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 Dubai. While the Silicon-Valley based program has chapters in over 200 cities worldwide, early-stage entrepreneurs in Dubai 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 Dubai Founder Institute are now open, and anyone interested in building a technology company can apply at FI.co/apply/dubai.
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 9,000 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).
To celebrate the launch, the Founder Institute will host several free online startup events in Dubai, where you can learn from top entrepreneurs and hear more about the program from the comfort of your home:
- How to Choose the Right Startup Idea Before You Build: 4:00pm, May 18, 2026 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/390301
- Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
- How to Tell Stories That Win Clients and Investors with Lubna Forzley: 8:00pm, May 19, 2026 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/396406
- [Restricted] VIP Pitch Lounge: Get Unfiltered Feedback from Global Investors & Advisors: 8:00pm, May 26, 2026 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/395467
- Vibecoding 101 for Startups: Build Your First App w/ Mark Montalban: 8:30pm, Jun 01, 2026 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/398127
- Inside the Founder Institute: Real Stories From Alumni: 8:00pm, Jun 02, 2026 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/390483
- How to Build a Strong Pipeline of Entrepreneurs for your Innovation Hub: 8:30pm, Jun 08, 2026 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/398363
- Startup Advisors 101: How to Find Advisors and Maximize their Impact (POSTPONED): 4:30am, Jun 09, 2026 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/388497
- What It Takes to Get Funded: Live Investor Q&A w/ Maayan Teper: 8:00pm, Jun 09, 2026 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/396228
- Turn Startup Hesitation Into Action: A Founder Mindset Framework: 4:00am, Jun 16, 2026 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/393206
- Stop Guessing, Start Raising: An Investor Q&A : 4:00am, Jul 07, 2026 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/393517
- Stop Overthinking and Build a Great Startup Idea: 8:00pm, Jul 20, 2026 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/390621
- From Idea to Action: The Startup Mindset : 4:30pm, Aug 10, 2026 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/393329
- Meet FI Alumni Founders: High-Growth Startups Panel : 8:00pm, Aug 10, 2026 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/391173
- Build a Startup Idea Investors Won’t Ignore: 4:00am, Aug 19, 2026 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/391308
- What Makes Investors Say Yes: Startup Funding AMA: 8:00pm, Sep 01, 2026 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/392946
- Break the Idea Loop and Decide What to Build: 4:00am, Sep 22, 2026 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/391588
- From Idea to Traction: Lessons From Global FI Alumni: 4:30am, Oct 06, 2026 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/390897
- From Dreamer to Doer: Build the Founder Mindset: 8:00pm, Oct 13, 2026 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/393459
- From Founder to Funded: Interactive Q&A with Top Startup Investor: 9:00pm, Nov 03, 2026 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/393082
- From “Maybe” to Momentum: Building a Great Startup Idea: 5:00am, Nov 18, 2026 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/391461
- From First Idea to First Funding: Global Alumni Stories: 9:00pm, Dec 01, 2026 (Asia/Muscat): https://FI.co/e/391022
The experts that have been critical in bringing the Founder Institute to Dubai include local startup leaders Karan Deep, Sameer Sortur (Founder & CEO , SquareCircle Global), Sandhya Prakash (Founder & Managing Director, Beacon Energy).
Opportunities are flourishing in Dubai. There's now a great ecosystem for entrepreneurs - from crowdfunding platforms to co-working spaces. 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, over 60 of the region’s top startup investors, founders, corporate executives and government establishments have joined the program as mentors to help entrepreneurs in the GCC Spring 2026 Founder Institute program.
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 Dubai and help build the future.
Apply to the GCC Spring 2026 Founder Institute today, or learn more at FI.co/overview.
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