Build a Great Startup in 2024 with the FI Germany 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 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.

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 startup events in Germany, where you can learn from top entrepreneurs, many will be virtual, but a few also physical in Berlin:

Germany Events:

Founder Meet & Greet: Berlin In-Person Startup Networking Cohort Kick off: 7:00pm, Sep 12, 2024 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/353667

Global or Regional Events:

Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas : 7:00pm, Jul 29, 2024 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/341635
Fireside Chat with Rand Fishkin: From Moz to SparkToro: 9:30pm, Jul 31, 2024 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/351903
Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 2:00am, Aug 06, 2024 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/350286
How to Achieve Product-Market Fit: Insights from Seedstars: 7:00pm, Aug 07, 2024 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/347128
What is Entrepreneur DNA? Insights from 15 Years of Social Science Research: 7:00pm, Aug 12, 2024 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/344079
The Startup Founder’s Guide to Building AI Products Quickly & Easily : 7:00pm, Aug 14, 2024 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/347929
Launching a U.S. Company: Insights & Pitfalls to Avoid with Mark Milastsivy: 6:00pm, Aug 15, 2024 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/353901
Pitch Lounge: Practice Pitching Your Business Idea to Startup Experts : 7:00pm, Aug 19, 2024 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/350293
Venture Trailblazers, featuring Warren Packard (Operating Partner at AI Fund): 6:00pm, Aug 22, 2024 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/351701
Ask an Investor Anything: Q&A with a Venture Capitalist: 2:00am, Aug 27, 2024 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/350300
How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 2:00am, Aug 29, 2024 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/350307
Employee to Entrepreneur: How to Make the Transition to Startup Founder: 2:00am, Sep 03, 2024 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/350386
How Startup Founders Build & Sustain their Competitive Edge in Today’s Market : 7:00pm, Sep 04, 2024 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/353744
What is Entrepreneur DNA? Insights from 15 Years of Social Science Research: 2:00am, Sep 10, 2024 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/350393
Startup Fundraising Q&A: Meet Investors from the FI Venture Network: 7:00pm, Sep 16, 2024 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/342334
How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 7:00pm, Sep 23, 2024 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/350400
Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 7:00pm, Sep 25, 2024 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/350406
Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 7:00pm, Oct 02, 2024 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/350487
Startup Fundraising Q&A: Meet Investors from the FI Venture Network: 2:00am, Oct 15, 2024 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/350479
How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 2:00am, Oct 24, 2024 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/350492
What is Entrepreneur DNA? Insights from 15 Years of Social Science Research: 6:00pm, Oct 30, 2024 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/344577
Employee to Entrepreneur: How to Make the Transition to Startup Founder : 7:00pm, Nov 04, 2024 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/343316
Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 2:00am, Nov 07, 2024 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/342127
Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 2:00am, Nov 19, 2024 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/350565
What is Entrepreneur DNA? Insights from 15 Years of Social Science Research: 2:00am, Nov 26, 2024 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/350574
Startup Fundraising Q&A: Meet Investors from the FI Venture Network: 7:00pm, Nov 27, 2024 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/342520
Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 7:00pm, Dec 02, 2024 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/342227
What is the DNA of an Entrepreneur? Insights from 15 Years of Research: 7:00pm, Dec 04, 2024 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/345316
Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 7:00pm, Dec 09, 2024 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/344772
How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 7:00pm, Dec 16, 2024 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/344891
Startup Fundraising Q&A: Meet Investors from the FI Venture Network: 2:00am, Dec 24, 2024 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/350661

See all upcoming events

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!

* Alexander Langguth * Ben Larson * Cecile Garcia Le Goff * Chris Payne * Christian Rebernik * Christoph Sollich * Cristian Munteanu * Cédric Naintré * David Wills * Elisa Czerski * Fabrizio Gramuglio * Frank Pawlitschek * Gerrit McGowan * Jan Kennedy * Jonathan Liemann * Klaus Kammermeier * Kyrill Zlobenko * Manuel Schulze * Maximilian Bock * Natacha Neumann * Olga Padulosi * Pouria Kay * Regine Harr * Sara Kolata * Stefan Jørgensen * Sören Eversmeier * Till Kaestner * Tyler Crowley * Veronica Kirin * Vlad Panait