Today, the Founder Institute, the world's largest pre-seed startup accelerator, is excited to announce that we are now accepting applications for the Barcelona - Spain 2026 program!
If you could use a structured process and feedback from Barcelona's top entrepreneurs to build a startup, then apply to the Barcelona - Spain 2026 Founder Institute today.
Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 200+ cities worldwide, the Founder Institute provides high-potential entrepreneurs and teams with the support network and structure needed to build an enduring company. Since 2009, the program has helped over 8,900 Graduates raise over 2BN funding, get into seed-accelerators, generate traction, recruit a team, build a product, transition from employee to entrepreneur, and more.
To celebrate the launch, we will host several free startup events in Barcelona, where you can learn from top entrepreneurs and hear more about the program:
- How to Transform Your Region into a Hub for Cross-Border Entrepreneurship: 7:00pm, feb 03, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/386982
- Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
- How to Adopt an Entrepreneurial Mindset: 2:00am, feb 10, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/386300
- Growing Innovation Districts through Regional & Private Partnerships: 7:00pm, feb 10, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/387853
- Founder’s Guide to AI: Working with AI as Your Partner: 7:00pm, feb 17, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/386304
- Meet Early-Stage Founders looking for a Co-Founder (Online Networking Event): 7:00pm, feb 23, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/388098
- Founder’s Guide to AI: Building a Marketing Engine with AI: 7:00pm, feb 24, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/386309
- Founder’s Guide to AI: Converting Data into Business Value with AI: 7:00pm, mar 03, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/386314
- What Do Investors Really Look For? Startup Funding Q&A: 5:00pm, mar 09, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/387359
- From Zero to Startup Idea: A Practical Founder Framework: 1:00pm, mar 16, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/387531
The Barcelona program is led by some of the region's top startup leaders, including Oriol Bes, Raphael Jardim, and Urs Rothmayr.
In addition, some of Barcelona's top entrepreneurs, CEOs, advisors and investors will be participating in the program, providing them with expert training, feedback, and evaluation. The list of startup mentors for the Barcelona Founder Institute includes:
- Alberto Levy: CoFounder, Plentie
- Alberto Espinós: Founder & CEO, Tropicfeel
- Alex Navarro: Co-founder & International Development Director, Groupalia
- Alex Dantart: Co-Founder & CEO, Moonback
- Alex Ferreiro: Business Development Manager, DayOne
- Alfonso Riera: Director, Front Consulting Group
- Alfredo H. Cottin: Pitch Fixer & Brand Shaper, Post Data
- Ana Maiques: CEO, Neuroelectrics
- Andres Varela Da Costa: Disruptive business development, Thebeemine.lab / Servantrip.com / Havas Media / Gameloft / Snapchat
- Andrés Felipe Villegas: Estrategia, Independiente
- Antoine Morin: Co-founder & Creative Director, LeanTeams
- Anton Pinyol: Founding Partner, Firma
- Aquiles Este: CSO, Taga Brand Consultants
- Arvin Abarca: Founder & CEO, GrandVoyage
- Axel Serena: Axel Serena, Alva House
- Axel Serena: CEO, Vittalia
- Bernardo Hernández: CEO & Executive Chairman, Verse Technologies Inc.
- Carlos Esteban: Partner, Faber
- Carlos Jimenez: CIO, AXS FUND
- Carlos Muños: CEO , gestoriamunoz.es
- Carlos Jimenez: Founder & CEO, Usefull Agency
- Carlos Rivadulla Oliva: Manager IP & IT, ECIJA
- Cédric Naintré: Founder, Range-Moi
- Charles Ehredt: Founder & CEO, Currency Alliance
- Christian Rodriguez: Chairman & CEO , Mutter Ventures
- Clara Torrijos: CEO, GoKoan
- Cristina Morenete: Founder & human CEO, HUMAN MADE BRANDS
- Daniel Vecino: Founder, The Hero Plan
- Daniel Puerta Diaz: Founder and expert on Industrialization and Scale-up, Sunflower Labs
- Daniel Gonzálvez: VC Investor, FI
- DANIEL NIETO CORREDERA: Vice President, Mastercard
- David Boronat: Founder and CEO, Multiplica
- David Tomás: Founder and General Manager, Cyberclick
- Didac Lee: Founder & CEO, Inspirit
- Federico Fernandez Dupouy: Entrepreneurship, Solar Energy, Finance & Investments, OTEPI RENOVABLES
- Ferran Jornet: Executive Director, Derecho.com & elAbogado.com
- Francisco Arechaga: Managing Partner, Nubelo
- Frederic Llordachs I Marques: Co-founder, partner, Doctoralia, Docplanner Group
- Gemma Sorigué: CEO & Co-Founder, Deliberry.com
- Giancarlo Vergine: Founder & Managing Partner, Over Ventures
- Gil Belford: Director, Corporate and Business Development, City Storage Systems
- Guifre Belloso Manera: Técnico Creación de Empresas, Barcelona Activa
- Heiko Rauch: Heiko Rauch - Co-Founder of UFOstart (Berlin FI), UFOstart.com
- Isabel Navarro Fernández De Caleya: Co-Fundadora, Fundación Créate
- J Martin Cabiedes: Partner, Cabiedes & Partners SCR
- Jaume Mayor I Agell: CEO & fundador, WeSmartPark
- Jaume Portell: Co-Founder and CEO, Beabloo
- Joan Marcos: Fundador & CEO, transForma
- Joaquim López: COO, Dozen Investments
- José Bermejo: FOUNDER, SCAPE VELOCITY
- José Vilar: Coordinador red EEN SEIMED, IVACE
- Josefa Marzo Pons: Portfolio Director, Kalonia Venture Partners
- Jose Ramon Campos Castillo: CEO-Founder, Ozeanic Devices S.L.
- Lavina Ramkissoon: AI Ethics and Technology Policy, African Union
- Leticia Domínguez: Partner, Ecija Abogados
- Luis Martín Cabiedes: Partner, Cabiedes & Partners
- Luis Grau: CCO, Qultiva Capital
- Marc Lladó: Founder & CEO, Ad-Pure
- Marc Vallhonesta: Founder & CEO, Funos & Partyo
- Maria Escarti Barcia: Director , Invest in Valencia
- Marta Campillo: Entrepreneurship Manager, ESADE BAN
- Marta Antúnez: Co-founder & Co-CEO, ChicPlace
- Michael Clark: Michael Clark - Product and Engineering, Stealth
- Miguel A. Tovar: Limited partner, Smartech Capital
- Mohammed Kashif: Senior Quality Assurance Automation Engineer, Department of Motor Vehicles
- Nacho Giral: Owner and Travel General Manager, Atrapalo.com
- Nektar Baziotis: Founder, ICARUS
- Nico Bour: Founder & CEO, Verticomm Network (Uvinum, Sportivic, Babibum & Mascotic)
- Onur Kutlu Gago: Serial Entrepreneur & Growth Advisor, Coimex
- Oriol Vila Grifoll: Founder & CEO, HOLALUZ.com
- Oriol Huesa Ripoll: CMO, TicketBureau
- Oriol Bes: Innovation Partner, transForma Partnering
- Oriol Vinzia: CEO, Peimi.co
- Oscar Sánchez: Founder & CEO, Tech Sales Group
- Oscar Macia: Founder & CEO, Forcemanager
- Pablo Lombeida: CEO-Founder, Brandon Logan
- Paula Arias López: Cofounder / People Strategy Mentor, Fresh People
- Rafael García Escarré: CEO & Co Founder, 101 Ventures
- Ricard Bonastre: Co-Founder & CEO, Lead Ratings
- Ricardo Fernández Flores: Managing Director, Destinia
- Ritika Mittal: Founder, Numakasé
- Rosario B Casas: Co Founder, XR Americas, LLC / Business Creative Partners SAS
- Rui Falcão: Founder and Gatekeeper, REDangels and COREangels Network
- Taryn Andersen: President & Co-Founder , Impulse4Women
- Timo Buetefisch: Founder & CEO, Cooltra
- Urs Rothmayr: Founder & Managing Partner, Firstech Capital
- Veronica Borrowdale: Partner, A23 Advisors
- Víctor Gómez: CEO, 4Geeks Academy Europe
- And many more to be announced.
The Founder Institute focuses on helping tech or tech-enabled businesses at the pre-seed stage, including both solo-founders and teams. This includes established businesses that are pre-funding and traction, MVP and prototype-stage projects, and even part-time founders with just ideas. FI's mission is to create sustainable startup ecosystems that will create one million new jobs worldwide.
Join us in Barcelona to build a great company in 2019.
Apply to the Barcelona - Spain 2026 Founder Institute today, or learn more at FI.co/overview.
