The Founder Institute, world's largest entrepreneur training and startup launch program, is now accepting applications for the Barcelona - Spain Fall 2026 Semester. Since launching in Barcelona in 2012, the Founder Institute has helped launch over 15 companies in the region, and our efforts in Barcelona have also been profiled by several high profile media channels, including Expansion, TICbeat, and more.
If you could benefit from expert training and advice to launch a technology startup in Barcelona, click here to apply today.
Those who apply by the Early Admissions Deadline (sep 08, 2026) will have their application fees waived (typically $50) and are eligible for Founder Institute Fellowships.
In the Founder Institute's four-month, part-time program, promising startup entrepreneurs "learn by doing" and launch a company through structured training courses and expert feedback from a large network of business mentors. Plus, you are not required to quit you day job to participate, so you can begin building a business around your ideas without putting your livelihood at risk.
In order to celebrate the launch, the Barcelona Founder Institute will host a "Pre-Curriculum" of free startup events for the general public:
- How to Find the First Customers for Your Startup Idea: 6:00pm, ago 11, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/403230
- How to Get Customer Feedback on your Startup Idea in the Age of AI: 6:00pm, ago 18, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/403388
- From Idea to Action: The Startup Mindset : 2:30pm, ago 24, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/393243
- FounderX Silicon Valley 2026: Global Conference in San Francisco: 2:00am, ago 26, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/399794
- Stop Guessing, Start Raising: An Investor Q&A: 6:00pm, sep 01, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/392860
- [Restricted] VIP Pitch Lounge: Pitch Live and Get Feedback from Investors & Advisors: 6:00pm, sep 08, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/401129
- How to Create a Great First Startup Pitch using AI: 2:30am, sep 15, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/403527
- How to Build a Strong Pipeline of Entrepreneurs for your Innovation Hub: 6:00pm, sep 15, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/398268
- Break the Idea Loop and Decide What to Build: 2:00am, sep 22, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/391576
- Learn from FI Grads: How to Build Without a Co-Founder: 6:00pm, oct 06, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/391084
- From Dreamer to Doer: Build the Founder Mindset: 6:00pm, oct 13, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/393373
- From Founder to Funded: Interactive Q&A with Top Startup Investor: 6:00pm, nov 03, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/392998
- From “Maybe” to Momentum: Building a Great Startup Idea: 2:00am, nov 18, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/391449
- From First Idea to First Funding: Global Alumni Stories: 6:00pm, dic 01, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/390948
The Barcelona Chapter will take place on Tuesday evenings beginning nov 18, 2026, and once again be led by two leaders of the Barcelona startup scene: Urs Rothmayer (Experienced Startup Advisor and Serial Entrepreneur), and Oriol Bes (CEO of Startup Catalyzer).
In only 17 years of operation, over 9,000 graduate companies across 200 cities have used the Founder Institute to validate their idea, develop their plans, refine their product, build an advisory board, prepare for seed funding, and more.
