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 Germany program!
If you could use a structured process and a lifetime of support from Germany's top investors and entrepreneurs to build a startup, then apply to the Germany 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.
To celebrate the launch, the Founder Institute will host several free startup events in Germany, where you can learn from top entrepreneurs, many will be virtual, but a few also physical in Berlin:
Germany Events:
- Building with AI: Tips for Founders: 7:00pm, Sep 17, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/402800
- AI Startup Pitch Marathon: Pitch Training Bootcamp with Rikke Klitskov: 6:00pm, Sep 23, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/402801
- AI Startup Pitch Practice: Get Live Feedback From Mentors: 9:00am, Sep 25, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/405114
- AI Startup Pitch Practice: Get Live Feedback From Mentors: 9:00am, Sep 25, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/405110
- AI Startup Pitch Practice: Get Live Feedback From Mentors: 9:00am, Sep 30, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/405260
- Should You Join Founder Institute? An Honest AMA on Cost, Workload and Outcomes: 9:00am, Sep 30, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/405219
- Build Your First AI App in 90 Minutes (No Code Needed): 9:00am, Sep 30, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/405220
- AI Impact Startups: Pitch your Idea to experts and investors: 6:00pm, Sep 30, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/402803
- All topics: Startup Pitch Practice: Bring your insights and get feedback!: 6:00pm, Oct 01, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/402804
- Founder Meet & Greet: Berlin Startup Networking Cohort Start Edition: 7:00pm, Oct 14, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/404580
- [Restricted] Germany Fall 2026 VIP Launch Mixer (online): 7:00pm, Oct 21, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/391841
- Founder Meet & Greet: Berlin Startup Networking cozy Edition: 7:00pm, Nov 12, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/404911
- Founder Meet & Greet: Berlin In-Person Startup Networking Red Hats Edition: 7:00pm, Dec 03, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/404548
Global or Regional Events:
- How to Create a Great First Startup Pitch using AI: 2:30am, Sep 15, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/403538
- How to Build a Strong Pipeline of Entrepreneurs for your Innovation Hub: 6:00pm, Sep 28, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/398297
- FI Alumni Panel: Meet Founders of High-Growth Startups (Q&A + Networking): 6:00pm, Oct 06, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/395142
- From Dreamer to Doer: Build the Founder Mindset: 6:00pm, Oct 13, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/395271
- From Idea to Action: The Startup Mindset : 6:00pm, Oct 20, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/395112
- From Founder to Funded: Interactive Q&A with Top Startup Investor: 6:00pm, Nov 03, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/395293
- From First Idea to First Funding: Global Alumni Stories: 6:00pm, Dec 01, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/395340
The Germany program is led by some of the region's top startup leaders, including Amanda Fornal (Director, Startup Advisor, Women in STEM advocate), Dirk Lehmann (Innovation Advisor & Pitch Coach, Dirk Lehmann & Partners), Ferdinand Muehlhaeuser (Lead Director Germany), Kai Malkwitz (Serial Entrepreneur, sustainability evangelist and Impact Director), Rikke Klitskov (CMO, Founder Institute), Mohammad Tavangar (Director, Partner Management), Eva Dimitrova (Director, Community Management), Nathan Evans (Director, Startup Advisor) and Sara Maki (Director, Startup Advisor).
We are very happy to have Unicorn Workspaces at our side as our FI Berlin location partner, being a core supporter for the Berlin startup scene, providing invaluable event spaces, coworking opportunities, and startup offices of all sizes.
In addition, a selection of more than 50 mentors out of our 800+ Germany mentor network will be actively participating as mentors in the program and you will be able to tap into our entire Berlin and worldwide mentor network as a graduate of the program. Please find an overview of our German mentor network below!
* Andrea Helmerich * Andreas Assum * Andy Goldstein * Athanasios Ladopoulos * Carolin Sandfort * David Wills * Dr. Tina Ruseva * Javier Rincon * Jonathan Greechan * Jonathan Liemann * Kai Bolik * Kai Buehler * Katrin Dr. Hinzdorf * Laura Kohler * Lieke Ypma * Manuel Koelman * Maria Ksenia Witte * Michael Wendt * Michal Bania * Misa Nikolic * Mynia Deeg * Olena Didenko Weber * Oliver Kranz * Pamela Wolf * Rikke Klitskov * Robert Kitson * Roman Fernandez * Samuli Siren * Stefan Jørgensen * Thomas Hartmann
- And many more to be announced.
Join us in Germany to build a great company in 2024.
Apply to the Germany Fall 2026 Founder Institute today, or learn more at FI.co/overview.
