Build a Great Startup in 2024 with the FI GCC 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 GCC program!

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

How to Find the First Customers for Your Startup Idea: 8:00pm, Aug 11, 2026 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/403259
How to Get Customer Feedback on your Startup Idea in the Age of AI: 8:00pm, Aug 18, 2026 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/403417
How to Create a Great First Startup Pitch using AI: 4:30am, Sep 15, 2026 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/403556

See all upcoming events

The AI Arabia program is led by some of the region's top startup leaders, including Nidhima Kohli, Sameer Sortur (Founding Partner, SquareCircle Ventures).

In addition, some of AI Arabia'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 AI Arabia Founder Institute includes:

* Abdellah Aouf * Aigerim Zhangozina * Ajay Goel * Ayami Wanasinghe * Bipin Pendyala * Chris Foltz * Dr. Hanan El Basha * Enad Kanaan * Farhat Bashir * Franklin Kamnang Ngansop * Guillermo Guzman * Indica Amarasinghe * Ingeborg Gasser Kriss * Ish Anand * José Francisco Fernandez Serna * Marcel Ionescu * Nadia Al-Banna, PHD, MBA * Pavan Soni * Prabhat Kumar * Radhika Iyengar * Raviprasad Pisupati * Ryan Micheletti * Sandy Gómez * Sanjay Soni * Seemant Shrivastav * Shaima Ghafoor * Sreedhar Peddineni * Sridhar Turaga * Tom Thomas * Vladimir Pletyukhin