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

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

Cyprus Events:

FI Cyprus Graduation: Meet the New Portfolio Companies (In-Person): 6:00pm, Jul 23, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/401315

Global or Regional Events:

The AI-Native Founder Revolution: Build Your Company Faster Than Ever : 7:00pm, Jul 08, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/401637
Venture Trailblazers featuring Tim Draper: 6:00pm, Jul 09, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/402037
Go From Idea to Working App with AI, Featuring Adeo Ressi: 8:00pm, Jul 09, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/402166
How to Build Without a Team Using AI with Jonathan Greechan: 7:00pm, Jul 14, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/401872
Stop Overthinking and Build a Great Startup Idea: 7:00pm, Jul 20, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/398653
[Restricted] VIP Pitch Lounge: Pitch Live and Get Feedback from Investors & Advisors: 7:00pm, Jul 28, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/401155
Learn from AI-Native Solo Alumni: How FI Grads Built Without a Co-Founder: 7:00pm, Aug 04, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/398742
From Idea to Action: The Startup Mindset : 3:30pm, Aug 10, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/398687
FounderX Silicon Valley 2026: Global Conference in San Francisco: 3:00am, Aug 26, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/399806
What Makes Investors Say Yes: Startup Funding AMA: 7:00pm, Sep 01, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/398772
How to Build a Strong Pipeline of Entrepreneurs for your Innovation Hub: 7:00pm, Sep 15, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/398295
From Dreamer to Doer: Build the Founder Mindset: 7:00pm, Oct 13, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/399030

See all upcoming events

The Cyprus program is led by some of the region's top startup leaders, including Andrey Kostyuk (Dr., AAlchemy Ventures Limited), Maksim Leukhin (Head of Investor Relations , AAlchemy Ventures), Melinda Bojte (Founder, MelsDigital).

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

Abdellah Aouf: Chief Executive Officer, GO PLATFORM
Adam Markakis: General Partner, Astylab Ventures
Alex Alexakis: Investor, Marathon Venture Capital
Alex Sumin
Alex Loizou
Alexandros Christodoulakis: CEO, Wealthyhood
Alexis Piperides: CEO, Proto.io
Ali Akber: Founding Engineer | AI Consultant | Fractional CTO
Alina Andreieva: DesignThinkers Academy business partner, Ascent Group Managing Partner, DesignThinkers Academy
Anastasios Avranas: Managing Partner, Interfima
Andreas Koupparis
Andreas Mathikolonis: Head of Crypto Business Development (Strategy) , BLK Group
Andreas Livadiotis
Andrei Yarantsau, DeepTech CY
Andrey Kostyuk: Co-Founder, AAlchemy Ventures Limited
Angeliki Karagiannaki: Managing Director, ACEin
Anni Panagiotopoulou: Managing Director and Owner, Slash
Antigoni Komodiki
Antoinia Norman
Anton Vasiliev: General Partner, Freesearch Ventures
Argyris Argyrou
Arseniy Dabbakh, Innotechnics
Athena Dova: COO & Co-Founder, Owiwi
Ben Stacey: CEO, Pitchverk
Beny Rubinstein, Eng, M.B.A., PhD Candidate: Founder & CEO, BZR Insights
Brigitte Baumann
Briken Bufi: CEO & Co-founder, Sainni AI
Carmine Masiello: Entrepreneur, Mentor, CTO, KCYMA Studios Ltd
Celia Hadjichristodoulou
Chris Droussiotis
Christiana Aristidou: International Business Lawyer, DEMOCRITOS ARISTIDOU & CO LAW FIRM
Christina Michaelidou: Certified life and Business coach | Trainer | Author | Mentor | ICF CY Board director, DESIGN YOUR WINS
Christina Orfanidou: Head of Group AI , Columbia Group
Christos Christodoulou, Double Eye
Claudia Vergueiro Massei: Exited edtech (Eduqo) co-founder & former CEO, Siemens Oman
Constantine Demetriou: Mr, Neom Investment Fund
Constantinos Nikolaidis: Associate, Apeiron Venture Capital
Cyril Golub: Board Member, LatBAN
Daniel Shterk: Founder & Chief Opportunity Curator, FundraisingDispatch.com
Dimitris Doukakaros: Director, Founder Institute Greece
Dimitris Servis: Director of Architecture, Hexagon MI
Dimitris Papadakis: Digital Transformation and Innovation, Alpha Bank
Dimitris Tsingos: Founder and CEO, Starttech Ventures
Dionysis Partsinevelos: Venture Capital, 33East | G4 Ventures
Edmund Frey
Elena Michael: Founder, Evolving Minds & YoungstarsCyprus
Eleni Lialiamou: Founder, Kimolian Academy
Ellie Diakanastasi: Early Stage Startups Mentor, Founder Institute
Emmanouil Koukouvios: Digital Innovation Lead, Flagship founders
Eva Agapaki: Founder & CEO, Hatch Labs
Evanthia Antza, Xpress it
Filippos Tamvakakis: Investment Associate, Genesis Ventures
Frixos Larkos
Gala Grigoreva: CMO/Go-to-Market and Growth Marketing Strategist , Adsterra
Gary Stewart: Founder, MyCofoundr
George Moultos: Head of Business & Strategy, Greca Homes
George Psistakis: Product Led Growth & Marketing, Fractional Executive
George Georgiou: CEO, Novatex Solutions
George Economides: Vice-Chair at Totalserve Group | Partner at E & G Economides LLC, Totalserve Group
Georgios Diamantopoulos: Founder, Zero to MVP
Gillian Muessig: Ms, Mastersfund
Grigoris Chatzikostas: General Partner, Loggerhead Ventures
Ivan Yong: Organisational Pyschologist & Sales Coach, Nanyang Angelz Limited
Janet Todorova: Head of Expansion, Founder Institute
Jill Douka: Director, Global Academy of Coaching Leadership Coaching Certification
John Tsakatanis: SVP Finance, Hack the Box
Julia Amatuni: Head of Strategy and Research, Asteriada
Kanstantsin Netyliou: Co-Founder, Founders.cy
Kat Gabrielle
Katya Solov: Founder, Miranna
Konstantinos Kareklas: Strategy and Operations, -
Lefteris Papadopoulos: Associate, Genesis Ventures
Leonidas Tsementzis: Co-Founder & CTO, Sculture AI
Lida Liberopoulou: Independent Researcher & Founder, Threadbaire
Maksim Leukhin: Head of Investor Relations , AAlchemy Ventures
Maria Nikolakaki Koletsou: Founder, Blossom Ventures
Maria Pallidou: Co-Founder and CFO , PhosPrint SA
Maria Stylianou: Tech Leadership Consultant, Independent
Marianna Prokopi Demetriades: Biotech Innovator, RSL Revolutionary Labs
Marianna Hadjiandoniou, PERHA Group
Mariano Kostelec: Founder & CEO, Inflection Systems
Mario Paladini: Co-Founder & CEO, Club GLOBALS
Marios Isaakidis: Director, infotropic.tech
Markos Kiosseoglou: Mr, Re-Markable
Melinda Bojte: Founder, Mels Digital, Aphrodite Events
Michael Economou
Michael Tyrimos
Michalis Antoniou: Mr, mmm
Michalis Papadopoulos: Founder and CEO, Velicor Consulting
Mike Sigal, Explorador.VC
Monica Ioannidou Polemitis
Moysis Moyseos: Incubator Manager , Gravity Ventures
Nick Papanotas: CEO, Geekbot
Nick Valiotti
Nicolas Rouhana
Nikita Volchek: Founder & GP, Volchek Capital Partners
Nikita Yuriev: Partner, ULTRA.VC
Nikolas Mastroyiannopoulos
Oksana Malysheva: Managing Partner, Sputnik ATX VC
Oleg Tumanov
Orlando Castellanos: CINO, NETinfo
Ourania (Rania) Vrondou: Director , Hadjianastassiou, Ioannides LLC
Panagiotis Andreou: Technology Program Manager , Interamerican
Panis Pieri: Founder, Panis.News
Pavlos Kleanthous: Founder & CEO, Parsectix
Pavlos Loizou: CEO , Ask Wire
Phoebus Giannopoulos: CEO & Founder, Phoebus G Consulting
Raluca Ioana Man: Strategic Business Advisor & Board Consultant, RSEVEN LTD @ BSA
Rania Lamprou: Co-Founder & CEO, Simpler.
Raphael Kontos: Managing Director, Theti Club
Ricardo Marvão
Richard Cristina: Principle Director & Founder , Bloom for Start Ups / Innovate U / Founder Institute.
Richard Mort, Japan-Europe Facilitator
Robbert Van der meer: CEO, bFlex
Rudolphe Cabral: Founding Partner & Chief Portfolio Officer, Djassi Africa
Sandra Da Silva: Sandra Da Silva , The Inner Architect
Sergei B Bogdanov
Sergey Negodyaev: CEO, Aenix
Sergey Osipov: Co-founder, Placy AI
Simos Kitiris
Sona Kerim
Sotiris Makrygiannis: Founder , AIA Lab
Spiros Martzoukos: Founder, Makkuro
Stalo Charalambous
Stavriana Kofteros: Special Entrepreneurship & Development Advisor Democratic Rally
Stavros Pavlidis: Head Direct and Strategic Investments, Deep Capital Group
Stelios Koukouvios: Sales Manager, FORCE Technology
Stella Kasdagli: Co-Founder, Women On Top & inc.lude
Styliani Petroudi: Director of Innovation, CYENS Centre of Excellence, CYENS
Tarık Dutkuner: VC Investor, 500 Emerging Europe
Thanos Paraschos: Managing Director, Startup Greece
Theo Kotzastavros: Growth Lead, Innov8rs.co
Thodoris Zervas: Founder, startuplawyer.gr
Tim Goedhart: Managing Director & Founder, RocketPeople
Vasilis Tsougkas: CEO, Estate Brains
Veronica Filippou: Product Manager, JOIST Innovation Park
Viktor Minchev: VC Investor
Viktoria Kanar: Co-Founder, Re-Fresh Global
Volodymyr Zhukov: Venture Partner, Network VC
Yiannis Menelaou: Director, Xtellus Europe Ltd
Yiannis Apostolidis
Zaharenia Atzitzikaki: Coaching, Learning & Development, The 10x Manager Academy