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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

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

  • And many more to be announced.

Join us in Johannesburg to build a great company in 2024. 

Apply to the Johannesburg - South Africa 2025 Founder Institute today, or learn more at FI.co/overview.  

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