Build the Future: Applications Now Open to Founder Institute Middle East 2023

Founder First, Founder Always. Join us in 2023: Founder Institute is the #1 place in the world to turn ideas into fundable startups, and startups into global businesses.

Today’s economic 'New Normal' is full of reshuffling industries, and new problems in need of solutions - now is a time for entrepreneurs to act.

Whether you need to test and validate early hypotheses before making a large financial commitment to your startup idea, or you are ready to push your startup to the next level through aggressive weekly growth sprints to refine your vision, improve key metrics, and prepare for investor diligence, Founder Institute has the proven processes and network to help you do it.

If you could use a structured process that tells you what to focus on when, and a lifetime of support from MENA's top investors and entrepreneurs, then apply to the Middle East 2023 Founder Institute today.

We will be hosting several free startup events in MENA over the coming weeks, where you can learn from top entrepreneurs all from the comfort of home:

How Aspiring Founders can Use AI to Test Ideas & Move Faster: 3:30am, Mar 24, 2026 (Asia/Baghdad): https://FI.co/e/393926
Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
[Restricted] VIP Pitch Lounge: Get Feedback from Global Investors & Advisors (Private Event): 7:00pm, Mar 24, 2026 (Asia/Baghdad): https://FI.co/e/389012
What Startup Ecosystems Get Wrong, and How to Fix Them: 7:30pm, Mar 30, 2026 (Asia/Baghdad): https://FI.co/e/394224
Solo-Founder 101: How Anyone Can Start a Business Using AI: 7:00pm, Mar 31, 2026 (Asia/Baghdad): https://FI.co/e/392517
From Idea to Startup Team: Meet Your Future Co-Founder: 3:00am, Apr 07, 2026 (Asia/Baghdad): https://FI.co/e/392258
Stuck Without a Startup Idea? Build One That Fits You: 3:00am, Apr 08, 2026 (Asia/Baghdad): https://FI.co/e/390208
How Multiple Pivots positioned Checkbox as the ‘Legal Front Door’ for Corporations: 3:00am, Apr 14, 2026 (Asia/Baghdad): https://FI.co/e/389440
Real Startup Lessons From FI Alumni Across the World: 7:00pm, Apr 14, 2026 (Asia/Baghdad): https://FI.co/e/390697
Turn Your Expertise Into an Audience on LinkedIn: 7:00pm, Apr 27, 2026 (Asia/Baghdad): https://FI.co/e/392381
How to Overcome the Fear of Starting Your Own Company: 7:00pm, Apr 28, 2026 (Asia/Baghdad): https://FI.co/e/393999
How to Choose the Right Startup Idea Before You Build: 3:00am, May 19, 2026 (Asia/Baghdad): https://FI.co/e/390273
Inside the Founder Institute: Real Stories From Alumni: 7:00pm, Jun 02, 2026 (Asia/Baghdad): https://FI.co/e/390429
Startup Advisors 101: How to Find Advisors and Maximize their Impact: 3:30am, Jun 09, 2026 (Asia/Baghdad): https://FI.co/e/388520
Turn Startup Hesitation Into Action: A Founder Mindset Framework: 3:00am, Jun 16, 2026 (Asia/Baghdad): https://FI.co/e/393166
Stop Guessing, Start Raising: An Investor Q&A : 3:00am, Jul 07, 2026 (Asia/Baghdad): https://FI.co/e/393541
Stop Overthinking and Build a Great Startup Idea: 7:00pm, Jul 20, 2026 (Asia/Baghdad): https://FI.co/e/390567
From Idea to Action: The Startup Mindset : 3:30pm, Aug 10, 2026 (Asia/Baghdad): https://FI.co/e/393289
Meet FI Alumni Founders: High-Growth Startups Panel : 7:00pm, Aug 10, 2026 (Asia/Baghdad): https://FI.co/e/391119
Build a Startup Idea Investors Won’t Ignore: 3:00am, Aug 19, 2026 (Asia/Baghdad): https://FI.co/e/391334
What Makes Investors Say Yes: Startup Funding AMA: 7:00pm, Sep 01, 2026 (Asia/Baghdad): https://FI.co/e/392906
Break the Idea Loop and Decide What to Build: 3:00am, Sep 22, 2026 (Asia/Baghdad): https://FI.co/e/391614
From Idea to Traction: Lessons From Global FI Alumni: 3:30am, Oct 06, 2026 (Asia/Baghdad): https://FI.co/e/390843
From Dreamer to Doer: Build the Founder Mindset: 7:00pm, Oct 13, 2026 (Asia/Baghdad): https://FI.co/e/393419
From Founder to Funded: Interactive Q&A with Top Startup Investor: 8:00pm, Nov 03, 2026 (Asia/Baghdad): https://FI.co/e/393041
From “Maybe” to Momentum: Building a Great Startup Idea: 4:00am, Nov 18, 2026 (Asia/Baghdad): https://FI.co/e/391481
From First Idea to First Funding: Global Alumni Stories: 8:00pm, Dec 01, 2026 (Asia/Baghdad): https://FI.co/e/390979

See all upcoming events

Make better, faster business decisions in 2023 by sharing your latest progress, challenges, and strategies for constant feedback and evaluation from our expert mentors and advisors, every step of the way–scale your team, develop new business opportunities, and recruit an amazing advisory board with the world's largest network of international startup founders, CEOs, advisors, and investors.

The MENA accelerator is led by some of the region's top startup leaders, including Maher Santarissy (Managing Director , Founder Institute ), MiddleEast Admin, Mo Santarissy (Managing Partner, Founder Capital). In addition, some of Amman's top entrepreneurs will be participating as mentors in the program, including:

Abdellah Aouf: Chief Executive Officer, GO PLATFORM
Abdulelah Alshareef: Vice President, Merak Capital
Abdulrazzaq Alyan: Co-Founder, Tamkeen Alamal
Ahmad Santarissy: CEO, We The Makers LLC
Ahmad Nazzal: Senior Analyst - FinTech Innovation & Investment, Arab Bank - AB Accelerator
Ahmed Nassef: Founder, Leadsmart
Ahmed Al Kiremli: Co-Founder, CEO, Orisdi
Ahmed Jamal: CEO, Padash
Ahmed Morsy: Founder and CEO, Just to Learn
Ahmed Rashad: Founder, Business بالعربي
Alessandra Scicchitano: Founder, AURES, and Lecturer, Swiss Business School
Alex Pavel: Managing Director - Middle East, Africa and Asia, Pagero
Aliya Nur Babul: Venture Partner, Global Millennial Capital
Ana Bibikova: Founder
Andreas Schumacher: Artificial Intelligence , Munich Re
Andreea Marinescu: CEO, Tech Add-Venture
Arthur Gusev: Founder and CEO, Launch Deck
Ben Stacey: CEO, Pitchverk
Cedric Naintre: Business Angel, Sales Advisor, Hyperplan
Chad Fox: Managing Partner, Fox Ventures
Charles Shaban: Consultant, Self
Chintan Oza: Founder, Anantam Ecosystems
Christian AlMurr: Co-founder & CEO , Jedo
Christian Vezjak: Co-founder & CEO, TAP
Dan D'souza: Intrapreneurship and New Ventures Senior Manager, L Marks
Dav Masaon: Co-Founder , Zanda
David Prais: Chairman, Greater London Investment Fund (GLIF)
David Postolski: Partner, Gearhart Law
Deep Moteria: Founder , Elluminati
Ebin Ephrem Elavathingal: Director/Tecknogog, MERSTRA Foundation / MITC
Edgar Kussberg: AI Group Product Manager, Snyk
Edgar Kussberg: Staff Product Manager , Snyk
Eleni Lialiamou: Founder, Kimolian Academy
Elia Nuqul: Owner, Investor, Mentor, Co-Founder, Nuqul Group
Fady Santarissy: Managing Partner, cg imagine+invent
Fahed Qteishat: Associate Director, Middle East Venture Partners (MEVP)
Farhat Bashir: Founding CEO, Seerab Technologies
Filip Karwala: Co-founder, Partner, Move Ventures
Franklin Kamnang Ngansop: Co-Founder, Vitamin CS Coaching
Gaelle Yammine: Associate, Middle East Venture Partners (MEVP)
Grant Felgenhauer: Managing Partner, Euphrates Ventures
Hamdi Tabbaa: Co-founder and CEO , Abwaab
Hanan Shahin: Co-Founder & CEO , BLOOMit
Hanan Shahin: Co-founder & CEO, Bloomcart
Hani W. Naguib: Author | Speaker | Mentor, HNT innovation studio
Hasan Ahmad: Consultant, Hasan Ahmad
Hisham Rashed: Associate, Levari
Hussam Hammo: CEO & Founder, Tamatem Games
Ibrahim Faza: GM, JordanStart
Irina Baskova: Growth coach for B2B sales and go-to-market., independent consultant.
Ivan Ivanka: Founder & CEO, Markster
Ivan Hoo: Owner, IHAYO
Jad El Boustani: Managing Director, Middle East Venture Partners (MEVP)
June W Choi: Managing Partner, Serval Ventures
Kareem El Shaffei: Director of Product, Money Fellows
Karim Djerboa: Business Development Specialist, MAVENTERSE
Karim Hamdan: Managing Partner, DINARe VENTURES
Laura Olivier Khudairi: Executive Director, Iraq Tech Ventures
Lauren Jane Heller: Executive Leadership Coach, On Deck/ Iberdrola Australia
Loek Daemen: Presentation Skills Trainer & Founder , Pitch Perfect
Luis Ferreira: Mentor, FI
Maher Kaddoura: Investor, Al Jude
Maher Santarissy: Managing Partner, Founder Capital
Majd Alaily: Founder, Ruya Advisory
Marie Therese Fam: Partner, Silicon Badia
Marisa Bryce: CEO, Jack and Blue Capital
Marwan Said: CEO, E Points Group
Marwan Abu sakha: Co-Founder & CEO, Kitchefy
Michael Makdah, Eskonomy
Michael Makdah: Fractional CMO, ImpactX Partners
Michael Ho: Founder , Ventures Cubed
Mikhail Tykuchinskiy: Managing Partner, Reassembly Point
Mohamed Tohami: Founder & CEO, Passion Point
Mohamed Ramadan: Senior Associate, Levari
Mohd Santarissy: General Partner, Founder Capital
Mortada Al Khateeb: Co-founer and CEO, Needbooth
Mudar Jeiroudi: Managing Partner, Jeiroudi Law Firm
Muhanad Wadah: Founder & CEO, Shab
Muhannad Taslaq: General Manager, Integral Reality Labs
Nader Amiri: General Partner, Homegrown Ventures
Nadia KANOUN: CEO, Senior Adviser, Trainer & Coach, IHSCEN for Startups
Nadine Zerrini: Director, Founder Institute Boston
Najiba Wajiha Mahboob: CEO, Toureela
Nela Dunato: Brand Designer, Nela Dunato Art & Design
Nidal Bitar: Chief Executive Officer, ICT Association of Jordan - int@j
Nikola Korać: CEO, Downstream Business Solutions
Omar Tabbaa: Chairman / CEO, Eat Holding
Paul Turken: Professor, Marketing & Strategy of Business School Netherlands
Philippe Linus Petit: Public Speaking Expert & Storytelling Coach
Raja Mawad: Founder, Thrv.health
Rami Essaid: CEO, Finmark
Ramzi Halaby: CEO, The Online Project
Ramzi Nahawi: Product Design , Bubble
Rania Albassoumi: Founder, Wellpreneur
Rasha Laswi: Partner, Andersen
Rawaz Rauf: Partner, Euphrates Ventures
Rishi Sharma: West Coast Lead , Newlin VC
Roberto Croci: Regional Startups Enabler, .
Ruba Darwish: Operations Manager, BMB Jordan
Ruba Fakhouri: Psychological , Counseling
Rudy Bekerejian: Founder & CEO , Ecomz
Ryan Micheletti: Head of Global Operations, Founder Institute
Salha Al Aqeel Alghamdi: CEO, FI GCC
Sameer Sortur: Founding Partner, SquareCircle Ventures
Samer Arabiat: Consultant
Sara Alkhatib, SpaceDeco
Sara Ledterman: General Partner, 3+ Ventures
Saumya Bhatnagar: CTO & Co-Founder, Involve.ai
Saurabh Nathany: Startup & VC Lawyer, White Summers Caffee & James, LLP
Sawsan Lubani, iRole
Shaun Gold: Entrepreneur, storyteller, GP at Improve Ventures, Improve Ventures
Shaza Bassam: Associate, Levari
Simon Turner: Founding Partner, Groundbreaking, Managing Director, FI Ghana
Simon Tkachenko: Principal, Modus Capital
Sokmean Nou: Front End Services Lead, Acrisure
Tamer Al Salah: Managing Director, BeyondCapital
Tarek Roushdy: Angel Investor, UI Investments
Tariq El Titi: Managing Director , Janus Ventures
Trevor Longino: Founder & CEO, CrowdTamers
Triska Hamid: Editorial Director, Wamda
Vaios Gkitsas: Founder , The Upset Partners
Vincent Marsland: Senior Founder Success Manager, Communitech
Vladimir Pletyukhin: Founder and Creative Director, Launch Deck
Wajeeha Al Husseini: Director of Communications, Umniah
Yasmine Darwich: Founder of DonaLeb | Social Impact, DonaLeb
Zaid Ibrahim: Consumer Marketing Director, Umniah
Zeid Husban: Serial Entrepreneur | 2 Exits | Experienced Leader | Angel Investor

And many more to be announced.

Since 2009, Founder Institute’s highly-structured accelerator programs have helped over 8,900 entrepreneurs to grow quickly, know what to do next, and make key connections through the largest community of startup advisors in the world.

It all starts with our renowned ‘FI Core’ accelerator, which pushes founders at the idea and pre-seed stages to reach the milestones needed for investment and sustained growth. Alumni of FI Core then receive free access to our advanced ‘Founder Lab’ accelerators for years to come, and can get matched with prospective investors in the FI Venture Network - a collection of global funds actively investing in the earliest rounds of funding.

The results speak for themselves: FI Alumni have raised over 2BN in funding, and are building impactful businesses across 200+ cities and 100+ countries all across the globe. (see the FI 50 Report here).