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:

FI Alumni Panel: Meet Portfolio Companies and Ask Questions: 9:00pm, Oct 20, 2025 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/380662
Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
Building Local Economies That Attract Venture Capital: 8:00pm, Oct 21, 2025 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/380053
Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 9:00pm, Oct 27, 2025 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/377610
How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 5:00am, Nov 11, 2025 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/378960
Ask an Investor Anything: Q&A with Kirby Winfield: 10:00pm, Nov 17, 2025 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/379384
Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 10:00pm, Nov 24, 2025 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/379516
Build Your 2026 Startup Operations Plan: 10:00pm, Dec 01, 2025 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/381677
Hiring for Startups: How to Build Your Team Early: 10:00pm, Dec 08, 2025 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/380791
Founder Showcase: Startup Pitch & Networking Event, with Jenny Fielding: 9:00pm, Dec 10, 2025 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/380913
Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 10:00pm, Jan 26, 2026 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/382031

See all upcoming events

The GCC program is led by some of the region's top startup leaders, including Ayhan K. Isaacs (Head of Global Growth, Founder Institute), Carmen Mateos ( Innovation Program Lead, Entrepreneur.com), Sameer Sortur (Founder & CEO , SquareCircle Ventures).

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

* Abdellah Aouf * Adam Matalon * Aigerim Zhangozina * Ashutosh Wakankar * Ayami Wanasinghe * Eleni Lialiamou * Franklin Kamnang Ngansop * Guillermo Guzman * Ingeborg Gasser Kriss * Janet Todorova * Jitendra Singh * Jonathan Steingiesser * Krastina Zhivkova * Luisa Baltazar * Mercedes Bankston * Murtuza Haryanawalla * Mustafa Saeed * Prasad Vanga * Rajesh Setty * Rohin Sethi * Seemant Shrivastav * Shaima Ghafoor * Shekhar Kirani * Sree Lekshmi * Sridhar Turaga * Subhabrata Ghosh * Sunil Bangalore * Tom Thomas * Vijay Gummadi * Yousef Khatib