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 8,100 Alumni raise over 1.9BN 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:

How to Create Sustainable Economic Growth through Capacity Building: 7:00pm, Dec 18, 2025 (Europe/Stockholm): https://FI.co/e/384609
Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
Startup Funding AMA & FI Info Session, with Jonathan Greechan (CEO, FI / GP, Founder Capital): 7:00pm, Dec 30, 2025 (Europe/Stockholm): https://FI.co/e/384874
Co-Founder Networking: Find Your Perfect Match in 2026: 5:00pm, Jan 06, 2026 (Europe/Stockholm): https://FI.co/e/383271
Validate Faster: A Practical AI Playbook for Founders: 7:00pm, Jan 14, 2026 (Europe/Stockholm): https://FI.co/e/386016
Brainstorm a Great Startup Idea for 2026: Online Workshop: 2:00am, Jan 21, 2026 (Europe/Stockholm): https://FI.co/e/384366
Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 7:00pm, Jan 26, 2026 (Europe/Stockholm): https://FI.co/e/383394
Meet Global Alumni from Founder Institute: 7:00pm, Feb 02, 2026 (Europe/Stockholm): https://FI.co/e/383932
How to Adopt an Entrepreneurial Mindset: 2:00am, Feb 10, 2026 (Europe/Stockholm): https://FI.co/e/383827
Founder’s Guide to AI: Working with AI as Your Partner: 7:00pm, Feb 17, 2026 (Europe/Stockholm): https://FI.co/e/385129
Founder’s Guide to AI: Building a Marketing Engine with AI: 7:00pm, Feb 24, 2026 (Europe/Stockholm): https://FI.co/e/385465
Founder’s Guide to AI: Converting Data into Business Value with AI: 7:00pm, Mar 03, 2026 (Europe/Stockholm): https://FI.co/e/385302

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
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)
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
Nathan Evans: Founder | Angel Investor | Advisor , Stealth Fintech Startup
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
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 of Founder Institute, Co-founder of InnovateU, Founder of Bloom for Start Ups., 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.