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 GCC Spring 2026 program!
If you could use a structured process and a lifetime of support from GCC's top investors and entrepreneurs to build a startup, then apply to the GCC 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 Agentic’ accelerator, which pushes founders at the idea and pre-seed stages to reach the milestones needed for investment and sustained growth. Alumni of the FI Agentic program then receive free access to our advanced post-graduate programs 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 GCC, where you can learn from top entrepreneurs:
- FI Alumni Panel: Meet Founders of High-Growth Startups (Q&A + Networking): 8:00pm, Oct 06, 2026 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/391173
- From Dreamer to Doer: Build the Founder Mindset: 8:00pm, Oct 13, 2026 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/393459
- From Founder to Funded: Interactive Q&A with Top Startup Investor: 9:00pm, Nov 03, 2026 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/405898
- From “Maybe” to Momentum: Building a Great Startup Idea: 5:00am, Nov 18, 2026 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/391461
- From First Idea to First Funding: Global Alumni Stories: 9:00pm, Dec 01, 2026 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/391022
The GCC program is led by some of the region's top startup leaders, including Nidhima Kohli, Sameer Sortur (Founding Partner, SquareCircle Ventures).
In addition, some of GCC'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 GCC Founder Institute includes:
- Abdellah Aouf: Chief Executive Officer, GO PLATFORM
- Adam Moalla: Managing Director and FI Graduate, Moalla Ventures
- Adam Matalon: Chief Revenue Officer, ThermaGel Innovations. Inc.
- Adrian Cernautan: Digital Transformation Director Eurasia & Middle East, The Coca-Cola Company
- Ahmed Fawzi: Founder and CEO, MICEtribe
- Ahmed Bakr: Associate Partner, McKinsey & Company
- Ahmed Mounir: Mr, Mindshift Ventures
- Alan Babakhani: Mr., Synergy International Systems
- Amir Yazdanpanah: CEMEA GM, i2c Inc
- Amira Boutouchent: CEO & Co-Founder, Bridgr.co
- Amr Metwally: Assistant Executive Director, ITQAN Clinical Simulation & Innovation Center - Hamad Medical Corporation
- Ana Veremyova: Founder & PR Advisor, Trust
- Anand Ganesh Rao: Founder , Retail Fountainhead
- Anastasios Avranas: Managing Partner, Interfima
- Angela Brown
- Aras Bilgen: UX Consultant / Trainer, Aras Bilgen
- Audrey Hametner: Founder & CEO, The Bedrock Program
- Ayhan K. Isaacs: Head of Global Growth, Founder Institute
- Ben Stacey: CEO, Pitchverk
- Berg Moe: Founder, Gründervekst AS
- Bianca Gracias: Partner, Suits & Advisors
- Bill Ashlock: Founder, BOSA Advisers Pte Ltd.
- Brian Proffitt: Partner, Disruptive Capital Finance
- Chada El Islam Benmahcene, ENTROGX Ventures
- Chris Clark: Design Director / Innovation Consultant , Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority
- Craig Pollard: Investor | Advisor | Non-Exec Director, ex-
- Daoud Ghannam: Managing Director, Ghamir Ventures
- Doaa Bin Thabit: Founder, Packageha
- Dr. Jagmohan Rishi: Vice President- Digital Strategy, Head of Training & Development, Multinational Inc
- Eleni Lialiamou: Founder, Kimolian Academy
- Enad Kanaan: Programs Manager, Digital Incubation Center
- Farhat Bashir: Founding CEO, Seerab Technologies
- Ibrahim Seksek: COO MENA and Russia , Rainmaking Innovation MENA
- Indica Amarasinghe: Chapter Director, Startup Coach & Mentor, Startup Grind Doha
- Ivan Ivanka: Founder & CEO, Markster
- Jonathan Steingiesser: Head Of Design , Property Finder
- Jon Edward Santillan: CEO & Founder, Octa AR Automation
- José Francisco Fernandez Serna: Angel Investor, AgriFood Founder and Executive, CEO of E-motion Foods, Partner in DesertTech Ventures, and Board member in different organizations
- Julien Lancha: Entrepreneur, CCO and Co-founder, Climatec
- Lavina Ramkissoon: AI Ethics and Technology Policy, African Union
- Lee McMahon: Co-Founder & Chief Business Officer, Clara Technologies Limited
- Lloyd Mathias: Business Strategist, Angel Investor & Ind Director, Self employed
- Luisa Baltazar: Founder & CEO, HER Venture HUB
- Luqman Nadeem, FlatRock Equity / Auxeron
- Manoj Kumar Agarwal: Managing Partner & Co-founder, SEAFUND
- Marcel Ionescu: CTO Venture Partner, TRAC Expert Consulting
- Maria Ines Miranda: CEO, Innovature
- Michael Jay: President, Educational Systemics, Inc.
- Milena Kraeva: Founder & CEO, Nexus Impact Ventures
- Moaz Hamid: founding partner, mvmt ventures
- Moshe Mikanovsky: Product Director, Rootquotient
- Muamar Magam: Managing Partner , Quintus LTC
- Mustafa Saeed: Co-Founder, Luella
- Nadia Al-Banna, PHD, MBA: Innovation Management Expert/Founder, , Value-N-Action Consulting
- Nadia KANOUN: CEO, Senior Bisiness Adviser, Trainer & Coach, IHSCEN for Startups
- Naveen Lakkur: Founder & Chief Innovation Coach, Institute of Inspiring Innovation
- Nicola Bettio: Executive Director - Applied Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Higher Colleges of Technology
- Padmini Gupta: CEO , rise and Xare
- Paolo Ottaviani: Sr. Program Manager - Southern Europe | Program Director - Visa Innovation Program Europe | Venture Partner Biometric Ventures, Tenity | Biometric Ventures | Visa Innovation Program Europe
- Parvez Kudrolli: Principal Associate, Khurana & Khurana
- Pouria Kay: Founding Partner, Atlan
- Rama Alsheikh: Miss, Hiro Health
- Raphael Gnn: Founder & CEO, SMMA Incubator & Ace Up Media
- Rasha Laswi: Managing Partner, Eptalex Law Firm
- Renjit Philip: Managing Partner, Futureu Strategy Group
- Rodrig Naska: Founder, Revido
- Roman Kovalenko: Chief Data Officer, Reserve Bank of Australia
- Ryan Mendonca: Legal Consultant & Founder, Your Virtual Legal Counsel
- Safwan Youseph: VP of Product, Bayzat
- Sameer Sortur: Founding Partner, SquareCircle Ventures
- Sameer Karulkar: Founder and Partner, Coverpage Ventures Advisory LLP
- Sana Keshtkaran: Founder Coach & Advisor, Nextperiment.io
- Scott Gillespie: Founder & Director, Jigsaw Group
- Sewu Steve Tawia: African Angel, Accra Angels
- Shailendra Marathe: Virtual CFO, CFOAxis
- Shamim Chowdhury: Co-founder & CEO, LETSRISE
- Sherif Elmasry: Founder, Comet Innovations
- Shrijay Sheth: Founder, LegalWiz.in
- Sree Lekshmi: CEO, Stealth Mode Startup
- Sush Bapna: General Partner, 10Ten Ventures
- Swethal Kumar: Founder & CEO , Startupscale360
- Tarek Ghobar: cofounder, Paymennt.com
- ThankGod Egbe: Technical Director/CEO, CypherCrescent Ltd.
- Theodore Goede: Saudi Aramco Entrepreneurship Center, Saudi Aramco
- Uday Krishna: Director Investments , Lionique Visionary Labs
- Vanessa Mouledous: Brand-built Growth Expert, Mentor, Advisor to startups, North
- Vanshikaa Oberoi: Founder, Brand & Business Strategist, The Fingerprint Labs
- Victoria Odimba: Founder, Insights and Decisions
- Vikas Sunkad: Founder, SunJosho Ventures
- Viktoria Kanar: Co-Founder, Re-Fresh Global
- Walied Albasheer: founder and managing partner, Intuitio Ventures
- Wes Schwalje: Operator and advisor at the nexus of policy, technology, development, and venture, early-stage investor, Red Tape Ventures
- Zaheer Nasser: Co-Founder | Managing Partner, Doctoori Connect
- And many more to be announced.
Join us in GCC to build a great company in 2026.
Apply to the GCC Spring 2026 Founder Institute today, or learn more at FI.co/overview.
