Build a Great Startup in 2025 with the FI Nordics 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 Nordics Fall 2026 program!

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

Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession

See all upcoming events

The Nordics program is led by some of the region's top startup leaders, including Naimul Abd (CEO, Connect Öst).

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

Abdellah Aouf: Chief Executive Officer, GO PLATFORM
Adeo Ressi: CEO, Decile Group / VC Lab
Adrian Arnsvik Bjurefalk: Investor I early-stage venture capital in nordics and baltics, Inventure
Almir Krso: Founder I CEO, Venturab AB
Amanda Evans: Chief Growth Officer, Enigio
Andreas Svendsen: Senior Consultant / Engagement Manager, Rouse AB
Andrew Hennigan: Lecturer, Coach, Writer, Andrew Hennigan Consulting
Anette Nordvall: Venture Partner, Butterfly Ventures
Annika Vangstad: Head of Group Creative , Nordea
Arcui Usoara: Global Board Advisor and Brand Strategist, Founder, Iaculus
Aviv Shalgi: CEO, Solar Simplified
Ben Stacey: CEO, Pitchverk
Bilal Zahoor: Bilal Zahoor, scalecraft
Charlotte Christensen: Executive Director, Fintocat
Charlotte Ekelund: Investor & External Relations Director, Sting
Chris Foltz: Global Entrepreneur-In-Residence, Founder Institute
Dennis Kibirev: Marketing Exec | Venture Growth Strategist, Top 1% Rated Startup Mentor
Dennis Surendra: CEO & Founder, IdeaBits AB
Donnie Sc Lygonis: Innovation Strategist & Business Coach, KTH Innovation
Dr. Hanan El Basha: Strategic AI & Growth Advisor to SMEs & Scale-Ready Businesses, The Business Doctor
Elena Mlotok: General Manager, Head of EU Newsstand, Amazon
Elena Bunel: Project Manager, Zero Carbon Forum
Elsa Hyland: Angel Investor, Startup Advisor
Elsa Giolito: Senior Program Manager, SSE Business Lab
Emil Jerndal: Head of M&A, Effektify
Erik Afzelius: COO, UnTap!
Filip Veli Gultekin: Angel Investor, Startup Advisor
Fredrik Rosengren: Accelerator Manager & Business Coach, Sting
Gabriele Garavini: New Business Development Manager, Telia
Gemma Whitehouse: Founder & Director, Ingeniva
Ida Herbertsson: Head of Fast Track Capital, Minc
Isabel Keulen: Investment Manager, Spintop Ventures
Jasper Nordling: Head of Berghs Studio, Early & Growth Stage Brand Builder
Jenny Gizard: Innovation Advisor, Almi Stockholm
Jens Wernborg: Director, Startup Grind Hong Kong
Joachim Rittfeldt Hofvenschiöld: Co-Founder, uBIT
Johan Johansson: Angel Investor & Board Professional
John Drakenberg Renander: CEO & Co-founder, Alex Therapeutics
Jonas Åström: Founder & Partner, Recuro
Jonatan Håkansson: Growth Consultant, Hawkeye Invest
Jonathan Greechan: Co-Founder & CEO, Founder Institute, GP Founder Capital
Lisa Tengbom: Strategy, Pause Studio
Malcolm Larri: Founder, Brave Personal Development
Manish Mishra: Angel Investor
Mara Rada: Chief Operations and Strategy, Loon (loonbio.com)
Marie-Louise Dahl: Principal Innovation & Strategy | Program Manager, Stellar | Mastercard Lighthouse
Matti Lindberg: Associate, Legal Counsel, Rouse Sweden
Mikael Angesjo: Startup Advisor & Investor, Crowdcube
Mikaela Larsell Ayesa: COO, uBIT.vc
Milena Kraeva: Founder & CEO, Nexus Impact Ventures
Moaz Hamid: founding partner, mvmt ventures
Naimul Abd: CEO, Connect Öst & SweBAN - Swedish Business Angel Networks
Nathan Evans: Founder | Angel Investor | Advisor , AURIS Investment
Niklas Rudemo: Chief Product Officer, StartupTools
Ola Wassvik: Co-Founder & CTO, Flatfrog Laboratories AB
Olena Rogozina
Olena Bochulia: Co-Founder, Severus
Olga Padulosi: Marketing & Partnerships, AppFollow
Oskars Jepsis
Per Björklund: Partner, Further Than Capital l Angel Investor
Per Ström, First Gate Invest
Peter Ingman: Co-Founder
Pouria Kay: Founding Partner, Atlan
Preben Fjellaker Mathisen: Senior Advisor - Startups, Innovation Norway
Remi Saint-Jean: Founder, delighting.io
Resad Zacina: Chief Growth Officer, Ministry of Programming
Richard Cristina: Principle Director & Founder , Bloom for Start Ups / Innovate U / Founder Institute.
Rita Anson: Co-Founder Nordic Ignite, Secretary General NorBAN Norwegian Business Angels Network
Russell Brand: CEO & Founder, Responsible Solutions Limited
Sameer Sortur: Founding Partner, SquareCircle Ventures
Sameh Katr: Chairman of the Advisory Board, Boost Turku
Sandra Jona: Legal Counsel, LW Advisory
Sara Hjortmar: Senior Associate, Seedrs | Republic Nordics
Sarita Runeberg: CEO, Maria 01
Simon Olson: Founding Partner, XY Ventures
Sofie Marin: Founder & CEO, Arts Dynamics
Steph Thommen: Founder, purposeful.tech
Stéphane Nasser: Co-Founder, OpenVC
Svetlana Stotskaya: Mentor, Techstars Sustainability Paris
Taylor Ryan: 6x Start-up Founder, Investor, and Web3 Expert, Layer Three Ventures
Trevor Longino: Founder & CEO, CrowdTamers
Ulf Linden: Founder and COO, LegalWorks Nordic
Zen Holmgren: Agency Leader, My Own Marketing Team, Angel Investor