable startups, and startups into global businesses. Since 2009, our structured accelerator programs have helped over 8,900 entrepreneurs raise over 2BN in funding. Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 100 countries, our mission is to empower communities of talented and motivated people to build impactful technology companies worldwide.
Speakers
Platinum Partners
Google
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The Founder Institute is the world’s most proven network to turn ideas into fundable startups, and startups into global businesses. Since 2009, our structured accelerator programs have helped over 8,900 entrepreneurs raise over 2BN in funding. Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 100 countries, our mission is to empower communities of talented and motivated people to build impactful technology companies worldwide.
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