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:

Meet & Greet & Cofounder search Go Europe Edition: 7:00pm, May 14, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/393783

Global or Regional Events:

Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
Stop Guessing: How to Use AI to Validate Your Startup Idea in Days : 6:00pm, May 12, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/396643
How to Choose the Right Startup Idea Before You Build: 2:00pm, May 18, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/394968
How to Tell Stories That Win Clients and Investors with Lubna Forzley: 6:00pm, May 19, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/396311
[Restricted] VIP Pitch Lounge: Get Unfiltered Feedback from Global Investors & Advisors: 6:00pm, May 26, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/395376
Vibecoding 101 for Startups: Build Your First App w/ Mark Montalban: 6:30pm, Jun 01, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/398065
Inside the Founder Institute: Real Stories From Alumni: 6:00pm, Jun 02, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/394983
Startup Advisors 101: How to Find Advisors and Maximize their Impact (POSTPONED): 2:30am, Jun 09, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/395026
What It Takes to Get Funded: Live Investor Q&A w/ Maayan Teper: 6:00pm, Jun 09, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/396146
Turn Startup Hesitation Into Action: A Founder Mindset Framework: 2:00am, Jun 16, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/395059
Stop Overthinking and Build a Great Startup Idea: 6:00pm, Jul 20, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/395084
From Idea to Action: The Startup Mindset : 2:30pm, Aug 10, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/395112
Meet FI Alumni Founders: High-Growth Startups Panel : 6:00pm, Aug 10, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/395142
What Makes Investors Say Yes: Startup Funding AMA: 6:00pm, Sep 01, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/395197
From Dreamer to Doer: Build the Founder Mindset: 6:00pm, Oct 13, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/395271
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

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 Schabel * Amit Grinvald * Amy Louise Shelver * Andrea Fernandez * Andrea Monti * Antonia Hammer * Antony Tikhonov * Björn Fedder * Chris Payne * Cristian Munteanu * Firas Khalifeh * Franz Riedl * Heiko Rauch * Javier Rincon * Kai Malkwitz * Leehe Skuler * Lieke Ypma * Magdalena Reith * Mali M Baum * Manuel Koelman * Michael Burkhardt * Michelle Peters * Neil Baptista * Olga Bratsun * Olga Padulosi * Olivia Czetwertynski * Ovi Negrean * Stephan Wiesener * Tatyana Mitkova * Veronica Kirin