Build a Great Startup in 2024 with the FI Johannesburg 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 Johannesburg - South Africa 2025 program!

If you could use a structured process and a lifetime of support from Johannesburg's top investors and entrepreneurs to build a startup, then apply to the Johannesburg - South Africa 2025 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 online startup events in Johannesburg, where you can learn from top entrepreneurs:

Ask an Investor Anything: Q&A with Christian Karrer : 2:00am, Mar 25, 2025 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/365331
Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
Building a World-Class Startup from South Africa: 6:00pm, Mar 25, 2025 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/368321
Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 2:00am, Mar 27, 2025 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/365162
Beyond Launch: How to Measure and Strengthen Product Adoption: 7:00pm, Mar 31, 2025 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/368621
Ask an Investor Anything: Q&A with Stavros Pavlidis: 7:00pm, Apr 02, 2025 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/368000
Why Leveraging Your Unique Life Proposition Is Crucial for Startup Success: 7:00pm, Apr 03, 2025 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/368481
Employee to Entrepreneur: How to Make the Trasition to Startup Founder : 7:00pm, Apr 07, 2025 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/365711
Funding Your Startup: Navigating Africa’s Investment Landscape in 2025: 6:00pm, Apr 08, 2025 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/368318
How to Choose the Right Fundraising Path for Your Startup: 7:00pm, Apr 09, 2025 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/367526
Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 2:00am, Apr 17, 2025 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/366804
Pitch Your Ideas to Investors & Experts, Online: 6:00pm, Apr 22, 2025 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/368319
FI Alumni Panel: Meet Portfolio Companies and Ask Questions: 2:00am, Apr 24, 2025 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/367832
How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 2:00am, Apr 29, 2025 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/366717
What is the DNA of an Entrepreneur? Insights from 15 Years of Research: 2:00am, May 08, 2025 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/366615
Ask an Investor Anything: Q&A with Nathan Beckord: 7:00pm, May 12, 2025 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/366416

See all upcoming events

The Johannesburg program is led by some of the region's top startup leaders, including Deepti Jeram (Co-Founder, Boardroom In A Box), FI SA (XX, NA), John Zabula (Founder, Revisall), Keshni Morar (Managing Director, Founder Institute South Africa + Investable), Lily Makaleng (Director, The Founder Institute South Africa), Victoria Odimba (Founder/CEO, C Insights Africa).

In addition, some of Johannesburg's top investors, entrepreneurs, and CEOs will be participating in the program, providing them with expert feedback and evaluation. The list of startup mentors for the Johannesburg Founder Institute includes:

Abu Bakr Cassim: Founder, Jozi Angels
Akua Nyame Mensah: Certified Executive & Leadership Coach, A.N.M & Company
Alan Fok: Growth Partner & Leadership Coach, The Forward Coach
Annu Augustine: Founder, NedRock
Anthony Stonefield: Chief Innovation Officer, AIDA Advisory Services
Arcui Usoara: Founder/CEO, Iaculus
Ayodeji Agboola: Founder, Akowe
Bade Aluko: Managing Partner, White Hibiscus Capital
Berg Moe: Chairman, Gründervekst AS
Bernice Houy: Co-Founder, Fintura
Bertha Kgokong: Founder & CEO, Tati Software
Bhairav Patel: Managing Director, Atom CTO
Brenda Wangari: Head of Portfolio Success, Madica
Brian O. Sing'ora: Brian Obwora Sing'ora, Origee-Nation Ventures
Charlotte Luzuka: Co-Founder & Investor, Dazzle Angels
Chintan Oza: Founder, Anantam Ecosystems
Chris Foltz: Global Entrepreneur-In-Residence, Founder Institute
Cleo Johnson: Strategist, Marketing Maven
Dali Lakhoua: VC Investment Officer, AfricInvest group
Deepti Jeram: Co-Founder & CMO, Boardroom In A Box
Deon Katz: CEO & co-Founder , Graphite Growth
Deven Govender, LionPride Investment Holdings
Devin Butler: Co-founder & CEO, Metaship
Dimitri Anagnostopoulos: Partner, True North Partners
Dr. Ope Banwo: Attorney/Techfounder, Mobisoft360 Inc.
Farhat Bashir: Founding CEO, Seerab Technologies
Florent Nduwayezu: Mr. , BESTSELLER FOUNDATION
Franklin Kamnang Ngansop: Cofounder , Vitamin C&S Coaching
Freddy Atangana: Founder & CEO, EKAMOU
Gareth Bleazard: CEO and Founder, Great North Road
Gatis Vilcans: Director of Technology, Atom CTO
Gbite Oduneye: Founder and Managing Partner, ODBA
Greg Serandos: Founder & CEO, African Academy of Artificial Intelligence
Guillermo Guzman: Local Leader, Founder Institute Colombia
Hema Vallabh: Founding Partner, Five35 Ventures
Idowu Akinde: Managing Director, Impact Hub Lagos
Jabulani Zwane: Founder & CEO, Mindset Development Institute
Jatin Kataria: Founder & MD, InMeSta + JK Venture Studio
Jerry Oche: Co-founder/CEO, Zowasel
Johann Ungerer: Director, 1099 Ventures, Digital Puppetry, LetsJam, WIP
John Zabula: Founder, Revisall
Kamal Hassan: Founding Partner, Loyal VC
Katie Mapondera: Founder and Managing Partner, Q L and D LLC
Kayimbi Ruben Mpanya: Strategic Projects Associate, Innovation Edge
Kendrall Felder: Co-Founder & CEO, Cyber Alliance
Keshni Morar: Managing Director, Founder Institute South Africa + Investable
Kevin Chetty: Founder CEO, Macrocomm Financial Services / Xtenda Housing Finance
Kopano Mere: Market Activation Lead, SmartWage
Larry Yon, Ii: Co-Founder & President, Cyber Alliance
Lily Makaleng: Director, Founder Institute South Africa + Founder@WanderfullySo
Lundi Njomane: Director, Jozi Angels
Malanee Hutton: Venture Builder, Four10 Venture Studio
Marco Broccardo: CEO , Eurocom
Mark Fritz: Managing Director, Procedor
Mark Kleyner: Co-Founder, Dream VC
Mauricio Cardoso: Corporate Venture Manager, O POVO Communication Group
Maushami Chetty: Founder and CEO, Aarya Legal & GDPR Bridge
Michael Smith: Managing Director, Hillsdon Consulting Inc.
Michael O'donnell: Principal, StartupBiz.com LLC
Muktish Narain: Founder
Nevo Hadas: Director, & innovation
Nicolas Ochmann: Director, Head of Solutions EMEA, Whatfix
Noah Wallach: Founder, Hope OS
Olivier Chas: Entrepreneur, Effective Marketing
Omar Layachi: Local Leader, Founder Institute Morocco
Omotayo Babatunde: Co-Founder & CEO, RewardHub
Oscar Koster: Regional Director, Rule no 5
PASCHAL OFFORDUM: Associate , Shujaa Capital
Patricia Rinke: Investment Manager, AfricInvest Group
Paul Smith: Founder & CEO, Civitas
Pommie Lutchman: Founder & CEO, Ocular Technologies
Preshan Govinder: Manager: Sales and Business Development, JSE
Riccardo Petrantoni: Managing Director, Range Ventures
Roheeni Bhana: Founder, Healthtech Launchpad
Russell Brand: CEO & Founder, Responsible Solutions Limited
Sabeeha Banubhai: Founder and Experience Director, Jack Studios
Sabrina Dorman: Co-Founder, ZUMI
Salmine Sassi: Entrepreneur in Residence, Seedstars
Sameer Sortur: Founding Partner, SquareCircle Ventures
Sameer Babbar: Director, SVB Group
Sanjay Rakshit: CPO / CTO, Atom CTO
Sanjay Soni: Chief Visionary & Venture Architect, Jozi Angels
Sara Ledterman: General Partner, 3+ Ventures
Shaheed Nordien: Mr, Swifti
Sheriff Olujide: Managing Partner, SOCS GokSon Capital (SGC) Ventures
Simon Turner: Founding Partner, Groundbreaking, Managing Director, FI Ghana
Sola Adekanye: Founder, Open Innovation Access
S'onqoba Vuba: Co-Founder and MD, Perpetu8
STEPHAN WESSELS: CTO, Simply Financial Services
Suhail Nakooda: Visa, Director: Business Development
Tamzin Lovell: Founder & CEO, Artfundi
Tarek Chelaifa: Senior Manager, GSMA
Thembalethu Shangase: Head of Programmes, Naspers Labs
Tracey Chas: Advisor, Allan Gray Orbis Foundation
Trevor Longino: Founder & CEO, CrowdTamers
Tyrone Moodley: Venture Associate, HAVAÍC
Victoria Odimba: Founder, C Insights Africa
Viola Llewellyn: Founder & CEO, The Tulle Box
Vladimir Pletyukhin: Founder and Creative Director, Launch Deck
Vwanganji Bowa: Founder/CEO, Mighty Finance
Yemi Oluseun: Growth & GTM For FinTechs, The Change Hive