Build the Future in 2021. Applications Now Open to Founder Institute Berlin Virtual Fall 2021

Now is the time to rebuild: the world needs entrepreneurs to lead the way in creating a better future, for everyone.

Whether you have already launched a startup or are still in the idea-phase, this is the time to act. 2020 brought havoc to our health, our society, and our economy, and what remains is a world filled with reshuffling industries and new problems that need to be solved. As we continue on through 2021, every entrepreneur has an opportunity to play a part in helping shape that better future.

That's why we are excited to announce applications are now open for the Berlin Virtual Fall 2021 program.

If you could use a structured process and a lifetime of support from Germany's top investors and entrepreneurs to build something meaningful, then apply to the Berlin Virtual Fall 2021 Founder Institute today.

We will be hosting several free startup online events in Germany over the coming weeks, where you can learn virtually from top entrepreneurs from the comfort of your home:

What Do Investors Really Look For? Startup Funding Q&A with Keshia Theobald-van Gent: 5:00pm, Mar 09, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/387465
Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
The 10x Leadership Framework for Growth in Large Organisations : 6:00pm, Mar 10, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/389284
From Zero to Startup Idea: A Practical Founder Framework: 1:00pm, Mar 16, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/387635
Cash Flow Survival for a First-Time Founder: 5:00pm, Mar 17, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/388876
Venture Trailblazers, featuring Andrew D’Souza (VIP Event): 4:00pm, Mar 19, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/389991
Startup Advisors 101: How to Find Advisors and Maximize their Impact: 1:30am, Mar 24, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/388499
[Restricted] VIP Pitch Lounge: Get Feedback from Global Investors & Advisors (Private Event): 5:00pm, Mar 24, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/389084
From Solo Idea to Startup Team: Meet Your Future Co-Founder: 2:00am, Mar 27, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/392242
Stuck Without a Startup Idea? Build One That Fits You: 2:00am, Apr 08, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/390183
Real Startup Lessons From FI Alumni Across the World: 6:00pm, Apr 14, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/390773
How to Choose the Right Startup Idea Before You Build: 6:00pm, May 18, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/390348
Inside the Founder Institute: Real Stories From Alumni: 6:00pm, Jun 02, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/390505
Stop Overthinking and Build a Great Startup Idea: 6:00pm, Jul 20, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/390643
Meet FI Alumni Founders: High-Growth Startups Panel : 6:00pm, Aug 10, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/391195
Build a Startup Idea Investors Won’t Ignore: 2:00am, Aug 19, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/391310
Break the Idea Loop and Decide What to Build: 2:00am, Sep 22, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/391590
From Idea to Traction: Lessons From Global FI Alumni: 2:30am, Oct 06, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/390919
From “Maybe” to Momentum: Building a Great Startup Idea: 2:00am, Nov 18, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/391463
From First Idea to First Funding: Global Alumni Stories: 6:00pm, Dec 01, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/391057

See all upcoming events

Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 200+ cities worldwide, the Founder Institute is designed to help you build an enduring business that can survive and thrive in this “new normal.” We do this by giving you a clear process combined with constant feedback from a devoted network of international entrepreneurs and investors. Participants in the 4-month core program also get access to a lifetime of support through the Founder Institute's industry-leading free post-programs.

The Germany accelerator is led by some of the region's top startup leaders, including Dirk Lehmann, Ferdinand Muehlhaeuser, Kai Malkwitz, Rikke Klitskov, Sascha Karstaedt, Stéphanie Claudel, and Tomasz Sieron. In addition, some of Berlin's top investors, entrepreneurs, and CEOs will be participating as mentors in the program, providing expert feedback and evaluation. The list of startup mentors for the Germany Founder Institute includes:

Klaus Kammermeier
Laura Kohler
Yascha Roshani
Steffen Wachenfeld
Tobias Dickmeis
Doreen Rietentiet
Nicola Pinder
Marius Kraemer
Olga Filipova
Martina Von Hettinga
Alexander Sumin
Frank Pawlitschek
Sara Kolata
Michael Debuschewitz
Dorothea Gotthardt
Ana Alvarez
Fabian Kofler
Yanick J. Steinbeck
Johannes Steinacher
Mira Arnold
Stefan Jörgensen
Dirk Freise
Kristian Lutz
Magnus Gaarder
Andrey Osipov
Michael Healy
Regine Harr
Veroniek Vermeulen
Vamsi Krishna
Arne Wittmer
Ana Catarina Rocha
David Wortmann
Christoph Ostermann
Lubomila Jordanova
Michael Aissaoui
Marcus Netzel
Karsten Helbig
Peter Schlecht
Ben Wilkening
Tobias Wittich
Wilhelm Stein
Natacha Neumann
Lital Aravot
Javier Rincon
Antony Tikhonov
Ingo Juraske
Daria Markova
Eckart Burgwedel
Gilles Toussaint
Benjamin Gebien
Simon Knittel
Jan Mechtel
Kyrill Zlobenko
Chris Payne
Mali Baum
Christoph Neye
Amelia Zins
Jonathan Miller
Björn Fedder
Peter Nartey
Janine Wagner
Katharina Trebitsch
Gesa Miczaika
Kevin Liebigt
Sebastian Böhmer
Juliane Schiefer
Tina Dreimann
Karolin Erdmann
Steven Jacobs
Fabian Geyrhalter
Patrick Knodel
And many more to be announced.

Since 2009, the Founder Institute 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 (see the FI 10 Year Impact Report here).

We would like to specially acknowledge the FI Berlin partners at Hyazinth, whose longtime collaborative support across multiple cohorts has now benefitted more than 50 of our local companies, helping them navigate all the legal unknowns of new business formation and growth. We would also like to thank the team at Visual Craft, who have been reliable development partners to FI businesses in Berlin, as well as in London and New York, helping founders launch and refine product, design, and analytics. And thank you to Unicorn.Berlin, the now official FI Berlin location partner, who have hosted so many of our public events over the years, and long demonstrated themselves to be a core supporter for the Berlin startup scene, providing invaluable event spaces, coworking opportunities, and startup offices of all sizes.