Now, more than ever, the world needs entrepreneurs to build the future.
As a result, the Founder Institute, the world’s largest pre-seed startup accelerator, is excited to announce that it is officially launching its newest chapter in South Africa. While the Silicon-Valley based program has chapters in over 200 cities worldwide, early-stage entrepreneurs in Cape Town and throughout the country can finally now take advantage of the Founder Institute's renowned structure, mentor support, and network to build an enduring company.
Applications to the first-ever Cape Town Founder Institute are now open, and anyone interested in building a technology company can apply at FI.co/apply/cape_town.
The Founder Institute provides high-potential entrepreneurs and teams with the support network and structured growth process needed to get to traction and funding, and build something that matters.
Since 2009, the Founder Institute has helped over 7,500 Alumni raise over $1.85BN 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).
To celebrate the launch, the Founder Institute will host several free online startup events in South Africa, where you can learn from top entrepreneurs and hear more about the program from the comfort of your home:
South Africa Events:
- Funding Your Startup: Navigating Africa’s Investment Landscape in 2025: 6:00pm, Apr 08, 2025 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/368180
- Pitch Your Ideas to Investors & Experts, Online: 6:00pm, Apr 22, 2025 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/368181
Global or Regional Events:
- Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
- Why Leveraging Your Unique Life Proposition Is Crucial for Startup Success: 7:00pm, Apr 03, 2025 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/368532
- Employee to Entrepreneur: How to Make the Transition to Startup Founder : 7:00pm, Apr 07, 2025 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/365768
- How to Choose the Right Fundraising Path for Your Startup: 7:00pm, Apr 09, 2025 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/367576
- Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 2:00am, Apr 17, 2025 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/366755
- FI Alumni Panel: Meet Portfolio Companies and Ask Questions: 2:00am, Apr 24, 2025 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/367786
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 2:00am, Apr 29, 2025 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/366673
- What is the DNA of an Entrepreneur? Insights from 15 Years of Research: 2:00am, May 08, 2025 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/366651
- Ask an Investor Anything: Q&A with Nathan Beckord: 7:00pm, May 12, 2025 (Africa/Johannesburg): https://FI.co/e/366476
The experts that have been critical in bringing the Founder Institute to Cape Town include local startup leaders Deepti Jeram (Co-Founder, Boardroom In A Box), FI SA (XX, NA), John Zabula (Founder, Revisall), Keshni Morar (Managing Director, Founder Institute South Africa + Investable), Lily Makaleng (Director, The Founder Institute South Africa), Victoria Odimba (Founder/CEO, C Insights Africa).
Opportunities are flourishing in South Africa. There's now a great ecosystem for entrepreneurs - from crowdfunding platforms to digital communities. The Founder Institute can increase an aspiring technology entrepreneur's chance of success by providing the necessary skills and mindset - and a link to the Silicon Valley!
In addition, many of the region's top founders, CEOs, advisors, and investors have signed on to mentor new entrepreneurs in the South Africa 2025 Founder Institute program, including:
- Abdulkadir Suleiman: CEO & Founder, TESPIRE LLC
- Abu Bakr Cassim: Founder, Jozi Angels
- Akua Nyame Mensah: Certified Executive & Leadership Coach, A.N.M & Company
- Alan Fok: Growth Partner & Leadership Coach, The Forward Coach
- Andrew Marsh
- Annu Augustine: Founder, NedRock
- Anthony Stonefield: Chief Innovation Officer, AIDA Advisory Services
- Arcui Usoara: Founder/CEO, Iaculus
- Ayodeji Agboola: Founder, Akowe
- Bade Aluko: Managing Partner, White Hibiscus Capital
- Berg Moe: Chairman, Gründervekst AS
- Bernice Houy: Co-Founder, Fintura
- Bertha Kgokong: Founder & CEO, Tati Software
- Bhairav Patel: Managing Director, Atom CTO
- Brenda Wangari: Head of Portfolio Success, Madica
- Brian O. Sing'ora: Brian Obwora Sing'ora, Origee-Nation Ventures
- Charlotte Luzuka: Co-Founder & Investor, Dazzle Angels
- Chintan Oza: Founder, Anantam Ecosystems
- Chris Foltz: Global Entrepreneur-In-Residence, Founder Institute
- Cleo Johnson: Strategist, Marketing Maven
- Dali Lakhoua: VC Investment Officer, AfricInvest group
- Deepti Jeram: Co-Founder & CMO, Boardroom In A Box
- Deon Katz: CEO & co-Founder , Graphite Growth
- Deven Govender, LionPride Investment Holdings
- Devin Butler: Co-founder & CEO, Metaship
- Dimitri Anagnostopoulos: Partner, True North Partners
- Dr. Ope Banwo: Attorney/Techfounder, Mobisoft360 Inc.
- Farhat Bashir: Founding CEO, Seerab Technologies
- Florent Nduwayezu: Mr. , BESTSELLER FOUNDATION
- Franklin Kamnang Ngansop: Cofounder , Vitamin C&S Coaching
- Freddy Atangana: Founder & CEO, EKAMOU
- Gareth Bleazard: CEO and Founder, Great North Road
- Gatis Vilcans: Director of Technology, Atom CTO
- Gbite Oduneye: Founder and Managing Partner, ODBA
- Greg Serandos: Founder & CEO, African Academy of Artificial Intelligence
- Guillermo Guzman: Local Leader, Founder Institute Colombia
- Hema Vallabh: Founding Partner, Five35 Ventures
- Idowu Akinde: Managing Director, Impact Hub Lagos
- Jabulani Zwane: Founder & CEO, Mindset Development Institute
- Jatin Kataria: Founder & MD, InMeSta + JK Venture Studio
- Jerry Oche: Co-founder/CEO, Zowasel
- Johann Ungerer: Director, 1099 Ventures, Digital Puppetry, LetsJam, WIP
- John Zabula: Founder, Revisall
- Kamal Hassan: Founding Partner, Loyal VC
- Katie Mapondera: Founder and Managing Partner, Q L and D LLC
- Kayimbi Ruben Mpanya: Strategic Projects Associate, Innovation Edge
- Kendrall Felder: Co-Founder & CEO, Cyber Alliance
- Keshni Morar: Managing Director, Founder Institute South Africa + Investable
- Kevin Chetty: Founder CEO, Macrocomm Financial Services / Xtenda Housing Finance
- Kopano Mere: Market Activation Lead, SmartWage
- Larry Yon, Ii: Co-Founder & President, Cyber Alliance
- Lily Makaleng: Director, Founder Institute South Africa + Founder@WanderfullySo
- Lundi Njomane: Director, Jozi Angels
- Malanee Hutton: Venture Builder, Four10 Venture Studio
- Marco Broccardo: CEO , Eurocom
- Mark Kleyner: Co-Founder, Dream VC
- Mark Fritz: Managing Director, Procedor
- Mauricio Cardoso: Corporate Venture Manager, O POVO Communication Group
- Maushami Chetty: Founder and CEO, Aarya Legal & GDPR Bridge
- Michael O'donnell: Principal, StartupBiz.com LLC
- Michael Smith: Managing Director, Hillsdon Consulting Inc.
- Muktish Narain: Founder, ECORGANIC
- Nevo Hadas: Director, & innovation
- Nicolas Ochmann: Director, Head of Solutions EMEA, Whatfix
- Noah Wallach: Founder, Hope OS
- Olivier Chas: Entrepreneur, Effective Marketing
- Omar Layachi: Local Leader, Founder Institute Morocco
- Omotayo Babatunde: Co-Founder & CEO, RewardHub
- Oscar Koster: Regional Director, Rule no 5
- PASCHAL OFFORDUM: Associate , Shujaa Capital
- Patricia Rinke: Investment Manager, AfricInvest Group
- Paul Smith: Founder & CEO, Civitas
- Pommie Lutchman: Founder & CEO, Ocular Technologies
- Preshan Govinder: Manager: Sales and Business Development, JSE
- Riccardo Petrantoni: Managing Director, Range Ventures
- Roheeni Bhana: Founder, Healthtech Launchpad
- Russell Brand: CEO & Founder, Responsible Solutions Limited
- Sabeeha Banubhai: Founder and Experience Director, Jack Studios
- Sabrina Dorman: Co-Founder, ZUMI
- Salmine Sassi: Entrepreneur in Residence, Seedstars
- Sameer Babbar: Director, SVB Group
- Sameer Sortur: Founding Partner, SquareCircle Ventures
- Sanjay Soni: Chief Visionary & Venture Architect, Jozi Angels
- Sanjay Rakshit: CPO / CTO, Atom CTO
- Sara Ledterman: General Partner, 3+ Ventures
- Shaheed Nordien: Mr, Swifti
- Sheriff Olujide: Managing Partner, SOCS GokSon Capital (SGC) Ventures
- Simon Turner: Founding Partner, Groundbreaking, Managing Director, FI Ghana
- Sola Adekanye: Founder, Open Innovation Access
- S'onqoba Vuba: Co-Founder and MD, Perpetu8
- STEPHAN WESSELS: CTO, Simply Financial Services
- Suhail Nakooda: Visa, Director: Business Development
- Tamzin Lovell: Founder & CEO, Artfundi
- Tarek Chelaifa: Senior Manager, GSMA
- Thaheer Mullins: Director & Partner, Savant
- Thembalethu Shangase: Head of Programmes, Naspers Labs
- Tracey Chas: Advisor, Allan Gray Orbis Foundation
- Trevor Longino: Founder & CEO, CrowdTamers
- Tyrone Moodley: Venture Associate, HAVAÍC
- Victoria Odimba: Founder, C Insights Africa
- Viola Llewellyn: Founder & CEO, The Tulle Box
- Vladimir Pletyukhin: Founder and Creative Director, Launch Deck
- Vwanganji Bowa: Founder/CEO, Mighty Finance
- Yemi Oluseun: Growth & GTM For FinTechs, The Change Hive
- 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 organization's mission is to "Globalize Silicon Valley" and build sustainable startup ecosystems that will create one million new jobs worldwide.
Join us in South Africa and help build the future.
Apply to the South Africa 2025 Founder Institute today, or learn more at FI.co/overview.
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