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:
- From Idea to Startup Team: Meet Your Future Co-Founder: 3:00am, Apr 07, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/392234
- Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
- Stuck Without a Startup Idea? Build One That Fits You: 3:30am, Apr 08, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/390175
- How Multiple Pivots positioned Checkbox as the ‘Legal Front Door’ for Corporations: 3:00am, Apr 14, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/389470
- Real Startup Lessons From FI Alumni Across the World: 7:00pm, Apr 14, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/390723
- How to Go From Raw Idea to Polished Pitch using AI: 7:30pm, Apr 20, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/395799
- [Restricted] VIP Pitch Lounge: Pitch Live and Get Feedback from Investors & Advisors: 7:00pm, Apr 21, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/395633
- Turn Your Expertise Into an Audience on LinkedIn: 7:00pm, Apr 27, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/392447
- How to Overcome the Fear of Starting Your Own Company: 7:00pm, Apr 28, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/394062
- How to Get Your First 10 Customers Without a Marketing Team or Budget: 7:30pm, May 04, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/394563
- How to Choose the Right Startup Idea Before You Build: 3:00am, May 19, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/390288
- [Restricted] VIP Pitch Lounge: Get Unfiltered Feedback from Global Investors & Advisors: 7:00pm, May 26, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/395489
- Inside the Founder Institute: Real Stories From Alumni: 7:00pm, Jun 02, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/390455
- Startup Advisors 101: How to Find Advisors and Maximize their Impact: 3:30am, Jun 09, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/388491
- 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
- What Makes Investors Say Yes: Startup Funding AMA: 7:00pm, Sep 01, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/392948
- 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), Panis Pieri (Founder, Panis.News).
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
- Alina Andreieva: DesignThinkers Academy business partner, Ascent Group Managing Partner, DesignThinkers Academy
- Andreas Mathikolonis
- Andreas Livadiotis
- Andrei Yarantsau
- Andrey Kostyuk: Co-Founder, AAlchemy Ventures Limited
- Antoinia Norman
- Anton Vasiliev: General Partner, Freesearch Ventures
- Arseniy Dabbakh, Innotechnics
- 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
- Cyril Golub: Board Member, LatBAN
- Dionysis Partsinevelos: Venture Capital, G4 Ventures | 33East
- 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
- Gillian Muessig: Ms, Mastersfund
- Ivan Yong: Co-President & Board Member, European Mentoring & Coaching Council
- Janet Todorova: Head of Expansion, Founder Institute
- Julia Amatuni: Head of Strategy and Research, Asteriada
- Kanstantsin Netyliou
- Kat Gabrielle
- Katya Solov: Founder, Miranna
- Konstantinos Kareklas: Strategy and Operations, -
- 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
- Mario Paladini: Co-Founder & CEO, Club GLOBALS
- Marios Isaakidis: Director, infotropic.tech
- Melinda Bojte: Founder, Mels Digital, Aphrodite Events
- Michalis Antoniou
- Michalis Papadopoulos: Founder and CEO, Velicor Consulting
- Moysis Moyseos: Incubator Manager , Gravity Ventures
- Nikita Volchek: Founder & GP, Volchek Capital Partners
- Nikolas Mastroyiannopoulos
- Oksana Malysheva: Managing Partner, Sputnik ATX VC
- Oleg Tumanov
- Panis Pieri: Founder, Panis.News
- Pavlos Kleanthous: Founder & CEO, Parsectix
- Pavlos Loizou: CEO , Ask Wire
- Raluca Ioana Man: Strategic Business Advisor & Board Consultant, RSEVEN LTD @ BSA
- Ricardo Marvão
- Richard Cristina: Principle Director & Founder , Bloom for Start Ups / Innovate U / Founder Institute.
- Richard Mort, Japan-Europe Facilitator
- Rudolphe Cabral: Founding Partner & Chief Portfolio Officer, Djassi Africa
- Sandra Da Silva: Sandra Da Silva , The Inner Architect
- Sergey Negodyaev: CEO, Aenix
- Sergey Osipov: Co-founder, Placy AI
- 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.
