Build a Great Startup in 2023 with the FI Germany Regional 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 Germany Regional program!

If you could use a structured process and a lifetime of support from Cologne's top investors and entrepreneurs to build a startup, then apply to the Germany Regional 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 Cologne, where you can learn from top entrepreneurs:

How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 2:00am, Apr 29, 2025 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/369844
Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 2:00am, May 06, 2025 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/370096
What is the DNA of an Entrepreneur? Insights from 15 Years of Research: 2:00am, May 08, 2025 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/369791
Ask an Investor Anything: Q&A with Nathan Beckord: 7:00pm, May 12, 2025 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/369788
Future-proofing CPG Brands: Key Strategies for Sustainable Growth: 4:00pm, May 15, 2025 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/370956
Launching and Scaling Startups in Europe: Insights from FI Founders: 7:00pm, May 19, 2025 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/369815
Lessons Learned Raising from Top Silicon Valley VCs: AMA with Rajeev Behera: 6:00pm, May 29, 2025 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/371201
How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 7:00pm, Jun 02, 2025 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/370548
How to Build Your MVP Using Artificial Intelligence : 7:00pm, Jun 04, 2025 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/371334
Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 2:00am, Jun 10, 2025 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/370858
Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 7:00pm, Jul 07, 2025 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/370319

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.

We plan to run three of the core sessions in the upcoming cohort with high mentor attendance as hybrid events (in-person and virtual attendance possible) to facilitate physical peer and mentor networking.

The Cologne accelerator is led by some of the region's top startup leaders, including Amanda Fornal (Director, Startup Advisor, Women in STEM advocate), Dirk Lehmann (Innovation Advisor & Pitch Coach, Dirk Lehmann & Partners), Ferdinand Muehlhaeuser (Lead Director Berlin, Founder Institute Berlin), Kai Malkwitz (Serial Entrepreneur, sustainability evangelist and Impact Director of Founder Institute Berlin), Rikke Klitskov (CMO, Founder Institute).

And we do not stop at supporting you in shaping your business model and getting it off the ground, but also have a great and reliable partner for everything legal: Osborne Clarke is an international legal practice with over 2,200 employees at 25 locations worldwide, including more than 200 lawyers in Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne and Munich. With the claim “Helping you succeed in tomorrow’s world”, extensive industry knowledge through networking and outstanding expertise in the digital transformation of business models, Osborne Clarke advises and represents companies, entrepreneurs and investors in all practical business law issues focusing not only on our chosen sectors but also on the three key topics of digital transformation, decarbonisation and urban dynamics. They can also provide legal support related to all kind of methods of financing your start-up and are well connected in the Berlin startup investment scene (osborneclarke.com).

We are also very happy to have Unicorn Workspaces at our side as our FI Berlin location partner, being a core supporter for the Berlin startup scene, providing invaluable event spaces, coworking opportunities, and startup offices of all sizes.

In addition, a selection of 50 mentors out of our 800+ Germany mentor network will be actively participating as mentors in the program and you will be able to tap into our entire Germany and worldwide mentor network as a graduate of the program. Please find an overview of our German mentor network below!