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 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 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:
- [Restricted] VIP Pitch Lounge: Get Unfiltered Feedback from Global Investors & Advisors: 7:00pm, May 26, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/395489
- Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
- How to Start a Unicorn as a Solo Founder, with Adeo Ressi: 9:00pm, May 26, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/399187
- Vibecoding 101 for Startups: Build Your First App w/ Mark Montalban: 7:30pm, Jun 01, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/398128
- Inside the Founder Institute: Real Stories From Alumni: 7:00pm, Jun 02, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/390455
- How to Launch an AI-Powered Company With a Day Job Featuring Adeo Ressi: 9:00pm, Jun 08, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/399306
- Startup Advisors 101: How to Find Advisors and Maximize their Impact (POSTPONED): 3:30am, Jun 09, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/388491
- What It Takes to Get Funded: Live Investor Q&A w/ Maayan Teper: 7:00pm, Jun 09, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/396257
- Turn Startup Hesitation Into Action: A Founder Mindset Framework: 3:00am, Jun 16, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/393208
- Stop Guessing, Start Raising: An Investor Q&A : 3:00am, Jul 07, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/392857
- Stop Overthinking and Build a Great Startup Idea: 7:00pm, Jul 20, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/390593
- From Idea to Action: The Startup Mindset : 3:30pm, Aug 10, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/393331
- Meet FI Alumni Founders: High-Growth Startups Panel : 7:00pm, Aug 10, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/391145
- Build a Startup Idea Investors Won’t Ignore: 3:00am, Aug 19, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/391302
- FounderX Silicon Valley 2026: Global Conference in San Francisco: 3:00am, Aug 26, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/399808
- What Makes Investors Say Yes: Startup Funding AMA: 7:00pm, Sep 01, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/392948
- How to Build a Strong Pipeline of Entrepreneurs for your Innovation Hub: 7:00pm, Sep 15, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/398361
- Break the Idea Loop and Decide What to Build: 3:00am, Sep 22, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/391582
- From Idea to Traction: Lessons From Global FI Alumni: 3:30am, Oct 06, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/390869
- From Dreamer to Doer: Build the Founder Mindset: 7:00pm, Oct 13, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/393461
- From Founder to Funded: Interactive Q&A with Top Startup Investor: 7:00pm, Nov 03, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/393108
- From “Maybe” to Momentum: Building a Great Startup Idea: 3:00am, Nov 18, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/391455
- From First Idea to First Funding: Global Alumni Stories: 7:00pm, Dec 01, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/391031
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:
- 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 Mathikolonis: Head of Crypto Business Development (Strategy) , BLK Group
- Andreas Livadiotis
- Andrei Yarantsau, DeepTech CY
- Andrey Kostyuk: Co-Founder, AAlchemy Ventures Limited
- Antoinia Norman
- Anton Vasiliev: General Partner, Freesearch Ventures
- Arseniy Dabbakh, Innotechnics
- 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
- 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
- Constantine Demetriou: Mr, Neom Investment Fund
- Cyril Golub: Board Member, LatBAN
- Dionysis Partsinevelos: Venture Capital, 33East | G4 Ventures
- Edmund Frey
- Elena Michael: Founder, Evolving Minds & YoungstarsCyprus
- Frixos Larkos
- Gala Grigoreva: CMO/Go-to-Market and Growth Marketing Strategist , Adsterra
- Gary Stewart: Founder, MyCofoundr
- 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
- Ivan Yong: Organisational Pyschologist & Sales Coach, Nanyang Angelz Limited
- Janet Todorova: Head of Expansion, Founder Institute
- 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, -
- Lida Liberopoulou: Independent Researcher & Founder, Threadbaire
- Maksim Leukhin: Head of Investor Relations , AAlchemy Ventures
- Maria Pallidou: Co-Founder and CFO , PhosPrint P.C
- 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
- Melinda Bojte: Founder, Mels Digital, Aphrodite Events
- Michalis Antoniou: Mr, mmm
- Michalis Papadopoulos: Founder and CEO, Velicor Consulting
- Moysis Moyseos: Incubator Manager , Gravity Ventures
- 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
- Pavlos Kleanthous: Founder & CEO, Parsectix
- Pavlos Loizou: CEO , Ask Wire
- Ricardo Marvão
- Richard Cristina: Principle Director & Founder , Bloom for Start Ups / Innovate U / Founder Institute.
- Richard Mort, Japan-Europe Facilitator
- Sandra Da Silva: Sandra Da Silva , The Inner Architect
- Sergey Negodyaev: CEO, Aenix
- Sergey Osipov: Co-founder, Placy AI
- Sotiris Makrygiannis: Founder , AIA Lab
- Stavriana Kofteros: Special Entrepreneurship & Development Advisor Democratic Rally
- Styliani Petroudi: Director of Innovation, CYENS Centre of Excellence, CYENS
- Volodymyr Zhukov: Venture Partner, Network VC
- Yiannis Menelaou: Director, Xtellus Europe Ltd
- And many more to be announced.
Join us in Cyprus to build a great company in 2026.
Apply to the Cyprus 2026 Founder Institute today, or learn more at FI.co/overview.
