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 Fall 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 Fall 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:

[Restricted] VIP Pitch Lounge: Get Unfiltered Feedback from Global Investors & Advisors: 6:00pm, May 26, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/398561
Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
How to Start a Unicorn as a Solo Founder, with Adeo Ressi: 8:00pm, May 26, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/399077
Vibecoding 101 for Startups: Build Your First App w/ Mark Montalban: 6:30pm, Jun 01, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/398014
Inside the Founder Institute: Real Stories From Alumni: 6:00pm, Jun 02, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/398475
How to Launch an AI-Powered Company With a Day Job Featuring Adeo Ressi: 8:00pm, Jun 08, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/399195
What It Takes to Get Funded: Live Investor Q&A w/ Maayan Teper: 6:00pm, Jun 09, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/398601
Meet FI Alumni Founders: High-Growth Startups Panel : 6:00pm, Jul 07, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/398711
Stop Overthinking and Build a Great Startup Idea: 6:00pm, Jul 20, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/398658
From Idea to Action: The Startup Mindset : 2:30pm, Aug 10, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/398694
FounderX Silicon Valley 2026: Global Conference in San Francisco: 2:00am, Aug 26, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/399825
What Makes Investors Say Yes: Startup Funding AMA: 6:00pm, Sep 01, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/398784
How to Build a Strong Pipeline of Entrepreneurs for your Innovation Hub: 6:00pm, Sep 15, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/398247
From Dreamer to Doer: Build the Founder Mindset: 6:00pm, Oct 13, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/399039

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, Founder Institute Innovation Partner
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
Ben Stacey: CEO, Pitchverk
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.
Mahir Iskender: Founder, KNDR Digital
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
Sadegh Sarvi: Project Manager, INTRASENSORS BV
Serdar Yucel: Director Sales, Marketing and Strategy, TUBITAK
Serephina Ha: Managing Director, Founder Institute - Los Angeles and Boston
Sergio Rossi: CEO, Fondazione Genova Startup
Shubhit Khaneja: Principal Product Manager, Zalando
Simone Dozza: CRO, Kiratech
Stefano Toro, Prolaw
Sush Bapna: General Partner, 10Ten Ventures
Varun Jain: Founder, 99foundr
Victor Schiller: President, R Cubed Group
Vincenzo Cioffi: Startup Advisor, Business Angel, Investor, Growth Engine
Vladimir Pletyukhin: Founder and Creative Director, Launch Deck