Build a Great Startup in 2025 with the FI Milan 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 Italy Spring 2026 program!

If you could use a structured process and a lifetime of support from Italy's top investors and entrepreneurs to build a startup, then apply to the Italy Spring 2026 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 Italy, where you can learn from top entrepreneurs:

From Idea to Startup Team: Meet Your Future Co-Founder: 2:00am, Apr 07, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/392248
Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
Stuck Without a Startup Idea? Build One That Fits You: 2:30am, Apr 08, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/390192
How Multiple Pivots positioned Checkbox as the ‘Legal Front Door’ for Corporations: 2:00am, Apr 14, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/394722
Real Startup Lessons From FI Alumni Across the World: 6:00pm, Apr 14, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/390709
How to Go From Raw Idea to Polished Pitch using AI: 6:30pm, Apr 20, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/395760
[Restricted] VIP Pitch Lounge: Pitch Live and Get Feedback from Investors & Advisors: 6:00pm, Apr 21, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/395592
Turn Your Expertise Into an Audience on LinkedIn: 6:00pm, Apr 27, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/392392
How to Overcome the Fear of Starting Your Own Company: 6:00pm, Apr 28, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/394019
How to Get Your First 10 Customers Without a Marketing Team or Budget: 6:30pm, May 04, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/394525
How to Choose the Right Startup Idea Before You Build: 2:00am, May 19, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/390281
[Restricted] VIP Pitch Lounge: Get Unfiltered Feedback from Global Investors & Advisors: 6:00pm, May 26, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/395453
Inside the Founder Institute: Real Stories From Alumni: 6:00pm, Jun 02, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/390441
Startup Advisors 101: How to Find Advisors and Maximize their Impact: 2:30am, Jun 09, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/388507
Turn Startup Hesitation Into Action: A Founder Mindset Framework: 2:00am, Jun 16, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/393185
Stop Guessing, Start Raising: An Investor Q&A : 2:00am, Jul 07, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/393527
Stop Overthinking and Build a Great Startup Idea: 6:00pm, Jul 20, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/390579
From Idea to Action: The Startup Mindset : 2:30pm, Aug 10, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/393308
Meet FI Alumni Founders: High-Growth Startups Panel : 6:00pm, Aug 10, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/391131
Build a Startup Idea Investors Won’t Ignore: 2:00am, Aug 19, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/391319
What Makes Investors Say Yes: Startup Funding AMA: 6:00pm, Sep 01, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/392925
Break the Idea Loop and Decide What to Build: 2:00am, Sep 22, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/391599
From Idea to Traction: Lessons From Global FI Alumni: 2:30am, Oct 06, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/390855
From Dreamer to Doer: Build the Founder Mindset: 6:00pm, Oct 13, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/393438
From Founder to Funded: Interactive Q&A with Top Startup Investor: 6:00pm, Nov 03, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/393063
From “Maybe” to Momentum: Building a Great Startup Idea: 2:00am, Nov 18, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/391470
From First Idea to First Funding: Global Alumni Stories: 6:00pm, Dec 01, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/390992

See all upcoming events

The Italy program is led by some of the region's top startup leaders, including Alberto Martellini (Innovation Partner, Founder Institute), Amadeus Samson, Ariona Krasniqi ( Local Leader – Mentor Network, Founder Institute), Azra Gurbuz (Local Leader - Marketing & Community Lead, FI), Giovanni Salvi (Data Scientist, Serenis).

In addition, some of Italy'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 Italy Founder Institute includes:

Alberto Martellini: Ecosystem leader | Entrepreneur | Mentor, Funder Advisor
Alberto Lombardi, Energy Expert | Sustainability Passionate | Angel Investor | Start up Advisor
Alberto Giusti: Co-founder & General Partner, P3Ventures
Alberto Clavarino: President, Fondazione Genova Startup
Alessandro Gaini: Founder, Buongiorno San Paolo
Alessandro Zanchetton, Ciao Elsa
Alessandro Cillario: Co-Founder, Cubbit
Alexandra Fattal: Venture Partner, Loyal VC
Andrea Ramoino: Transformational Leader, Fintech, Payments, Digital Assets, SaaS
Andrea Arienti: CEO & Founder, 3dnextech
Angelica Velati: Co-founder and Social Impact Manager, BEBY.best - Better Environment Better You
Anna Gaile: Co-Founder , Edudoro.eu & zlotynauczyciel.pl
Antonello Schiavo: EMEA Delivery Manager, Google
Antonia Verna: Partner, PORTOLANO CAVALLO
Bruno Reggiani: Coo - co-founder, Tot.
Camilla Barlocco: Founder, UBI Consulting
Camilla Bellotti: Leadership Consultant
Chris Foltz: Global Entrepreneur-In-Residence, Founder Institute
Corrado Blandini: Lawyer & Business Coach, Uno Quattro
Duygu Sefa: Co-Founder, Babonbo
Edoardo Volta: SVP Partnerships & Business Development, Curve
Emanuele Torlonia: Managing Director, Italian Angels for Growth
Enrico Frascati: Freelancer, Digitalvibe
Fabio Costa: Founder, SecurityCert
Fabrizio Spaolonzi: Co-founder, Buongiorno San Paolo
Filippo Satolli: CEO | Board Member | Entrepreneur | Advisor & Investor, Cii2
Francesco Gia: Accelerator Associate, IMPACT HUB MILANO
Giacomo Poggiali: Product Advisor, 500 Global
Giancarlo Vergine: Founder & Managing Partner, Over Ventures
Giorgio Seveso: Co-Founder, Tundr
Irene Verheijen, FI Amsterdam
Ivelin Ivanov: Venture Advisor, Founder Institute
Iwona Kerr, Energy Mix Ventures
Jeffrey Paine: Founding Partner, Golden Gate Ventures, Singapore
Julián Jordan: CEO, Grupo DISS
Lorenzo Di Cataldo: Head of Partnerships, Emotion Network
Lorenzo Giampaolo Arrigoni: Associate, PORTOLANO CAVALLO
Luigi Cito: Relationship Director, WEX Inc.
Marco De Biasi: Startups Investor & Advisor /Program Director/Conselheiro Fiscal, LGA/Italcam/Mobicity
Marco Cello: Founder, Meshify
Marco Boscariol: Associate, Portolano Cavallo
Marta Marrucco: Owner, Smart Founder
Massimiliano Squillace: Founder, Contents.com
Massimo Schiavi, FI Milan
Massimo Romani: dr. Massimo Romani, CFO and financial background - EMBA
Mauro Baldoni: Founder, Beat2Impact
Michele Mattei: Investor, Fintech expert, Manager, Qwist
Mimi Yagoub: Thought Leadership & PR , Publicize
Mohammed Kashif: Senior Quality Assurance Automation Engineer, Department of Motor Vehicles
Natalia Iudina: Co-founder & COO, Zlotynauczyciel.pl, Edudoro.eu
Pier Paolo Mucelli: Entrepreneur, TechItalia Lab
Pietro Braguglia: Co-Founder, Beaversity Consulting
Rajel Khambhaita: Financial and Investment Advisor, Funder Advisor
Russ Lewis: Digital transformation & Investor, Agile transformation services and solutions
Serdar Yucel: Director Sales, Marketing and Strategy, TUBITAK
Serephina Ha: Managing Director, Founder Institute - Los Angeles and Boston
Sergio Rossi: CEO, Fondazione Genova Startup
Simone Dozza: CRO, Kiratech
Stefano Toro, Prolaw
Sush Bapna: General Partner, 10Ten Ventures
Varun Jain: Senior Product Manager, The Startup Doctor
Victor Schiller: President, R Cubed Group
Vincenzo Cioffi: Startup Advisor, Business Angel, Investor, Growth Engine
Vladimir Pletyukhin: Founder and Creative Director, Launch Deck