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:

Stop Guessing: How to Use AI to Validate Your Startup Idea in Days : 8:00pm, May 12, 2026 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/396741
Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
How to Choose the Right Startup Idea Before You Build: 4:00pm, May 18, 2026 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/390301
How to Tell Stories That Win Clients and Investors with Lubna Forzley: 8:00pm, May 19, 2026 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/396406
[Restricted] VIP Pitch Lounge: Get Unfiltered Feedback from Global Investors & Advisors: 8:00pm, May 26, 2026 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/395467
Inside the Founder Institute: Real Stories From Alumni: 8:00pm, Jun 02, 2026 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/390483
Startup Advisors 101: How to Find Advisors and Maximize their Impact (POSTPONED): 4:30am, Jun 09, 2026 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/388497
What It Takes to Get Funded: Live Investor Q&A w/ Maayan Teper: 8:00pm, Jun 09, 2026 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/396228
Turn Startup Hesitation Into Action: A Founder Mindset Framework: 4:00am, Jun 16, 2026 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/393206
Stop Guessing, Start Raising: An Investor Q&A : 4:00am, Jul 07, 2026 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/393517
Stop Overthinking and Build a Great Startup Idea: 8:00pm, Jul 20, 2026 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/390621
From Idea to Action: The Startup Mindset : 4:30pm, Aug 10, 2026 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/393329
Meet FI Alumni Founders: High-Growth Startups Panel : 8:00pm, Aug 10, 2026 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/391173
Build a Startup Idea Investors Won’t Ignore: 4:00am, Aug 19, 2026 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/391308
What Makes Investors Say Yes: Startup Funding AMA: 8:00pm, Sep 01, 2026 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/392946
Break the Idea Loop and Decide What to Build: 4:00am, Sep 22, 2026 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/391588
From Idea to Traction: Lessons From Global FI Alumni: 4:30am, Oct 06, 2026 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/390897
From Dreamer to Doer: Build the Founder Mindset: 8:00pm, Oct 13, 2026 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/393459
From Founder to Funded: Interactive Q&A with Top Startup Investor: 9:00pm, Nov 03, 2026 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/393082
From “Maybe” to Momentum: Building a Great Startup Idea: 5:00am, Nov 18, 2026 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/391461
From First Idea to First Funding: Global Alumni Stories: 9:00pm, Dec 01, 2026 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/391022

See all upcoming events

The GCC 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 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:

* Anand Ganesh Rao * Anoop Hingorani * Arun Natesh * Astrid Chedid * Ben Stacey * Enad Kanaan * Franklin Kamnang Ngansop * Ganesh Shankar * Guillermo Guzman * Janet Todorova * Jitendra Singh * Jonathan Greechan * Julien Lancha * Katie Mapondera * Krastina Zhivkova * Pavan Soni * Prabhat Kumar * Prasad Vanga * Rajesh Joshi * Rasha Laswi * Raviprasad Pisupati * Renjit Philip * Scott Gillespie * Shaima Ghafoor * Shamim Chowdhury * Sreedhar Peddineni * Sridhar Turaga * Sunil Bangalore * Vera Futorjanski * Viktoria Kanar