Build a Startup with Milan's Top Founders and Investors. Founder Institute Applications Now Open

Today, the Founder Institute, the world's premier pre-seed startup accelerator, is excited to announce that we are now accepting applications for the Italy Fall 2026 program!

If you could use a structured process and feedback from Milan's top entrepreneurs to build a startup, then apply to the Italy Fall 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 critical support network and structured process needed to build an enduring company. Since 2009, the program has helped over 9,000 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, the Founder Institute will host several free startup events in Milan, where you can learn from top entrepreneurs and hear more about the program:

How to Get Your First 10 Customers Without a Marketing Team or Budget: 6:30pm, Jun 22, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/400753
Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
Economic Development: How to Build Entrepreneurial Communities: 5:00pm, Jun 23, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/400910
[Restricted] VIP Pitch Lounge: Pitch Live and Get Feedback from Investors & Advisors: 6:00pm, Jun 30, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/401105
Meet FI Alumni Founders: High-Growth Startups Panel : 6:00pm, Jul 07, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/398711
Stop Overthinking and Build a Great Startup Idea: 6:00pm, Jul 20, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/398658
From Idea to Action: The Startup Mindset : 2:30pm, Aug 10, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/398694
FounderX Silicon Valley 2026: Global Conference in San Francisco: 2:00am, Aug 26, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/399825
What Makes Investors Say Yes: Startup Funding AMA: 6:00pm, Sep 01, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/398784
How to Build a Strong Pipeline of Entrepreneurs for your Innovation Hub: 6:00pm, Sep 15, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/398247
From Dreamer to Doer: Build the Founder Mindset: 6:00pm, Oct 13, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/399039

See all upcoming events

Since first launching in Europe in 2010, the Bucharest Founder Institute has helped build several promising companies in the region, like TravelCar (acquired 2018), Paymium ($1M+ funding), Veodin (acquired 2018), Itembase ($3M+ funding), Peerby ($4M+ funding), BeOnPrice ($1M+ funding), and many more. The Milan program is led by some of the region's top startup leaders, including Maria Matloub (Founding Member, otherDOTS Foundation), and Peter Lazou (Founding Member, otherDOTS Foundation & Founding Partner, Sportscientia).

In addition, some of Milan's top entrepreneurs, CEOs, and investors will be participating in the program, providing them with expert training, feedback, and evaluation. The list of mentors for the Milan Founder Institute includes:

Alberto Martellini: Ecosystem leader | Entrepreneur | Mentor, Founder Institute Innovation Partner
Alberto Lombardi, Energy Expert | Sustainability Passionate | Angel Investor | Start up Advisor
Alberto Giusti: Co-founder & General Partner, P3Ventures
Alberto Clavarino: President, Fondazione Genova Startup
Alessandro Gaini: Founder, Buongiorno San Paolo
Alessandro Zanchetton, Ciao Elsa
Alessandro Cillario: Co-Founder, Cubbit
Alexandra Fattal: Venture Partner, Loyal VC
Andrea Ramoino: Transformational Leader, Fintech, Payments, Digital Assets, SaaS
Andrea Arienti: CEO & Founder, 3dnextech
Angelica Velati: Co-founder and Social Impact Manager, BEBY.best - Better Environment Better You
Anna Gaile: Co-Founder , Edudoro.eu & zlotynauczyciel.pl
Antonello Schiavo: EMEA Delivery Manager, Google
Antonia Verna: Partner, PORTOLANO CAVALLO
Ben Stacey: CEO, Pitchverk
Bruno Reggiani: Coo - co-founder, Tot.
Camilla Barlocco: Founder, UBI Consulting
Camilla Bellotti: Leadership Consultant
Chris Foltz: Global Entrepreneur-In-Residence, Founder Institute
Corrado Blandini: Lawyer & Business Coach, Uno Quattro
Duygu Sefa: Co-Founder, Babonbo
Edoardo Volta: SVP Partnerships & Business Development, Curve
Emanuele Torlonia: Managing Director, Italian Angels for Growth
Enrico Frascati: Freelancer, Digitalvibe
Fabio Costa: Founder, SecurityCert
Fabrizio Spaolonzi: Co-founder, Buongiorno San Paolo
Filippo Satolli: CEO | Board Member | Entrepreneur | Advisor & Investor, Cii2
Francesco Gia: Accelerator Associate, IMPACT HUB MILANO
Giacomo Poggiali: Product Advisor, 500 Global
Giancarlo Vergine: Founder & Managing Partner, Over Ventures
Giorgio Seveso: Co-Founder, Tundr
Irene Verheijen, FI Amsterdam
Ivelin Ivanov: Venture Advisor, Founder Institute
Iwona Kerr, Energy Mix Ventures
Jeffrey Paine: Founding Partner, Golden Gate Ventures, Singapore
Julián Jordan: CEO, Grupo DISS
Lorenzo Di Cataldo: Head of Partnerships, Emotion Network
Lorenzo Giampaolo Arrigoni: Associate, PORTOLANO CAVALLO
Luigi Cito: Relationship Director, WEX Inc.
Mahir Iskender: Founder, KNDR Digital
Marco De Biasi: Startups Investor & Advisor /Program Director/Conselheiro Fiscal, LGA/Italcam/Mobicity
Marco Cello: Founder, Meshify
Marco Boscariol: Associate, Portolano Cavallo
Marta Marrucco: Owner, Smart Founder
Massimiliano Squillace: Founder, Contents.com
Massimo Schiavi, FI Milan
Massimo Romani: dr. Massimo Romani, CFO and financial background - EMBA
Mauro Baldoni: Founder, Beat2Impact
Michele Mattei: Investor, Fintech expert, Manager, Qwist
Mimi Yagoub: Thought Leadership & PR , Publicize
Mohammed Kashif: Senior Quality Assurance Automation Engineer, Department of Motor Vehicles
Natalia Iudina: Co-founder & COO, Zlotynauczyciel.pl, Edudoro.eu
Pier Paolo Mucelli: Entrepreneur, TechItalia Lab
Pietro Braguglia: Co-Founder, Beaversity Consulting
Rajel Khambhaita: Financial and Investment Advisor, Funder Advisor
Russ Lewis: Digital transformation & Investor, Agile transformation services and solutions
Sadegh Sarvi: Project Manager, INTRASENSORS BV
Serdar Yucel: Director Sales, Marketing and Strategy, TUBITAK
Serephina Ha: Managing Director, Founder Institute - Los Angeles and Boston
Sergio Rossi: CEO, Fondazione Genova Startup
Shubhit Khaneja: Principal Product Manager, Zalando
Simone Dozza: CRO, Kiratech
Stefano Toro, Prolaw
Sush Bapna: General Partner, 10Ten Ventures
Varun Jain: Founder, 99foundr
Victor Schiller: President, R Cubed Group
Vincenzo Cioffi: Startup Advisor, Business Angel, Investor, Growth Engine
Vladimir Pletyukhin: Founder and Creative Director, Launch Deck

And many more to be announced.

The Founder Institute is designed for founders and teams all throughout the pre-seed stage, including aspiring founders with a full-time job, solo founders, teams, and founders of established companies that are pre-funding. The Founder Institute's mission is to "Globalize Silicon Valley" and create sustainable startup ecosystems that will create one million new jobs worldwide.