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 Summer Edition: 7:00pm, Jun 17, 2025 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/372716
FI Germany Fall 2025 Graduation: Meet the New Portfolio Companies: 7:00pm, Jun 27, 2025 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/374218

Global or Regional Events:

Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 2:00am, Jun 10, 2025 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/370853
How to Build Your MVP Using Artificial Intelligence : 7:00pm, Jun 11, 2025 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/371344
How to Maximize Angel Returns with the New Investment Models, featuring NuFund: 7:00pm, Jun 18, 2025 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/374174
FI Alumni Panel: Meet Portfolio Companies and Ask Questions: 7:00pm, Jun 23, 2025 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/371762
Startup Finance & Banking Basics: AMA with Grasshopper Bank: 7:00pm, Jun 25, 2025 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/371959
How to Get Investors to Notice Your Startup: AMA with Marta Marrucco: 2:00am, Jun 27, 2025 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/373964
Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 7:00pm, Jun 30, 2025 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/371604
Founder’s Guide to AI: Creating Effective Content with AI: 7:00pm, Jul 02, 2025 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/373201
Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 7:00pm, Jul 07, 2025 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/370334
Founder’s Guide to AI: Building an MVP with No Coding Skills : 7:00pm, Jul 09, 2025 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/373332
Founder’s Guide to AI: Using AI to Increase Productivity: 7:00pm, Jul 16, 2025 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/373468
Founder’s Guide to AI: Using Agentic Workflows to Automate Repetitive Tasks: 7:00pm, Jul 23, 2025 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/373589

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!

* Adam Matalon * Arne Wittmer * Benjamin Jones * Christian Rebernik * Daniel Michael Böhi * Dirk Lehmann * Don Samoil * Eckart Burgwedel * Gregor Herdmann * John Calian * Jonathan Eade * Jonathan Liemann * Karen Kargar * Kostas Karolemeas * Lital Aravot * Michal Bania * Mike Ries * Mynia Deeg * Natacha Neumann * Neil Baptista * Olga Padulosi * Ovi Negrean * Parul Madan * Robert Kitson * Samuli Siren * Tanja Morsch * Till Kaestner * Tim Von Törne * Vlad Panait * Wolfgang Hennes