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:

Germany Events:

Founder Meet & Greet: Berlin In-Person Startup Networking New Years Edition: 6:30pm, Jan 15, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/376735
Founder Meet & Greet: Berlin In-Person Startup Networking Winter Edition: 6:30pm, Feb 12, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/376736

Global or Regional Events:

Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
How to Create Sustainable Economic Growth through Capacity Building: 7:00pm, Dec 18, 2025 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/384568
Startup Funding AMA & FI Info Session, with Jonathan Greechan (CEO, FI / GP, Founder Capital): 7:00pm, Dec 30, 2025 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/384833
Co-Founder Networking: Find Your Perfect Match in 2026: 5:00pm, Jan 06, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/383220
Validate Faster: A Practical AI Playbook for Founders: 7:00pm, Jan 14, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/385977
Brainstorm a Great Startup Idea for 2026: Online Workshop: 2:00am, Jan 21, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/384329
Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 7:00pm, Jan 26, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/382184
Meet Global Alumni from Founder Institute: 7:00pm, Feb 02, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/383893
How to Adopt an Entrepreneurial Mindset: 2:00am, Feb 10, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/383796
Founder’s Guide to AI: Working with AI as Your Partner: 7:00pm, Feb 17, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/385089
Founder’s Guide to AI: Building a Marketing Engine with AI: 7:00pm, Feb 24, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/385425
Founder’s Guide to AI: Converting Data into Business Value with AI: 7:00pm, Mar 03, 2026 (Europe/Berlin): https://FI.co/e/385261

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 8,100 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 (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.