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 Vienna program!
If you could use a structured process and a lifetime of support from Austria's top investors and entrepreneurs to build a startup, then apply to the Austria Fall 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 Austria, where you can learn from top entrepreneurs:
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 2:00am, Apr 29, 2025 (Europe/Vienna): https://FI.co/e/369133
- Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
- Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 2:00am, May 06, 2025 (Europe/Vienna): https://FI.co/e/370079
- What is the DNA of an Entrepreneur? Insights from 15 Years of Research: 2:00am, May 08, 2025 (Europe/Vienna): https://FI.co/e/369126
- Ask an Investor Anything: Q&A with Nathan Beckord: 7:00pm, May 12, 2025 (Europe/Vienna): https://FI.co/e/369113
- Future-proofing CPG Brands: Key Strategies for Sustainable Growth: 4:00pm, May 15, 2025 (Europe/Vienna): https://FI.co/e/370943
- Launching and Scaling Startups in Europe: Insights from FI Founders: 7:00pm, May 19, 2025 (Europe/Vienna): https://FI.co/e/369153
- Lessons Learned Raising from Top Silicon Valley VCs: AMA with Rajeev Behera: 6:00pm, May 29, 2025 (Europe/Vienna): https://FI.co/e/371185
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 7:00pm, Jun 02, 2025 (Europe/Vienna): https://FI.co/e/370532
- How to Build Your MVP Using Artificial Intelligence : 7:00pm, Jun 04, 2025 (Europe/Vienna): https://FI.co/e/371320
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 2:00am, Jun 10, 2025 (Europe/Vienna): https://FI.co/e/370868
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 7:00pm, Jul 07, 2025 (Europe/Vienna): https://FI.co/e/370305
The Austria program is led by some of the region's top startup leaders, including Jacqueline Kressner (Impact Advisor, JK Advisory), Kasia Sadowska (Founder, Kimolian Innovation), Stanish Gunasekaran (Visiting Chief of Staff, 4P Capital), Stephan Kreiger (Director, FI Vienna).
In addition, some of Austria'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 Austria Founder Institute includes:
- Abdellah Aouf: Chief Executive Officer, GO PLATFORM
- Adrian Zettl: Managing Director, Austrian Startups
- Alexander Schwartz: Partner, xista science ventures
- Alexander Brix: Former COO of Kaleido AI (acq. by Canva), Canva
- Andras Galffy: Founder, CEO & Head of Research, Turbulence Solutions
- Andreas Fischer: Founding Partner, First Momentum Ventures
- Andrei Podlesnyi: Investment Manager, Triple Impact Ventures
- Assen Plevneliev: Chief of Staff , Sigma Squared Society
- Benjamin Ruschin: Managing Partner, Big Cheese Ventures
- Bernhard Holzer: CEO, Woodspr
- Christian Csank: Founder & CEO, Sorex
- Christian Zeidler: Co-Founder and CEO, Adaptive
- Christopher Polligkeit: Investor, Plug and Play
- Cihan Kadir: Co-Founder, VolaTec
- Daniela Haunstein: Managing Director, invest.austria
- Ebin Elavathingal: Director, MERSTRA Foundation / Next Market
- Eleni Lialiamou: Founder, Kimolian Academy
- Elisabeth Siencnik: Startup Coach, Elisabeth Siencnik
- Emma Rees: CEO , Deployed
- Evelina Lundqvist: Sustainable business development and upskilling consultant, The Good Tribe
- Fabian Geyrhalter: Founder and Principal, FINIEN
- Felix Kernbichler: Attorney at Law, Kernbichler Law
- Ferdinand Dietrich: Co- Founder, Storebox
- Firas Saedaddin: CEO, AGA Group GmbH
- Florian Wimmer: Co-Founder & CEO, Blockpit AG
- Georg Schmidt Sailer: Founder & CEO, Trateco
- Gregor Zehetner: Co-Founder, Tapkey
- Hannah Wundsam: Managing Director, Austrian Startups
- Ifeoluwa Ogunbufunmi, SWIF
- Jacqueline Kressner: Co-lead, Founder Institute Vienna
- Jakobus Schuster: CEO & Co-Founder, notarity
- Jay Marathe: MD, Bryan, Garnier & Co.
- Jiaran Wang: CEO, Artciety
- Johannes Blaschke: Principal, Calm/Storm
- Julia Wagner: VC, Positron Ventures
- Julia Eisner: Researcher & Lecturer, Fachhochschule Wiener Neustadt
- Kambis Kohansal Vajargah: Head of Startup-Services and Deputy Head of Founder-Services, Austrian Federal Economic Chamber
- Kasia Sadowska: Co-Founder and CEO, Kimolian Innovations
- Laura Raggl: Managing Partner, ROI Ventures
- Laura Warnier: Chief Growth Officer, Sunrise
- Lisa Pallweber: Managing Partner, Hans(wo)men Group
- Lubomila Jordanova: CEO, Plan A
- Lukas Wieser: Co-CEO & Founder, myflexbox
- Maggie Childs: CEO , mypaperwork.ai
- Malgorzata Goraczek: Funding Coach, Funding Coach Malgorzata Goraczek e.U.
- Mariya Konstantinova: CFO, Founder Institute
- Martin Frühwirt, enablico
- Martina Vitezova: Managing Director, NextPlay
- Michael Schneider: Founder, Seedraisr
- Michael Kowatschew: Founder, Heizma
- Michaela Stephen: Co-Founder and Co-CEO, MATR
- Moritz Lechner: Founder & CEO, New Fluence
- Nicolas Benady: CEO, SWAN
- Nikhil Ninne: CEO , Fermapulse
- Niklas Benesch: Principal, ROI Ventures
- Nikolaus Hutter: Partner & Co-Founder, Relevant Ventures
- Peiman Zamani: CEO, 4u-ventures
- Reinhard Harter: ex-VP, SAP
- Rima Suppan: CEO, Peachies
- Rudolf Dömötör: Director, WU Entrepreneurship Center
- Salmine Sassi: Entrepreneur in Residence, Seedstars
- Sara Bentsen: COO and Co-Founder, Scale to Global
- Sebastian Haid: Founder, HeadwAI GmbH
- Sergiu Ardelean: Co-Founder, CEO, Artivive
- Stanish Gunasekaran: Investor, Included VC
- Stefan Kainz: Investment Director Impact Investing, C.E.L.L. Investment GmbH
- Stephan Kreiger: Director, FI Vienna
- Steven Desmyter: President, Man Group
- Thomas Walbert: Ecosystem Leader, DEEP Ecosystems
- Urška Jež: Founder and CEO, Transformation Lighthouse
- Verena Judmayer: CEO , MATR
- Viktoria Zimm: Managing Director Impact Investments, C.E.L.L. Investment GmbH
- Viktoria Tollinger: Programme Lead, I.E.C.T. - Hermann Hauser Management GmbH
- Vlad Gozman: Co-Founder & CEO, involve.me
- Vladimir Pletyukhin: Founder and Creative Director, Launch Deck
- Xiaomin Mou: Head of Venture Capital Investments, Central Eastern Europe, IFC - International Finance Corporation
- Yuliya Daineko: Head of Product Portfolio Evolution B2X, A1 Telekom Austria
- And many more to be announced.
Join us in Austria to build a great company in 2024.
Apply to the Austria Fall 2025 Founder Institute today, or learn more at FI.co/overview.
