Build a Great Startup in 2026 with the FI South Africa 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 South Africa 2026 program!

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

How to Choose the Right Startup Idea Before You Build: 2:00pm, May 18, 2026 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/390274
Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
How to Tell Stories That Win Clients and Investors with Lubna Forzley: 6:00pm, May 19, 2026 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/396364
[Restricted] VIP Pitch Lounge: Get Unfiltered Feedback from Global Investors & Advisors: 6:00pm, May 26, 2026 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/395431
How to Start a Unicorn as a Solo Founder, with Adeo Ressi: 7:30pm, May 26, 2026 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/399180
Vibecoding 101 for Startups: Build Your First App w/ Mark Montalban: 6:30pm, Jun 01, 2026 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/398122
Inside the Founder Institute: Real Stories From Alumni: 6:00pm, Jun 02, 2026 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/390431
How to Build a Strong Pipeline of Entrepreneurs for your Innovation Hub: 6:30pm, Jun 08, 2026 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/398356
How to Launch an AI-Powered Company With a Day Job, with Adeo Ressi: 8:00pm, Jun 08, 2026 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/399297
Startup Advisors 101: How to Find Advisors and Maximize their Impact (POSTPONED): 2:30am, Jun 09, 2026 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/388541
What It Takes to Get Funded: Live Investor Q&A w/ Maayan Teper: 6:00pm, Jun 09, 2026 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/396203
Turn Startup Hesitation Into Action: A Founder Mindset Framework: 2:00am, Jun 16, 2026 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/393164
Stop Guessing, Start Raising: An Investor Q&A : 2:00am, Jul 07, 2026 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/393560
Stop Overthinking and Build a Great Startup Idea: 6:00pm, Jul 20, 2026 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/390569
From Idea to Action: The Startup Mindset : 2:30pm, Aug 10, 2026 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/393287
Meet FI Alumni Founders: High-Growth Startups Panel : 6:00pm, Aug 10, 2026 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/391121
Build a Startup Idea Investors Won’t Ignore: 2:00am, Aug 19, 2026 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/391353
What Makes Investors Say Yes: Startup Funding AMA: 6:00pm, Sep 01, 2026 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/392904
Break the Idea Loop and Decide What to Build: 2:00am, Sep 22, 2026 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/391633
From Idea to Traction: Lessons From Global FI Alumni: 2:30am, Oct 06, 2026 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/390845
From Dreamer to Doer: Build the Founder Mindset: 6:00pm, Oct 13, 2026 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/393417
From Founder to Funded: Interactive Q&A with Top Startup Investor: 7:00pm, Nov 03, 2026 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/393040
From “Maybe” to Momentum: Building a Great Startup Idea: 3:00am, Nov 18, 2026 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/391495
From First Idea to First Funding: Global Alumni Stories: 7:00pm, Dec 01, 2026 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/390984

See all upcoming events

The South Africa program is led by some of the region's top startup leaders, including John Zabula (Founder, Revisall), Keshni Morar (Managing Director, FI South Africa + Investable), Lily Makaleng (Director, The Founder Institute South Africa), Victoria Odimba (Founder/Lead Strategist, Cellente).

In addition, some of South Africa'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 South Africa Founder Institute includes:

Abu Bakr Cassim: Founder, Jozi Angels
Ainharan Vivekananthan: Founder, ArcheloLAB
Alan Fok: Growth Partner & Leadership Coach, The Forward Coach
Andre De Wet: CEO, 2ndBase Inc
Annu Augustine: Founder, NedRock
Anthony Stonefield: Chief Innovation Officer, AIDA Advisory Services
Arcui Usoara: Global Board Advisor and Brand Strategist, Founder, Iaculus
Ashlin Govender: Head of Strategy and Commercial Operations, Delivery Ka Speed
Ayodeji Agboola: Founder, Akowe
Ayodeji Agboola: CEO, Akowe
Bade Aluko: Managing Partner, White Hibiscus Capital
Bentzy Goldman: Founder, Perflo
Berg Moe: Founder, Gründervekst AS
Bertha Kgokong: Founder & CEO, Tati Software
Bhairav Patel: Managing Director, Atom CTO
Brenda Wangari: Head of Portfolio Success, Madica
Brett Steingo: CEO, Accelerate Networks
Brian O. Sing'ora: Brian Obwora Sing'ora, Origee-Nation Ventures
Charlotte Luzuka: Co-Founder & Investor, Dazzle Angels
Chris Foltz: Global Entrepreneur-In-Residence, Founder Institute
Cleo Johnson: Strategist, Marketing Maven
Dali Lakhoua: VC Investment Officer, AfricInvest group
Dana Ohana: CEO and Co-Founder, Big Consulting
Deon Katz: CEO & co-Founder , Graphite Growth
Devin Butler: Co-founder & CEO, Metaship
Didier Vermeiren: Founder, Rialto
Dimitri Anagnostopoulos: Partner, True North Partners
Donald Vutlharhi Valoyi: Founder, Zulzi
Dr Mohsin Zahid: CEO, Neuron Solutions
Farhat Bashir: Founding CEO, Seerab Technologies
Fathhi Mohamed: Co-Founder, Street82, DishServe & PickMe
Fatuma Dabassa: Founder-CEO, Urembo hub limited-https://urembohub.com/
Fiona Seleke: Ms, Jala Nala
Florent Nduwayezu: Mr. , BESTSELLER FOUNDATION
Franklin Kamnang Ngansop: Co-Founder, Vitamin CS Coaching
Freddy Atangana: Founder and Chief Executive Director, Ekamou
Gareth Bleazard: CEO and Founder, Great North Road
Gbite Oduneye: Founder and Managing Partner, ODBA
Giovanni Focaraccio: Product Manager, Potenza
Greg Serandos: Founder & CEO, African Academy of Artificial Intelligence
Guillermo Guzman: Local Leader, AIDA Ventures
Idowu Akinde: Managing Director, Impact Hub Lagos
Jabulani Zwane: Founder & CEO, Mindset Development Institute
Jaco De Wet: Independent Consultant, Independent Consultant
Jatin Kataria: Managing Director, InMeSta Ecosystem + WeShapeUp Venture Studio
Jerry Oche: Founder/CEO, Zowasel
Johann Ungerer: Director, 1099 Ventures, Infinite Loom
Kamal Hassan: Founding Partner, Loyal VC
Katie Mapondera: Founder and Managing Partner, Q L and D LLC
Kayimbi Ruben Mpanya: Strategic Projects Associate, Innovation Edge
Kendrall Felder: Co-Founder & CEO, Cyber Alliance
Keshni Morar: Managing Director, FI South Africa + Investable
Kopano Mere: Market Activation Lead, SmartWage
Larry Yon, Ii: Co-Founder & President, Cyber Alliance
Leonardo Okpeh: Founder & CEO, Smartblocks
Lundi Njomane: Director, Jozi Angels
Majd Alaily: Founder, Ruya Advisory
Marco Broccardo: CEO , Eurocom
Mark Kleyner: Co-Founder, Dream VC
Mark Fritz: Managing Director, Procedor
Maushami Chetty: Founder and CEO, Aarya Legal & GDPR Bridge
Mellissa Lezama: Founder / CEO, The HR Horizon
Mercy Kimalat: CEO, ASSEK
Michael O'donnell: Principal, StartupBiz.com LLC
Michael Smith: Managing Director, Hillsdon Consulting Inc.
Nicolas Ochmann: Director, Head of Solutions EMEA, Whatfix
Nisha Kotecha: CoFounder & CEO, GloCal CoWorking & InkDiVo
Noah Wallach: Founder, Hope OS
Noreen Likimani: Program and Project Manager, MBM Africa
Olivier Chas: Entrepreneur, Effective Marketing
Omar Layachi: Local Leader, Founder Institute Morocco
Oz Razak: CEO, CFO and Founder, Auxo Digital
Pambos Soteriades: Founder & CEO, PiSigma Consulting
Patricia Rinke: Investment Manager, AfricInvest Group
Paul Smith: Founder & CEO, Civitas
Philipp Alexander Ströhemann: Founder & Investor, Unleash Ventures
Pommie Lutchman: Digital Executive (CIO/CTO/CDO) and Startup Mentor, PommieLutchman.com
Preshan Govinder: Manager: Sales and Business Development, JSE
Riccardo Petrantoni: Managing Director, Range Ventures
Russell Brand: CEO & Founder, Responsible Solutions Limited
Sabeeha Banubhai: Founder and Experience Director, Jack Studios
Sabrina Dorman: Co-Founder, ZUMI
Salmine Sassi: Entrepreneur in Residence, Seedstars
Sameer Babbar: Director, SVB Group
Sameer Sortur: Founding Partner, SquareCircle Ventures
Samuel Mwendwa: Sustainable Finance and Innovation Advocate, .
Sanjay Soni: Chief Visionary & Venture Architect, Jozi Angels
Sanjay Bhana: Strategist, Thought leader, Reflective coach/mentor, Sanjay Bhana
Sara Ledterman: General Partner, 3+ Ventures
Sayyed Ahmad Masud: Regional Director Pakistan, Founder Institute
Sheriff Olujide: Managing Partner, SOCS GokSon Capital (SGC) Ventures
Sienna Leis: Managing Director, Cova Experience Design
Sola Adekanye: Founder, Open Innovation Access
S'onqoba Vuba: Co-Founder and MD, Perpetu8
STEPHAN WESSELS: CTO, Simply Financial Services
Suhail Nakooda: Naktech (consulting firm and Scale (Fintech), Director: Business Development
Tamzin Lovell: Founder & CEO, Artfundi
Tarek Chelaifa: Senior Manager, GSMA
Tau Chimanga: CEO, Capitai
Thaheer Mullins: Director & Partner, Savant
Thembalethu Shangase: Head of Programmes, Naspers Labs
Torrey Smith: Co-Founder & CEO, Endiatx
Tracey Chas: Advisor, Allan Gray Orbis Foundation
Trevor Longino: Founder & CEO, CrowdTamers
Tyrone Moodley: Venture Associate, HAVAÍC
Vladimir Pletyukhin: Founder and Creative Director, Launch Deck
William Schutte: Founder and Solution Architect, Chain Wave Tech
Yazid Bentayeb: Partner, Astel ventures
Yemi Oluseun: Growth & GTM For FinTechs, The Change Hive
Zolani Matebese: Chairman, Sendoff.app