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 Easter Edition: 7:00pm, Apr 16, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/391859
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
From Idea to Startup Team: Meet Your Future Co-Founder: 2:00am, Apr 07, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/394866
Stuck Without a Startup Idea? Build One That Fits You: 2:30am, Apr 08, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/394876
How Multiple Pivots positioned Checkbox as the ‘Legal Front Door’ for Corporations: 2:00am, Apr 14, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/394886
Real Startup Lessons From FI Alumni Across the World: 6:00pm, Apr 14, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/394893
How to Go From Raw Idea to Polished Pitch using AI: 6:30pm, Apr 20, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/395686
[Restricted] VIP Pitch Lounge: Pitch Live and Get Feedback from Investors & Advisors: 6:00pm, Apr 21, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/395519
Turn Your Expertise Into an Audience on LinkedIn: 6:00pm, Apr 27, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/394903
How to Overcome the Fear of Starting Your Own Company: 6:00pm, Apr 28, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/394913
How to Get Your First 10 Customers Without a Marketing Team or Budget: 6:30pm, May 04, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/394938
How to Choose the Right Startup Idea Before You Build: 2:00am, May 19, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/394968
[Restricted] VIP Pitch Lounge: Get Unfiltered Feedback from Global Investors & Advisors: 6:00pm, May 26, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/395376
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: 2:30am, Jun 09, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/395026
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 * Andreas Rickert * Andy Goldstein * Athanasios Ladopoulos * Bejoy George * Ben Stacey * Cynan Rhodes * Dr. Tina Ruseva * Elyar Akhi * Emil Kendziorra * Fabian Kofler * Fabrizio Gramuglio * Felix Hofmann * Gregor Herdmann * John Calian * Karen Kargar * Kostas Karolemeas * Leehe Skuler * Lloyed Lobo * Malte Weiss * Manoj Ranaweera * Manuel Koelman * Mira Arnold * Moritz Spangenberg * Natacha Neumann * Olga Bratsun * Parul Madan * Regine Harr * Roman Fernandez * Stefan Jørgensen