The South Asia Founder Institute, the local chapter of the world's largest pre-seed startup accelerator, is proud to announce the newest Alumni from the South Asia 2026 program.
After meticulous selection process and intense four months of aggressive business-building sprints, constant evaluation, and feedback from investors and mentors, just 13 companies were able to make it through.
Each of these Founders have demonstrated a high level of perseverance and creativity, and their businesses have been thoroughly vetted and supported by a panel of South Asia's top startup experts and investors.
And now, without further ado, we present the Alumni of the South Asia program:
- Smart Air Bangladesh - a company dedicated to helping people protect themselves from the harms of air pollution.
- Dilexus Infotech - a technological bridge to reconnect humans with nature, encouraging the abandonment of artificial and processed substances.
- WeGro Technologies - a startup that facilitates connections between smallholder farmers and both individual and institutional financiers.
- Nico Legal - a solution that automates the process of tracking deadlines in contracts for inhouse legal teams.
- Generation ALPHA - a platform for young adults to identify their passion and to develop their skills.
- MCQ Med - an application that has a question bank for final year medical students to ace their licensing exams.
- Crossborder Payments - a digital payment tool that does both payments and loyalty.
- Contenty AI - an innovative automation that facilitates efficient and cost-effective content creation.
- Happy Market - a company that provides guidance on production quality, brand building, and online marketing platforms.
- QR Meals - software for hotels and restaurants, specializing in delivering innovative solutions to enhance the dining experience.
- U.M.G. Ventures - a digital project to address the need for equitable, accessible, and efficient healthcare services.
- Okay Journey - a travel experience platform for ticket booking that provides security, entertainment and tracing.
- Smartsoft Network - an edtech focused on improving education in Nepal.
The South Asia 2023 program would not have been possible without help, because it truly takes a city to raise a startup.
The Founder Institute South Asia Graduation Event will take place on January 30
South Asia Local Directors
We would first like to thank the Local Directors of the South Asia Founder Institute: Ainharan Vivekananthan (Founder/ CEO, ArcheloLAB LTD), Aminath Ali (Founder, HaliAli Coaching and Consultancy Services), Ayami Wanasinghe (Regional Director - South Asia, Founder Institute), Chamo Hewawasam (Co-Founder/COO, Kordor AI, Aenigm3 Labs), Josheph Adhikari (Co-founder, Sampanna Capital & Advisory), Kamran Taufiq Khan (Program Manager, National Incubation Center Islamabad), Minhaz Anwar (Chief StoryTeller, BetterStories ), Rabika Hassan (Manager of Special Projects, BetterStories), Rhythm Shahriar, Sa Admin, Saira Qayyum (Founder , Dream On!), Sanju Peramuna Arachchi (Venture Partner, Founder Institute - South Asia), Sayyed Ahmad Masud (Director, Change Mechanics Pvt Ltd), Shakil Mahmud (Founder & CEO, Posh Celebration Limited & AI Factory). Our Local Leaders play an incredibly important role in building the local Founder Institute program, and creating an environment and network in South Asia that is conducive to building to great companies.
In addition, the South Asia 2026 program was supported by some of South Asia's top technology organizations, including:
Some of South Asia’s top startup mentors helped our founders in the program, including:
In the Founder Institute's pre-seed accelerator program, early-stage entrepreneurs and teams build their business alongside a critical support network of local startup experts that share equity in their success, and through a structured and challenging business-building process that has helped alumni raise over 2BN.
After Graduation, the new South Asia Founder Institute Portfolio Companies now have a fast-growing company that has been fully validated by experienced startup founders, with access to the Founder Institute's global network and post-graduate support programs to continue building their business.
Leaders of the world’s fastest-growing startups have used the Founder Institute to raise funding, building a co-founding team, get into seed-accelerators, generate traction, recruit a team, build a product, transition from employee to entrepreneur, and more. Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 200+ cities and 100+ countries, the Founder Institute’s mission is to Globalize Silicon Valley and empower talented and motivated entrepreneurs to build companies that will create one million new jobs.
The next South Asia Founder Institute program is being planned now. If you are interested in being notified when applications open, visit FI.co/apply/south-asia.
Alumni of the Founder Institute are creating some of the world's fastest growing startups, having raised over 2BN in funding, and building products people love across over 200 cities worldwide.
See the most recent news from our Grads at FI.co/news, or learn more about their stories at FI.co/graduates.
