Build a Great Startup in 2024 with the FI Australia NZ 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 Australia & New Zealand ANZ program!

If you could use a structured process and a lifetime of support from top Kiwi & Australian investors and entrepreneurs to build a startup, then apply to the Australia and NZ 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 NZ and Australia, where you can learn from top entrepreneurs:

Australia Events:

Startup Co-Founder Matching: Find the Right Partner in Sydney: 5:30pm, May 11, 2026 (Australia/Sydney): https://FI.co/e/396455

Global or Regional Events:

Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
Turn Your Expertise Into an Audience on LinkedIn: 2:00am, Apr 28, 2026 (Australia/Sydney): https://FI.co/e/392465
How to Overcome the Fear of Starting Your Own Company: 2:00am, Apr 29, 2026 (Australia/Sydney): https://FI.co/e/394918
How to Get Your First 10 Customers Without a Marketing Team or Budget: 2:30am, May 05, 2026 (Australia/Sydney): https://FI.co/e/394580
How Anyone Can Become a Solo Founder with AI: 2:00am, May 06, 2026 (Australia/Sydney): https://FI.co/e/396607
Stop Guessing: How to Use AI to Validate Your Startup Idea in Days : 2:00am, May 13, 2026 (Australia/Sydney): https://FI.co/e/396769
How to Choose the Right Startup Idea Before You Build: 10:00pm, May 18, 2026 (Australia/Sydney): https://FI.co/e/394946
How to Tell Stories That Win Clients and Investors with Lubna Forzley: 2:00am, May 20, 2026 (Australia/Sydney): https://FI.co/e/396437
Inside the Founder Institute: Real Stories From Alumni: 2:00am, Jun 03, 2026 (Australia/Sydney): https://FI.co/e/395001
Startup Advisors 101: How to Find Advisors and Maximize their Impact: 10:30am, Jun 09, 2026 (Australia/Sydney): https://FI.co/e/394644
Fundraising Reality Check: Startup Funding Q&A for Founders: 2:00am, Jun 10, 2026 (Australia/Sydney): https://FI.co/e/396273
Turn Startup Hesitation Into Action: A Founder Mindset Framework: 10:00am, Jun 16, 2026 (Australia/Sydney): https://FI.co/e/395045
Stop Guessing, Start Raising: An Investor Q&A : 10:00am, Jul 07, 2026 (Australia/Sydney): https://FI.co/e/392785
From Idea to Action: The Startup Mindset : 10:30pm, Aug 10, 2026 (Australia/Sydney): https://FI.co/e/395127
Build a Startup Idea Investors Won’t Ignore: 10:00am, Aug 19, 2026 (Australia/Sydney): https://FI.co/e/395183
What Makes Investors Say Yes: Startup Funding AMA: 2:00am, Sep 02, 2026 (Australia/Sydney): https://FI.co/e/393568
Break the Idea Loop and Decide What to Build: 10:00am, Sep 22, 2026 (Australia/Sydney): https://FI.co/e/395231
From Idea to Traction: Lessons From Global FI Alumni: 11:30am, Oct 06, 2026 (Australia/Sydney): https://FI.co/e/395254
From Dreamer to Doer: Build the Founder Mindset: 3:00am, Oct 14, 2026 (Australia/Sydney): https://FI.co/e/393496
From Founder to Funded: Interactive Q&A with Top Startup Investor: 4:00am, Nov 04, 2026 (Australia/Sydney): https://FI.co/e/393585
From “Maybe” to Momentum: Building a Great Startup Idea: 12:00pm, Nov 18, 2026 (Australia/Sydney): https://FI.co/e/395320

See all upcoming events

The Australia & NZ program is led by some of the region's top startup leaders, including Benjamin Chong (Partner, Right Click Capital), Paul Krajewski (Product Management / Research MarTech SaaS, SalesEnablement.wordpress.com/about), Sydney Admin (FI Admin account, FI Sydney).

In addition, some of Australia's & New Zealand'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 Australia Founder Institute includes:

* Adeline Chu * Alex Samson * Alex Sy * Amit Verma * Anna Cheng * Cheryl Mack * Chris Clark * Dennis Kibirev * Dylan Mc Donnell * GRAEME OGILVIE * Jo Ann Suchard * Leila Alem * Lisa Askwith * Lisa Cotton * Magdalena Reith * Matthew Browne * Michelle Gilmore * Neil Smith * Paul Grimes * Paul Krajewski * Peter Browne * Prashant Gami * Rebecca Dooley * Roger Do * Ryan Cross * Sorrel Kesby * Stella Xu * Tomaj Bayat * Vanessa Mouledous * Vanessa Ronan Pearce