Build a Great Startup in 2026 with the FI Caribbean 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 Caribbean Spring 2026 program!

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

From Idea to Startup Team: Meet Your Future Co-Founder: 8:00pm, Apr 06, 2026 (America/Puerto_Rico): https://FI.co/e/392167
Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
Stuck Without a Startup Idea? Build One That Fits You: 8:30pm, Apr 07, 2026 (America/Puerto_Rico): https://FI.co/e/390106
How Multiple Pivots positioned Checkbox as the ‘Legal Front Door’ for Corporations: 8:00pm, Apr 13, 2026 (America/Puerto_Rico): https://FI.co/e/389420
Real Startup Lessons From FI Alumni Across the World: 12:00pm, Apr 14, 2026 (America/Puerto_Rico): https://FI.co/e/390683
How to Go From Raw Idea to Polished Pitch using AI: 12:30pm, Apr 20, 2026 (America/Puerto_Rico): https://FI.co/e/395722
[Restricted] VIP Pitch Lounge: Pitch Live and Get Feedback from Investors & Advisors: 12:00pm, Apr 21, 2026 (America/Puerto_Rico): https://FI.co/e/395553
Turn Your Expertise Into an Audience on LinkedIn: 12:00pm, Apr 27, 2026 (America/Puerto_Rico): https://FI.co/e/392368
How to Overcome the Fear of Starting Your Own Company: 12:00pm, Apr 28, 2026 (America/Puerto_Rico): https://FI.co/e/393983
How to Get Your First 10 Customers Without a Marketing Team or Budget: 12:30pm, May 04, 2026 (America/Puerto_Rico): https://FI.co/e/394484
How to Choose the Right Startup Idea Before You Build: 8:00pm, May 18, 2026 (America/Puerto_Rico): https://FI.co/e/390255
[Restricted] VIP Pitch Lounge: Get Unfiltered Feedback from Global Investors & Advisors: 12:00pm, May 26, 2026 (America/Puerto_Rico): https://FI.co/e/395411
Inside the Founder Institute: Real Stories From Alumni: 12:00pm, Jun 02, 2026 (America/Puerto_Rico): https://FI.co/e/390415
Startup Advisors 101: How to Find Advisors and Maximize their Impact: 8:30pm, Jun 08, 2026 (America/Puerto_Rico): https://FI.co/e/388405
Turn Startup Hesitation Into Action: A Founder Mindset Framework: 8:00pm, Jun 15, 2026 (America/Puerto_Rico): https://FI.co/e/393149
Stop Guessing, Start Raising: An Investor Q&A : 8:00pm, Jul 06, 2026 (America/Puerto_Rico): https://FI.co/e/392797
Stop Overthinking and Build a Great Startup Idea: 12:00pm, Jul 20, 2026 (America/Puerto_Rico): https://FI.co/e/390553
From Idea to Action: The Startup Mindset : 8:30am, Aug 10, 2026 (America/Puerto_Rico): https://FI.co/e/393272
Meet FI Alumni Founders: High-Growth Startups Panel : 12:00pm, Aug 10, 2026 (America/Puerto_Rico): https://FI.co/e/391105
Build a Startup Idea Investors Won’t Ignore: 8:00pm, Aug 18, 2026 (America/Puerto_Rico): https://FI.co/e/391234
What Makes Investors Say Yes: Startup Funding AMA: 12:00pm, Sep 01, 2026 (America/Puerto_Rico): https://FI.co/e/392889
Break the Idea Loop and Decide What to Build: 8:00pm, Sep 21, 2026 (America/Puerto_Rico): https://FI.co/e/391514
From Idea to Traction: Lessons From Global FI Alumni: 8:30pm, Oct 05, 2026 (America/Puerto_Rico): https://FI.co/e/390829
From Dreamer to Doer: Build the Founder Mindset: 12:00pm, Oct 13, 2026 (America/Puerto_Rico): https://FI.co/e/393402
From Founder to Funded: Interactive Q&A with Top Startup Investor: 1:00pm, Nov 03, 2026 (America/Puerto_Rico): https://FI.co/e/393026
From “Maybe” to Momentum: Building a Great Startup Idea: 9:00pm, Nov 17, 2026 (America/Puerto_Rico): https://FI.co/e/391379
From First Idea to First Funding: Global Alumni Stories: 1:00pm, Dec 01, 2026 (America/Puerto_Rico): https://FI.co/e/390967

See all upcoming events

The Caribbean program is led by some of the region's top startup leaders, including Adanna John (Communications Manager, Founder Institute Caribbean), Caribbean Associate (NA, NA), Nike Schmidt (Program Manager, Founder Institute Caribbean), Rawle Annandsingh (Managing Director, Founder Institute Caribbean).

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

Aamar Hussain: CEO | Global Strategic Generative AI Tech Lead , PredictStream | Google
Adanna John: Communications Manager, Founder Institute Caribbean
Akshansh Deva: UX/UI Design Consultant, Independent
Alec Stern: Entrepreneur * Speaker * Mentor * Investor, www.alecspeaks.com
Alejandra Luzardo: CEO , Boomful
Ali Jamal: GP, First Check Ventures
Al Karim Rehemtula: Advisor, Business Development & Strategy, Independent
Alois Monger: Managing General Partner, Startup Africa Ventures
Althea West Myers: Founder & Chief Strategist, Growth Partners Ltd.
Amit Grinvald: Strategic Communication Expert, Public Speaking Coach, Community Builder & Experience Architect, Amit Grinvald Consulting
Amit Nath: CEO, Vettable
Andy Karuza: Marketing Lead , NachoNacho
Arvo Hartikainen: Director, Impact47
Astrid Chedid: Regional Director for LAC and Spain, Annual Investment Meeting
Ayodele Murray: Deputy General Counsel, SOVO Inc.
Bárbara Harteneck: Executive Director, WeInvest LatAm
Ben Camara: Founder & CEO, KLIQ
Bhavna Kumar, SMU Cox - Williams S. Spears Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership
Bogdan Stanciu: Principal, Startup IQ
Cairo Arévalo: Innovation & Special Projects, Promipyme
Charles Kirkconnell: CEO, Cayman Enterprise City
Charu Sharma: Founder I Angel Squad Member I Early-stage Startup Consultant, Riceberg Ventures I KickSky Space Lab
Chloé Lozac’h: Venture Capital Investor, VU Venture Partners
Christian Flemming: Managing Director, Mustang Engineering
Clement Johnson: Head of Growth, SixBerries
Dareem Jeffrey: Founder & CEO, EcoWash
Diana Bernal 娜娜: Board Member, HubTropolis
Dino Nassi: CEO, Global Services Products Solutions
Donnie Bachan: Founder, SixBerries
Dr. Aakanksha Shah: Venture Resident, Heinz Ventures
Dr. Prapthi Bathini: Clinical Pharmacologist, Apollo Institute of Medical Sciences & Research
Dr. Yaniv Proselkov: Co-founder, Venture Scholar Studio
Elize Rostant: Consultant, Self-employed
Gabriela Corbera: Co-Founder & CEO, Luna Maps
Gauri Deoras: Angel Squad Member, Hustle Fund
Grace Spindel: Director, Founder Institute Miami
Gregory Robinson: CEO, Native Films
Guillermo Guzmán: GP, AIDA Ventures
Inalcan Gulec: Senior Investment Associate, Eksim Ventures
Ingrid Riley, Silicon Caribe
Jane (Evgeniya) Kubryak: Founder, Discover with Jane
Janet Todorova: Head of Expansion, Founder Institute
Jason Butcher: Founder & CEO, Orbit Capital
Javier Grevely: Head of Strategy, Stealth
Jeffrey Faustin: Managing Partner, Jenson Ventures
Jennifer Lee: Director, Business Development & Relations, Innovation Smart District
JM HOLDER: Mr., ClearTrail
John Outridge: CEO, The National Payment & Innovation Company of Trinidad & Tobago
Johnathan Franklyn: Chief Investment Officer, Njord Investments Ltd
Johnathan Ashe: Founder, Ashe Advisory Group
John Manuel Rodriguez Cotua: Director, Meraki Business Academy
Jorge Díaz: Founder & CEO, Domäne Capital
Jose Aguilar: Consultant/Telecom Economist, Independent Consultant
Joshua Errett: CEO, Friends & Family Pet Food Company
Jule Goike: Director of Research and Development, Nephrodite
Julianne Yacyshyn: Director, Highvern
Keith Chong: CEO, Syndesia Pte Ltd
Kendell Harry: Strategic Business and Marketing Specialist, The Big Potato Podcast
Keron Lewis: Managing Director, Code Canvas Consultants Ltd.
Kevin Jurovich: Co-Founder & CEO, Hubble
Kurtis Rudd: CEO, KReative Branding Solutions
Kyle Maloney: Co-Founder & Director, Tech Beach Retreat
Larry Namer: Chairman , LJN Media
Lissette Anez: Founder, Sparktoria Tech
Luis Florez: Founder & Managing Partner, Epic Partners
Manish Balakrishnan: Chief Thinking Officer, DSHG Sonic
Marcela Sabino: Venture Partner, Maxnx
Marco Van Der Woude: Co-Founder & Head of Business Development, Breeze
Maria Botta, Mba: Fractional Chief Marketing Officer, FWD Action
Micaela Di Julio: Program Manager, Visionary B2B and B2G Ecosystem
Michael Queralt, Start Up - IQ
Michael Jordan Pilgreen: Venture Partner, Maximus
Michael Stablein: Founder & Managing Member, Chambana Consulting
Milian-Erik Retkowski: VC Fellow, VC Lab
Natacha Ralainirina: Clinical Scientist, US San Diego
Natasha Abdool: General Manager, Security Services Ltd.
Neil Sumaru: Founder, Levuka Venture Lab
Nike Schmidt: Program Manager, Founder Institute Caribbean
Nita Penn: Researcher + Strategist, NAY Consulting Group LLC
Omotoyosi Saint Cyr: Senior Manager, Commonwealth Corporation
Pablo Sandoval: CEO, Kitmart Solutions
Patrice Archer: CEO, Appy Ventures
Ragav Yarasi: Founder & CEO, Clikkin
Rawle Annandsingh: Managing Director, Founder Institute Caribbean
Rishika Agarwal: Founder, BioMed Sapience
Robert Urbina: Director, Tarjetas y Transacciones en Red TRANRED, C.A.
Robert Paty: Retired Executive, Nestle
Robert Scarlett: CEO/Advisor, Hunter Scarlett Consulting
Ronald Carter: Investor & Entrepreneur, Independent
Ryan Micheletti: Head of Global Operations, Founder Institute
Saelese Haynes-Romany: Head of Chambers, Titan Chambers
Samantha Best: Founder, Voyant Media Solutions Limited
Sameer Sortur: Founding Partner, SquareCircle Ventures
Sandra Glasgow: Managing Director, RevUp Caribbean Limited
Sasha Sternik: Independent Advisor , SAS Consulting
Scarlett Arana: Co-Founder, BitBasel
Scott Spiegel: Founder & CEO, BitBasel
Shaaf Farooq: Program Manager, Clinic Innovation Hub | Venture Builder
Shauna Smith: CEO, The Marketing Muse 360
Shedron Collins: Chief Executive Officer, Youth Business Trinidad and Tobago
Sherine Mungal: Co-Founder & Managing Director, Eidetic
Shruti Kubér: Co-Founder, Capital SnapShot
Stephan Morris: Founder & CEO, Digital Star Network
Stephen Michael: Founder, Propel Earth
Stuart Fraser: Co-Founder & Creative Director, Eidetic
Stuart Fortuné: Author / Consultant / Regional Business Development Manager / Podcaster, From Ibadan To Hell Yard / PYZE / The Big Potato Podcast
Sursatee Benny-Ali: Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Founder Institute Caribbean
Tabitha Eliza Sophia: CEO, Aleonz Consultancy Sdn Bhd
Tony Ihander, Action Ventures Europe
Tor Massoni Norheim: COO/Consultant , Luna Maps
Traci Geisler: Director, Blackstone LaunchPad
Ugo Ikemba: Founder, Mscale LLC
Wayne Beecher: Co-Director Jamaica, Founder Institute
Yasser Arbid: Senior Data Analyst | CEO, Accenture | PredictStream
Yu Wen Chen: Director, Product & Strategy, Amyris
Zahra Henry: Founder and CEO, ZLH Careers