Today, the Founder Institute, the world's premier pre-seed startup accelerator, is excited to announce that we are now accepting applications for the Milan 2025 program!
If you could use a structured process and feedback from Milan's top entrepreneurs to build a startup, then apply to the Milan 2025 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 7,500 Graduates raise over $1.85BN 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 Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 2:00am, Apr 29, 2025 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/366694
- Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
- Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 2:00am, May 06, 2025 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/370039
- What is the DNA of an Entrepreneur? Insights from 15 Years of Research: 2:00am, May 08, 2025 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/366616
- Ask an Investor Anything: Q&A with Nathan Beckord: 7:00pm, May 12, 2025 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/366432
- Future-proofing CPG Brands: Key Strategies for Sustainable Growth: 4:00pm, May 15, 2025 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/371002
- Launching and Scaling Startups in Europe: Insights from FI Founders: 7:00pm, May 19, 2025 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/368396
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 7:00pm, May 26, 2025 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/370360
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 7:00pm, Jun 02, 2025 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/370596
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 2:00am, Jun 10, 2025 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/370827
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: Innovation Partner (acting as FI Local Leader), Funder Advisor
- Alberto Lombardi, Free lance
- Alessandro Gaini: Founder, Buongiorno San Paolo
- Alessandro Zanchetton, Ciao Elsa
- Alessandro Cillario: Co-Founder, Cubbit
- Alexandra Fattal: Venture Partner, Loyal VC
- Andrea Arienti: CEO & Founder, 3dnextech
- Anna Gaile: Co-Founder , Edudoro.eu & zlotynauczyciel.pl
- Antonello Schiavo: EMEA Delivery Manager, Google
- Antonia Verna: Partner, PORTOLANO CAVALLO
- Aristos Peters: CEO & Founder, D-Risk It
- Bruno Reggiani: Coo - co-founder, Tot.
- Camilla Barlocco: Founder, UBI Consulting
- Camilla Bellotti: Leadership Consultant
- Chris Foltz: Global Entrepreneur-In-Residence, Founder Institute
- 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
- 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
- Jeffrey Paine: Founding Partner, Golden Gate Ventures, Singapore
- Lorenzo Giampaolo Arrigoni: Associate, PORTOLANO CAVALLO
- Marco De Biasi: Startups Investor & Advisor /Program Director, FI/LGA /LAAS
- Marta Marrucco, Smart Founder
- Massimiliano Squillace: Founder, Contents.com
- Massimo Schiavi, FI Milan
- Mauro Baldoni: Chief Information Officer, BonelliErede
- Michele Mattei: Investor, Fintech expert, Manager, Qwist
- Natalia Iudina: Co-founder & COO, Zlotynauczyciel.pl, Edudoro.eu
- Pier Paolo Mucelli: Entrepreneur, TechItalia Lab
- Pietro Braguglia, Beaversity Consulting
- Rajel Khambhaita: Financial and Investment Advisor, Funder Advisor
- Roberto Montandon: Partner, Step Venture
- Russ Lewis: Digital transformation & Investor, Agile transformation services and solutions
- Simone Dozza: CRO, Kiratech
- Victor Schiller: President, R Cubed Group
- 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.
Join us in Milan to build a great company in 2019.
Apply to the Milan 2025 Founder Institute today, or learn more at FI.co/overview.
