Build a Great Startup in 2023 with the FI Barcelona Startup Accelerator

The Founder Institute, the world’s most proven network to turn ideas into fundable startups, is excited to announce that we are now accepting applications for the Barcelona - Spain 2026 program!

If you could use a structured process and a lifetime of support from Barcelona's top investors and entrepreneurs to build a startup, then apply to the Barcelona Founder Institute today.

Since 2009, our highly-structured accelerator programs have helped entrepreneurs at the earliest stages grow quickly, know what to do next, and make connections with the largest community of startup advisors.

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.

To celebrate the launch, the Founder Institute will host several free online startup events in Barcelona, where you can learn from top entrepreneurs:

How to Tell Stories That Win Clients and Investors with Lubna Forzley: 6:00pm, may 19, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/396299
Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
[Restricted] VIP Pitch Lounge: Get Unfiltered Feedback from Global Investors & Advisors: 6:00pm, may 26, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/395362
How to Start a Unicorn as a Solo Founder, with Adeo Ressi: 7:30pm, may 26, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/399093
Vibecoding 101 for Startups: Build Your First App w/ Mark Montalban: 6:30pm, jun 01, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/398036
Inside the Founder Institute: Real Stories From Alumni: 6:00pm, jun 02, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/390394
How to Build a Strong Pipeline of Entrepreneurs for your Innovation Hub: 6:30pm, jun 08, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/398268
How to Launch an AI-Powered Company With a Day Job Featuring Adeo Ressi: 8:00pm, jun 08, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/399213
Startup Advisors 101: How to Find Advisors and Maximize their Impact (POSTPONED): 2:30am, jun 09, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/388483
What It Takes to Get Funded: Live Investor Q&A w/ Maayan Teper: 6:00pm, jun 09, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/396133
Turn Startup Hesitation Into Action: A Founder Mindset Framework: 2:00am, jun 16, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/393120
Stop Guessing, Start Raising: An Investor Q&A : 2:00am, jul 07, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/392853
Stop Overthinking and Build a Great Startup Idea: 6:00pm, jul 20, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/390532
From Idea to Action: The Startup Mindset : 2:30pm, ago 10, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/393243
Meet FI Alumni Founders: High-Growth Startups Panel : 6:00pm, ago 10, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/391084
Build a Startup Idea Investors Won’t Ignore: 2:00am, ago 19, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/391296
What Makes Investors Say Yes: Startup Funding AMA: 6:00pm, sep 01, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/392860
Break the Idea Loop and Decide What to Build: 2:00am, sep 22, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/391576
From Idea to Traction: Lessons From Global FI Alumni: 2:30am, oct 06, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/390808
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

See all upcoming events

The Barcelona program is led by some of the region's top startup leaders, including Alfredo Cottin (Managing Partner, Post Data), Andres Camacho, Barcelona Admin (., StartYou), Daniel Gonzalvez (Investment Manager | Chapter Director, Founder Institute), Federico Fernandez Dupouy (Entrepreneurship, Solar Energy, Finance & Investments, OTEPI & IESA), Raphael Jardim (Barcelona Program Director, Founder Institute).

In addition, some of Barcelona's top investors, entrepreneurs, and CEOs will be participating in the program, providing them with expert feedback and evaluation. The list of startup mentors for the Barcelona Founder Institute includes:

* Abdellah Aouf * Alberto Gutierrez * Alejandro Pons * Alejandro Virchez Azuara * Alex Navarro * Arcui Usoara * Axel Serena * Björn Ühss * Carlos Jimenez * Cédric Naintré * Daniel Silva * Glen Hellman * Iñigo Cavestany * Jaime García Cantero * Jaume Mayor I Agell * Joan Marcos * Juan Carlos Pascual * Kamal Hassan * Manuel Minguez * Marc Vallhonesta * Oscar Macia * Pablo Fernandez Iglesias * Patrick Williamson * Philippe Brun * Sandy Gómez * Sebastian Lora * Timo Buetefisch * Trevor Longino * Violeta Garin * Ziv Gillat