Build the Future: Applications Now OPEN to Founder Institute South Africa Cohort 5

Founder First, Founder Always. Join us in 2022: 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 Johannesburg's top investors and entrepreneurs, then apply to Founder Institute South Africa Cohort 5 today.

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

Unlocking Public Funding for Startups: 6:00pm, Apr 06, 2026 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/392051
Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
From Idea to Startup Team: Meet Your Future Co-Founder: 2:00am, Apr 07, 2026 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/392250
Stuck Without a Startup Idea? Build One That Fits You: 2:30am, Apr 08, 2026 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/390195
How Multiple Pivots positioned Checkbox as the ‘Legal Front Door’ for Corporations: 2:00am, Apr 14, 2026 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/394723
Real Startup Lessons From FI Alumni Across the World: 6:00pm, Apr 14, 2026 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/390698
Pitch Your Ideas to Investors & Experts: 6:00pm, Apr 20, 2026 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/395893
How to Go From Raw Idea to Polished Pitch using AI: 6:30pm, Apr 20, 2026 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/395740
[Restricted] VIP Pitch Lounge: Pitch Live and Get Feedback from Investors & Advisors: 6:00pm, Apr 21, 2026 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/395572
Turn Your Expertise Into an Audience on LinkedIn: 6:00pm, Apr 27, 2026 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/392386
How to Overcome the Fear of Starting Your Own Company: 6:00pm, Apr 28, 2026 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/394001
How to Get Your First 10 Customers Without a Marketing Team or Budget: 6:30pm, May 04, 2026 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/394502
How to Choose the Right Startup Idea Before You Build: 2:00am, May 19, 2026 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/390270
[Restricted] VIP Pitch Lounge: Get Unfiltered Feedback from Global Investors & Advisors: 6:00pm, May 26, 2026 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/395429
Inside the Founder Institute: Real Stories From Alumni: 6:00pm, Jun 02, 2026 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/390430
Startup Advisors 101: How to Find Advisors and Maximize their Impact: 2:30am, Jun 09, 2026 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/388510
Turn Startup Hesitation Into Action: A Founder Mindset Framework: 2:00am, Jun 16, 2026 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/393165
Stop Guessing, Start Raising: An Investor Q&A : 2:00am, Jul 07, 2026 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/393529
Stop Overthinking and Build a Great Startup Idea: 6:00pm, Jul 20, 2026 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/390568
From Idea to Action: The Startup Mindset : 2:30pm, Aug 10, 2026 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/393288
Meet FI Alumni Founders: High-Growth Startups Panel : 6:00pm, Aug 10, 2026 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/391120
Build a Startup Idea Investors Won’t Ignore: 2:00am, Aug 19, 2026 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/391322
What Makes Investors Say Yes: Startup Funding AMA: 6:00pm, Sep 01, 2026 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/392905
Break the Idea Loop and Decide What to Build: 2:00am, Sep 22, 2026 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/391602
From Idea to Traction: Lessons From Global FI Alumni: 2:30am, Oct 06, 2026 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/390844
From Dreamer to Doer: Build the Founder Mindset: 6:00pm, Oct 13, 2026 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/393418
From Founder to Funded: Interactive Q&A with Top Startup Investor: 7:00pm, Nov 03, 2026 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/393042
From “Maybe” to Momentum: Building a Great Startup Idea: 3:00am, Nov 18, 2026 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/391473
From First Idea to First Funding: Global Alumni Stories: 7:00pm, Dec 01, 2026 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/390981

See all upcoming events

Make better, faster business decisions in 2022 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 Johannesburg accelerator is led by some of the region's top startup leaders, including Keshni Morar, Jacobus Erasmus and Phumzile Ntola. In addition, some of South Africa's top entrepreneurs will be participating as mentors in the program, including:

Abdulkadir Suleiman: CEO & Founder, Tespire
Abu Bakr Cassim: Founder, Jozi Angels
Akua Nyame Mensah: Certified Executive & Leadership Coach, A.N.M & Company
Alan Fok: Growth Partner & Leadership Coach, The Forward Coach
Andre De Wet: CEO, 2ndBase Inc
Andrew Marsh
Annu Augustine: Founder, NedRock
Anthony Stonefield: Chief Innovation Officer, AIDA Advisory Services
Arcui Usoara: Global Board Advisor and Brand Strategist, Founder, Iaculus
Ayodeji Agboola: Founder, Akowe
Ayodeji Agboola: CEO, Akowe
Bade Aluko: Managing Partner, White Hibiscus Capital
Bentzy Goldman: Founder, Perflo
Berg Moe: Founder, Gründervekst AS
Bertha Kgokong: Founder & CEO, Tati Software
Bhairav Patel: Managing Director, Atom CTO
Brenda Wangari: Head of Portfolio Success, Madica
Brian O. Sing'ora: Brian Obwora Sing'ora, Origee-Nation Ventures
Charlotte Luzuka: Co-Founder & Investor, Dazzle Angels
Chintan Oza: Founder, Anantam Ecosystems
Chris Foltz: Global Entrepreneur-In-Residence, Founder Institute
Cleo Johnson: Strategist, Marketing Maven
Dali Lakhoua: VC Investment Officer, AfricInvest group
Dana Ohana: CEO and Co-Founder, Big Consulting
Deon Katz: CEO & co-Founder , Graphite Growth
Devin Butler: Co-founder & CEO, Metaship
Didier Vermeiren: Founder, Rialto
Dimitri Anagnostopoulos: Partner, True North Partners
Donald Vutlharhi Valoyi: Founder, Zulzi
Dr. Krishnan Ranganath: Regional Executive - West Africa , Africa Data Centres
Dr. Ope Banwo: Attorney/Techfounder, Mobisoft360 Inc.
Eitan Stern: Director & Lawyer, Legalese
Farhat Bashir: Founding CEO, Seerab Technologies
Florent Nduwayezu: Mr. , BESTSELLER FOUNDATION
Franklin Kamnang Ngansop: Co-Founder, Vitamin CS Coaching
Freddy Atangana: Founder and Chief Executive Director, Ekamou
Gareth Bleazard: CEO and Founder, Great North Road
Gbite Oduneye: Founder and Managing Partner, ODBA
Giovanni Focaraccio: Product Manager, Potenza
Greg Serandos: Founder & CEO, African Academy of Artificial Intelligence
Guillermo Guzman: Local Leader, AIDA Ventures
Idowu Akinde: Managing Director, Impact Hub Lagos
Jabulani Zwane: Founder & CEO, Mindset Development Institute
Jaco De Wet: Independent Consultant, Independent Consultant
Jatin Kataria: Founder/MD, InMeSta & Managing Partner, JK Venture Studio
Jerry Oche: Founder/CEO, Zowasel
Johann Ungerer: Director, 1099 Ventures, Infinite Loom
Kamal Hassan: Founding Partner, Loyal VC
Katie Mapondera: Founder and Managing Partner, Q L and D LLC
Kayimbi Ruben Mpanya: Strategic Projects Associate, Innovation Edge
Kendrall Felder: Co-Founder & CEO, Cyber Alliance
Kevin Chetty: Founder CEO, Macrocomm Financial Services / Xtenda Housing Finance
Kopano Mere: Market Activation Lead, SmartWage
Kyle Torrington: Co-Founder , Legal Legends
Larry Yon, Ii: Co-Founder & President, Cyber Alliance
Lundi Njomane: Director, Jozi Angels
Marco Broccardo: CEO , Eurocom
Mark Kleyner: Co-Founder, Dream VC
Mark Fritz: Managing Director, Procedor
Mauricio Cardoso: Corporate Venture Manager, O POVO Communication Group
Maushami Chetty: Founder and CEO, Aarya Legal & GDPR Bridge
Michael O'donnell: Principal, StartupBiz.com LLC
Michael Smith: Managing Director, Hillsdon Consulting Inc.
Nevo Hadas: Director, & innovation
Nicolas Ochmann: Director, Head of Solutions EMEA, Whatfix
Noah Wallach: Founder, Hope OS
Olivier Chas: Entrepreneur, Effective Marketing
Omar Layachi: Local Leader, Founder Institute Morocco
Pambos Soteriades: Founder & CEO, PiSigma Consulting
PASCHAL OFFORDUM: Associate , Shujaa Capital
Patricia Rinke: Investment Manager, AfricInvest Group
Paul Smith: Founder & CEO, Civitas
Pommie Lutchman: Digital Executive (CIO/CTO/CDO) and Startup Mentor, PommieLutchman.com
Preshan Govinder: Manager: Sales and Business Development, JSE
Riccardo Petrantoni: Managing Director, Range Ventures
Roheeni Bhana: Founder, Healthtech Launchpad
Russell Brand: CEO & Founder, Responsible Solutions Limited
Sabeeha Banubhai: Founder and Experience Director, Jack Studios
Sabrina Dorman: Co-Founder, ZUMI
Salmine Sassi: Entrepreneur in Residence, Seedstars
Sameer Babbar: Director, SVB Group
Sameer Sortur: Founding Partner, SquareCircle Ventures
Sanjay Soni: Chief Visionary & Venture Architect, Jozi Angels
Sanjay Bhana: Strategist, Thought leader, Reflective coach/mentor, Sanjay Bhana
Sara Ledterman: General Partner, 3+ Ventures
Sheriff Olujide: Managing Partner, SOCS GokSon Capital (SGC) Ventures
Sienna Leis: Managing Director, Cova Experience Design
Simon Turner: Founding Partner, Groundbreaking, Managing Director, FI Ghana
Sola Adekanye: Founder, Open Innovation Access
S'onqoba Vuba: Co-Founder and MD, Perpetu8
STEPHAN WESSELS: CTO, Simply Financial Services
Suhail Nakooda: Visa, Director: Business Development
Tamzin Lovell: Founder & CEO, Artfundi
Tarek Chelaifa: Senior Manager, GSMA
Thaheer Mullins: Director & Partner, Savant
Thembalethu Shangase: Head of Programmes, Naspers Labs
Torrey Smith: Co-Founder & CEO, Endiatx
Tracey Chas: Advisor, Allan Gray Orbis Foundation
Trevor Longino: Founder & CEO, CrowdTamers
Tyrone Moodley: Venture Associate, HAVAÍC
Viola Llewellyn: Founder & CEO, The Tulle Box
Vladimir Pletyukhin: Founder and Creative Director, Launch Deck
Yemi Oluseun: Growth & GTM For FinTechs, The Change Hive
Zolani Matebese: Chairman, Sendoff.app

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).