Build a Great Startup in 2023 with the FI Italy 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 Italy program!

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

From Idea to Startup Team: Meet Your Future Co-Founder: 2:00am, Apr 07, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/392269
Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
Stuck Without a Startup Idea? Build One That Fits You: 2:30am, Apr 08, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/390225
How Multiple Pivots positioned Checkbox as the ‘Legal Front Door’ for Corporations: 2:00am, Apr 14, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/394735
Real Startup Lessons From FI Alumni Across the World: 6:00pm, Apr 14, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/390708
How to Go From Raw Idea to Polished Pitch using AI: 6:30pm, Apr 20, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/395761
[Restricted] VIP Pitch Lounge: Pitch Live and Get Feedback from Investors & Advisors: 6:00pm, Apr 21, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/395594
Turn Your Expertise Into an Audience on LinkedIn: 6:00pm, Apr 27, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/392396
How to Overcome the Fear of Starting Your Own Company: 6:00pm, Apr 28, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/394018
How to Get Your First 10 Customers Without a Marketing Team or Budget: 6:30pm, May 04, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/394526
How to Choose the Right Startup Idea Before You Build: 2:00am, May 19, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/390280
[Restricted] VIP Pitch Lounge: Get Unfiltered Feedback from Global Investors & Advisors: 6:00pm, May 26, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/395450
Inside the Founder Institute: Real Stories From Alumni: 6:00pm, Jun 02, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/390440
Startup Advisors 101: How to Find Advisors and Maximize their Impact: 2:30am, Jun 09, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/388536
Turn Startup Hesitation Into Action: A Founder Mindset Framework: 2:00am, Jun 16, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/393182
Stop Guessing, Start Raising: An Investor Q&A : 2:00am, Jul 07, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/393557
Stop Overthinking and Build a Great Startup Idea: 6:00pm, Jul 20, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/390578
From Idea to Action: The Startup Mindset : 2:30pm, Aug 10, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/393305
Meet FI Alumni Founders: High-Growth Startups Panel : 6:00pm, Aug 10, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/391130
Build a Startup Idea Investors Won’t Ignore: 2:00am, Aug 19, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/391351
What Makes Investors Say Yes: Startup Funding AMA: 6:00pm, Sep 01, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/392922
Break the Idea Loop and Decide What to Build: 2:00am, Sep 22, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/391631
From Idea to Traction: Lessons From Global FI Alumni: 2:30am, Oct 06, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/390854
From Dreamer to Doer: Build the Founder Mindset: 6:00pm, Oct 13, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/393435
From Founder to Funded: Interactive Q&A with Top Startup Investor: 6:00pm, Nov 03, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/393060
From “Maybe” to Momentum: Building a Great Startup Idea: 2:00am, Nov 18, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/391493
From First Idea to First Funding: Global Alumni Stories: 6:00pm, Dec 01, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/390995

See all upcoming events

The Rome program is led by some of the region's top startup leaders, including Alberto Martellini (Innovation Partner, Founder Institute), Ariona Krasniqi ( Local Leader – Mentor Network, Founder Institute), Azra Gurbuz (Local Leader - Marketing & Community Lead, FI), Giovanni Salvi (Data Scientist, Serenis), Julie DeCastro.

In addition, some of Rome'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 Rome Founder Institute includes:

* Alessandro Cillario * Alessandro Zanchetton * Alexandra Fattal * Andrea Arienti * Angelica Velati * Antonia Verna * Camilla Barlocco * Edoardo Volta * Emanuele Torlonia * Enrico Frascati * Fabio Costa * Francesco Gia * Ivelin Ivanov * Iwona Kerr * Jeffrey Paine * Lorenzo Di Cataldo * Lorenzo Giampaolo Arrigoni * Luigi Cito * Marco De Biasi * Marta Marrucco * Massimiliano Squillace * Mauro Baldoni * Michele Mattei * Mohammed Kashif * Natalia Iudina * Pietro Braguglia * Russ Lewis * Simone Dozza * Victor Schiller * Vladimir Pletyukhin