Build a Great Startup in 2026 with the FI MENA 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 MENA 2026 program!

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

Founder’s Guide to AI: Working with AI as Your Partner: 9:00pm, Feb 17, 2026 (Asia/Baghdad): https://FI.co/e/385116
Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
Meet Early-Stage Founders looking for a Co-Founder (Online Networking Event): 9:00pm, Feb 23, 2026 (Asia/Baghdad): https://FI.co/e/388133
Founder’s Guide to AI: Building a Marketing Engine with AI: 9:00pm, Feb 24, 2026 (Asia/Baghdad): https://FI.co/e/385452
Startup Advisors 101: How to Find Advisors and Maximize their Impact: 4:30am, Mar 03, 2026 (Asia/Baghdad): https://FI.co/e/388520
Founder’s Guide to AI: Converting Data into Business Value with AI: 9:00pm, Mar 03, 2026 (Asia/Baghdad): https://FI.co/e/385289
What Do Investors Really Look For? Startup Funding Q&A: 7:00pm, Mar 09, 2026 (Asia/Baghdad): https://FI.co/e/387395
The 10x Leadership Framework for Growth in Large Organisations : 8:00pm, Mar 10, 2026 (Asia/Baghdad): https://FI.co/e/389212
From Zero to Startup Idea: A Practical Founder Framework: 3:00pm, Mar 16, 2026 (Asia/Baghdad): https://FI.co/e/387571
Cash Flow Survival for a First-Time Founder: 7:00pm, Mar 17, 2026 (Asia/Baghdad): https://FI.co/e/388804
Perfect Your Pitch: Expert Feedback to Secure Investor Interest: 7:00pm, Mar 24, 2026 (Asia/Baghdad): https://FI.co/e/389012

See all upcoming events

The MENA program is led by some of the region's top startup leaders, including Maher Santarissy (Managing Director , Founder Institute ), MiddleEast Admin, Mohammad Santarissy (CEO, Relatively Fund).

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

Abdellah Aouf: Chief Executive Officer, GO PLATFORM
Abdulelah Alshareef: Vice President, Merak Capital
Abdulrazzaq Alyan: Co-Founder, Tamkeen Alamal
Ahmad Santarissy: CEO, We The Makers LLC
Ahmad Nazzal: Senior Analyst - FinTech Innovation & Investment, Arab Bank - AB Accelerator
Ahmed Nassef: Founder, Leadsmart
Ahmed Al Kiremli: Co-Founder, CEO, Orisdi
Ahmed Jamal: CEO, Padash
Ahmed Morsy: Founder and CEO, Just to Learn
Ahmed Rashad: Founder, Business بالعربي
Alessandra Scicchitano: Founder, AURES, and Lecturer, Swiss Business School
Alex Pavel: Managing Director - Middle East, Africa and Asia, Pagero
Aliya Nur Babul: Venture Partner, Global Millennial Capital
Ana Bibikova: Founder
Andreas Schumacher: Artificial Intelligence , Munich Re
Andreea Marinescu: CEO, Tech Add-Venture
Arthur Gusev: Founder and CEO, Launch Deck
Ben Stacey: CEO, Pitchverk
Cedric Naintre: Business Angel, Sales Advisor, Hyperplan
Chad Fox: Managing Partner, Fox Ventures
Charles Shaban: Consultant, Self
Chintan Oza: Founder, Anantam Ecosystems
Christian AlMurr: Co-founder & CEO , Jedo
Christian Vezjak: Co-founder & CEO, TAP
Dan D'souza: Intrapreneurship and New Ventures Senior Manager, L Marks
Dav Masaon: Co-Founder , Zanda
David Prais: Chairman, Greater London Investment Fund (GLIF)
David Postolski: Partner, Gearhart Law
Deep Moteria: Founder , Elluminati
Ebin Ephrem Elavathingal: Director/Tecknogog, MERSTRA Foundation / MITC
Edgar Kussberg: AI Group Product Manager, Snyk
Edgar Kussberg: Staff Product Manager , Snyk
Eleni Lialiamou: Founder, Kimolian Academy
Elia Nuqul: Owner, Investor, Mentor, Co-Founder, Nuqul Group
Fady Santarissy: Managing Partner, cg imagine+invent
Fahed Qteishat: Associate Director, Middle East Venture Partners (MEVP)
Farhat Bashir: Founding CEO, Seerab Technologies
Filip Karwala: Co-founder, Partner, Move Ventures
Franklin Kamnang Ngansop: Co-Founder, Vitamin CS Coaching
Gaelle Yammine: Associate, Middle East Venture Partners (MEVP)
Grant Felgenhauer: Managing Partner, Euphrates Ventures
Hamdi Tabbaa: Co-founder and CEO , Abwaab
Hanan Shahin: Co-Founder & CEO , BLOOMit
Hanan Shahin: Co-founder & CEO, Bloomcart
Hani W. Naguib: Author | Speaker | Mentor, HNT innovation studio
Hasan Ahmad: Consultant, Hasan Ahmad
Hisham Rashed: Associate, Levari
Hussam Hammo: CEO & Founder, Tamatem Games
Ibrahim Faza: GM, JordanStart
Irina Baskova: Growth coach for B2B sales and go-to-market., independent consultant.
Ivan Ivanka: Founder & CEO, Markster
Ivan Hoo: Owner, IHAYO
Jad El Boustani: Managing Director, Middle East Venture Partners (MEVP)
June W Choi: Managing Partner, Serval Ventures
Kareem El Shaffei: Director of Product, Money Fellows
Karim Djerboa: Business Development Specialist, MAVENTERSE
Karim Hamdan: Managing Partner, DINARe VENTURES
Laura Olivier Khudairi: Executive Director, Iraq Tech Ventures
Lauren Jane Heller: Executive Leadership Coach, On Deck/ Iberdrola Australia
Loek Daemen: Presentation Skills Trainer & Founder , Pitch Perfect
Luis Ferreira: Mentor, FI
Maher Kaddoura: Investor, Al Jude
Maher Santarissy: Managing Partner, Founder Capital
Majd Alaily: Founder, Ruya Advisory
Marie Therese Fam: Partner, Silicon Badia
Marisa Bryce: CEO, Jack and Blue Capital
Marwan Said: CEO, E Points Group
Marwan Abu sakha: Co-Founder & CEO, Kitchefy
Michael Makdah, Eskonomy
Michael Makdah: Fractional CMO, ImpactX Partners
Michael Ho: Founder , Ventures Cubed
Mikhail Tykuchinskiy: Managing Partner, Reassembly Point
Mohamed Tohami: Founder & CEO, Passion Point
Mohamed Ramadan: Senior Associate, Levari
Mohd Santarissy: General Partner, Founder Capital
Mortada Al Khateeb: Co-founer and CEO, Needbooth
Mudar Jeiroudi: Managing Partner, Jeiroudi Law Firm
Muhanad Wadah: Founder & CEO, Shab
Muhannad Taslaq: General Manager, Integral Reality Labs
Nader Amiri: General Partner, Homegrown Ventures
Nadia KANOUN: CEO, Senior Adviser, Trainer & Coach, IHSCEN for Startups
Nadine Zerrini: Director, Founder Institute Boston
Najiba Wajiha Mahboob: CEO, Toureela
Nela Dunato: Brand Designer, Nela Dunato Art & Design
Nidal Bitar: Chief Executive Officer, ICT Association of Jordan - int@j
Nikola Korać: CEO, Downstream Business Solutions
Omar Tabbaa: Chairman / CEO, Eat Holding
Paul Turken: Professor, Marketing & Strategy of Business School Netherlands
Philippe Linus Petit: Public Speaking Expert & Storytelling Coach
Raja Mawad: Founder, Thrv.health
Rami Essaid: CEO, Finmark
Ramzi Halaby: CEO, The Online Project
Ramzi Nahawi: Product Design , Bubble
Rasha Laswi: Partner, Andersen
Rawaz Rauf: Partner, Euphrates Ventures
Rishi Sharma: West Coast Lead , Newlin VC
Roberto Croci: Regional Startups Enabler, .
Ruba Darwish: Operations Manager, BMB Jordan
Ruba Fakhouri: Psychological , Counseling
Rudy Bekerejian: Founder & CEO , Ecomz
Ryan Micheletti: Head of Global Operations, Founder Institute
Salha Al Aqeel Alghamdi: CEO, FI GCC
Sameer Sortur: Founding Partner, SquareCircle Ventures
Samer Arabiat: Consultant
Sara Alkhatib, SpaceDeco
Sara Ledterman: General Partner, 3+ Ventures
Saumya Bhatnagar: CTO & Co-Founder, Involve.ai
Saurabh Nathany: Startup & VC Lawyer, White Summers Caffee & James, LLP
Sawsan Lubani, iRole
Shaun Gold: Entrepreneur, storyteller, GP at Improve Ventures, Improve Ventures
Shaza Bassam: Associate, Levari
Simon Turner: Founding Partner, Groundbreaking, Managing Director, FI Ghana
Simon Tkachenko: Principal, Modus Capital
Sokmean Nou: Front End Services Lead, Acrisure
Tamer Al Salah: Managing Director, BeyondCapital
Tarek Roushdy: Angel Investor, UI Investments
Tariq El Titi: Managing Director , Janus Ventures
Trevor Longino: Founder & CEO, CrowdTamers
Triska Hamid: Editorial Director, Wamda
Vaios Gkitsas: Founder , The Upset Partners
Vincent Marsland: Senior Founder Success Manager, Communitech
Vladimir Pletyukhin: Founder and Creative Director, Launch Deck
Wajeeha Al Husseini: Director of Communications, Umniah
Yasmine Darwich: Founder of DonaLeb | Social Impact, DonaLeb
Zaid Ibrahim: Consumer Marketing Director, Umniah
Zeid Husban: Serial Entrepreneur | 2 Exits | Experienced Leader | Angel Investor