Build a Startup with Stockholm's Top Pre-Seed Accelerator. Founder Institute Applications Open

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

If you could use a structured process and support from Stockholm's top investors and entrepreneurs to build a startup, then apply to the Nordics Spring 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 devoted support network and structured growth process needed to get to traction and funding. Since 2009, the program has helped over 8,900 Alumni 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 Stockholm, where you can learn from top entrepreneurs and hear more about the program:

Solo-Founder 101: How Anyone Can Start a Business Using AI: 6:00pm, Mar 31, 2026 (Europe/Stockholm): https://FI.co/e/392579
Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
From Idea to Startup Team: Meet Your Future Co-Founder: 2:00am, Apr 07, 2026 (Europe/Stockholm): https://FI.co/e/392262
Stuck Without a Startup Idea? Build One That Fits You: 2:30am, Apr 08, 2026 (Europe/Stockholm): https://FI.co/e/390216
How Multiple Pivots positioned Checkbox as the ‘Legal Front Door’ for Corporations: 2:00am, Apr 14, 2026 (Europe/Stockholm): https://FI.co/e/394730
Real Startup Lessons From FI Alumni Across the World: 6:00pm, Apr 14, 2026 (Europe/Stockholm): https://FI.co/e/390719
How to Go From Raw Idea to Polished Pitch using AI: 6:30pm, Apr 20, 2026 (Europe/Stockholm): https://FI.co/e/395788
[Restricted] VIP Pitch Lounge: Pitch Live and Get Feedback from Investors & Advisors: 6:00pm, Apr 21, 2026 (Europe/Stockholm): https://FI.co/e/395621
Turn Your Expertise Into an Audience on LinkedIn: 6:00pm, Apr 27, 2026 (Europe/Stockholm): https://FI.co/e/392443
How to Overcome the Fear of Starting Your Own Company: 6:00pm, Apr 28, 2026 (Europe/Stockholm): https://FI.co/e/394058
How to Get Your First 10 Customers Without a Marketing Team or Budget: 6:30pm, May 04, 2026 (Europe/Stockholm): https://FI.co/e/394558
How to Choose the Right Startup Idea Before You Build: 2:00am, May 19, 2026 (Europe/Stockholm): https://FI.co/e/390332
[Restricted] VIP Pitch Lounge: Get Unfiltered Feedback from Global Investors & Advisors: 6:00pm, May 26, 2026 (Europe/Stockholm): https://FI.co/e/395477
Inside the Founder Institute: Real Stories From Alumni: 6:00pm, Jun 02, 2026 (Europe/Stockholm): https://FI.co/e/390451
Startup Advisors 101: How to Find Advisors and Maximize their Impact: 2:30am, Jun 09, 2026 (Europe/Stockholm): https://FI.co/e/388526
Turn Startup Hesitation Into Action: A Founder Mindset Framework: 2:00am, Jun 16, 2026 (Europe/Stockholm): https://FI.co/e/393229
Stop Guessing, Start Raising: An Investor Q&A : 2:00am, Jul 07, 2026 (Europe/Stockholm): https://FI.co/e/393548
Stop Overthinking and Build a Great Startup Idea: 6:00pm, Jul 20, 2026 (Europe/Stockholm): https://FI.co/e/390589
From Idea to Action: The Startup Mindset : 2:30pm, Aug 10, 2026 (Europe/Stockholm): https://FI.co/e/393352
Meet FI Alumni Founders: High-Growth Startups Panel : 6:00pm, Aug 10, 2026 (Europe/Stockholm): https://FI.co/e/391141
Build a Startup Idea Investors Won’t Ignore: 2:00am, Aug 19, 2026 (Europe/Stockholm): https://FI.co/e/391342
What Makes Investors Say Yes: Startup Funding AMA: 6:00pm, Sep 01, 2026 (Europe/Stockholm): https://FI.co/e/392969
Break the Idea Loop and Decide What to Build: 2:00am, Sep 22, 2026 (Europe/Stockholm): https://FI.co/e/391622
From Idea to Traction: Lessons From Global FI Alumni: 2:30am, Oct 06, 2026 (Europe/Stockholm): https://FI.co/e/390865
From Dreamer to Doer: Build the Founder Mindset: 6:00pm, Oct 13, 2026 (Europe/Stockholm): https://FI.co/e/393482
From Founder to Funded: Interactive Q&A with Top Startup Investor: 6:00pm, Nov 03, 2026 (Europe/Stockholm): https://FI.co/e/393106
From “Maybe” to Momentum: Building a Great Startup Idea: 2:00am, Nov 18, 2026 (Europe/Stockholm): https://FI.co/e/391485
From First Idea to First Funding: Global Alumni Stories: 6:00pm, Dec 01, 2026 (Europe/Stockholm): https://FI.co/e/391028

See all upcoming events

The Stockholm program is led by some of the region's top startup leaders, including Anders Lindlof, Christian Fredriksson, Joel Sunnehall, and Per Nystedt.

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

Abdellah Aouf: Chief Executive Officer, GO PLATFORM
Almir Krso: Founder I CEO, Venturab AB
Amanda Evans: Chief Growth Officer, Enigio
Amanda Enocksson Gyllenberg: COO l Portfolio Manager l Partner, VNTRS
Andreas Svendsen: Senior Consultant / Engagement Manager, Rouse AB
Andrew Hennigan: Lecturer, Coach, Writer, Andrew Hennigan Consulting
Anette Nordvall: Venture Partner, Butterfly Ventures
Anjali Westwood: Founder, Maternia Care
Annika Vangstad: Head of Group Creative , Nordea
Arcui Usoara: Global Board Advisor and Brand Strategist, Founder, Iaculus
Ben Stacey: CEO, Pitchverk
Bilal Zahoor: Bilal Zahoor, scalecraft
Caroline Wachtmeister: Principal, Industrifonden
Charlotte Christensen: Executive Director, Fintocat
Charlotte Ekelund: Investor & External Relations Director, Sting
Chris Foltz: Global Entrepreneur-In-Residence, Founder Institute
Christian Schaffner: CEO, 61st Digital Agency
Dennis Kibirev: Marketing Exec | Venture Growth Strategist, Top 1% Rated Startup Mentor
Dennis Surendra: CEO & Founder, IdeaBits AB
Donnie Sc Lygonis: Innovation Strategist & Business Coach, KTH Innovation
Dr. Hanan El Basha: Strategic AI & Growth Advisor to SMEs & Scale-Ready Businesses, The Business Doctor
Elena Mlotok: General Manager, Head of EU Newsstand, Amazon
Emelie Gustafsson Maistedt: Founder & CEO, Gemme & Co-founder & CEO, Gemme
Emil Jerndal: Head of M&A, Effektify
Erik Afzelius: COO, UnTap!
Fanny Sjöström: Founder , Swiftr
Fedja Porobic: Head of Growth, Improove
Fernanda Torre: CEO, NextAgents
Filip Veli Gultekin: Angel Investor, Startup Advisor
Fredrik Rosengren: Accelerator Manager & Business Coach, Sting
Funda Sezgi: Co-founder & MD at Norrsken Impact Accelerator, Norrsken Foundation
Gabriele Garavini: New Business Development Manager, Telia
Gabrielle Ödhammar: Functional Lead Talent Planning, Group People, Nordea
Gemma Whitehouse: Founder & Director, Ingeniva
Gustaf-Wilhelm Hellstedt: Startup Coach, H & Partners Global Vision Ltd
Haider Abdo: Founder & CEO, Returnado
Hannes Helander: Head of Startup Programs, Connect Sverige Region Öst
Hannes Rosén: CEO & Co-Founder, StartupTools
Henrik Reimavuo: Investor, J12 Ventures
Ida Herbertsson: Head of Fast Track Capital, Minc
Idowu Akinde: MD/CEO, Impact Hub Lagos
Isabel Keulen: Investment Manager, Spintop Ventures
Jenny Gizard: Innovation Advisor, Almi Stockholm
Jens Wernborg: Director, Startup Grind Hong Kong
Joachim Widd: COO and Partner, VNTRS
Joachim Rittfeldt Hofvenschiöld: Co-Founder, uBIT
Joel De Nes: Full Stack Engineer & Consultant, Co-Founder, Algrow AI
Johan Johansson: Angel Investor & Board Professional
John Drakenberg Renander: CEO & Co-founder, Alex Therapeutics
John Rush: Founder, MarsX Inc
Jonas Glädt: Chief Operating Officer, Legal Career
Jonas Åström: Founder & Partner, Recuro
Jonatan Håkansson: Growth Consultant, Hawkeye Invest
Jonathan Greechan: Co-Founder & CEO, Founder Institute, GP Founder Capital
Leif Frykman: Founder & Chairman of the Board, LegalWorks Nordic
Linus Dahg: Investment Director, Inventure
Louise Hagen: Partner, Luminar Ventures
Magret Jokela: Head of Program, Hanken Business Lab
Malcolm Larri: Founder, Brave Personal Development
Manish Mishra: Angel Investor
Mara Rada: Chief Operations and Strategy, Loon (loonbio.com)
Margarita Triantafyllidou: Angel Investor, RadCap & Daya Ventures l Serial Entrepreneur l Ex- Wall Street
Marie-Louise Dahl: Principal Innovation & Strategy | Program Manager, Stellar | Mastercard Lighthouse
Matti Lindberg: Associate, Legal Counsel, Rouse Sweden
Michael Lantz: CEO, Accedo
Mikael Blix: CEO & Founder, Heja
Mikael Angesjo: Startup Advisor & Investor, Crowdcube
Mikaela Larsell Ayesa: COO, uBIT.vc
Milena Kraeva: Founder & CEO, Nexus Impact Ventures
Moaz Hamid: founding partner, mvmt ventures
Naimul Abd: CEO, Connect Öst & SweBAN - Swedish Business Angel Networks
Nathan Evans: Founder | Angel Investor | Advisor , AURIS Investment
Nea Harjanne: CEO, Kiuas
Niklas Rudemo: Chief Product Officer, StartupTools
Ola Wassvik: Co-Founder & CTO, Flatfrog Laboratories AB
Olena Rogozina
Olena Bochulia: Co-Founder, Severus
Olga Padulosi: Marketing & Partnerships, AppFollow
Oskars Jepsis
Özge Özen Zink: Partnership Manager Entrepreneurs, SEB
Per Björklund: Partner, Further Than Capital l Angel Investor
Per Ström, First Gate Invest
Peter Ingman: Co-Founder
Peter Carlsson: Partner, Spintop Ventures
Pouria Kay: Founding Partner, Atlan
Preben Fjellaker Mathisen: Senior Advisor - Startups, Innovation Norway
Ragnheidur Magnusdottir: Founder & Chair of the Board, Nordic Ignite
Raman Ramalingam: Startup recruitment & HR consultant, talentX
Remi Saint-Jean: Founder, delighting.io
Resad Zacina: Chief Growth Officer, Ministry of Programming
Richard Cristina: Principle Director & Founder , Bloom for Start Ups / Innovate U / Founder Institute.
Rickard Vernet: Head of Legal, Bolago (acquired by Allshares)
Rita Anson: Co-Founder Nordic Ignite, Secretary General NorBAN Norwegian Business Angels Network
Russell Brand: CEO & Founder, Responsible Solutions Limited
Saga Löfgren: Brand Manager, LEIA Health
Salmine Sassi: Entrepreneur in Residence, Seedstars
Sameer Sortur: Founding Partner, SquareCircle Ventures
Sameh Katr: Chairman of the Advisory Board, Boost Turku
Sandra Jona: Legal Counsel, LW Advisory
Sara Hjortmar: Senior Associate, Seedrs | Republic Nordics
Simon Olson: Founding Partner, XY Ventures
Sofie Marin: Founder & CEO, Arts Dynamics
Steph Thommen: Founder, purposeful.tech
Stéphane Nasser: Co-Founder, OpenVC
Svetlana Stotskaya: Mentor, Techstars Sustainability Paris
Taylor Ryan: 6x Start-up Founder, Investor, and Web3 Expert, Layer Three Ventures
Tobias Bard: CEO, Prototyp
Trevor Longino: Founder & CEO, CrowdTamers
Ulf Linden: Founder and COO, LegalWorks Nordic
Vladimir Pletyukhin: Founder and Creative Director, Launch Deck
Zen Holmgren: Agency Leader, My Own Marketing Team, Angel Investor

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.