The Founder Institute (http://FI.co), the world's largest entrepreneur training and startup launch program, announced today that it is exploring a new semester launch in Belgrade this Winter 2016.
Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 200 cities and 100 countries, the Founder Institute has helped launch over 7,500 companies - including fast-rising startups across 6 continents like Udemy, Realty Mogul, iCarsClub, Itembase, goplaceit, Appota, and many more. The company's mission is to "Globalize Silicon Valley" and create sustainable startup ecosystems that will create one million new jobs worldwide.
If you'd like to help bring a semester to Belgrade, then fill out an Interest Form. If enough people complete this form by the Launch Deadline (Oct 07, 2025), then the Founder Institute will formally launch a Winter 2016 program.
There is an abundance of human talent in the natural sciences, information technology, and engineering industries in Serbia," says Adeo Ressi, Founder & CEO of the Founder Institute. "However, there lacks basic training and education in how to become founder and build successful and lasting companies. With the Founder Institute's training and mentorship, we hope to help push Belgrade towards becoming a leading startup ecosystems in Europe."
The Founder Institute is a part-time, four-month program where promising entrepreneurs can "learn by doing" and launch a company through structured training courses and expert feedback from business mentors. Plus, you are not required to quit your day job to participate, so you can begin building a business around your ideas without putting your livelihood at risk.
In order to test demand for a Winter 2016 program, the Founder Institute will host several free startup events:
Serbia Events:
- Belgrade Founder Hotseat: Pitch Your Startup to Investors & Advisors: 6:00pm, May 20, 2025 (Europe/Belgrade): https://FI.co/e/371880
- Novi Sad Founder Hotseat: Pitch Your Startup to Local Investors & Advisors: 6:00pm, Jun 11, 2025 (Europe/Belgrade): https://FI.co/e/371879
Global or Regional Events:
- Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
- Ask an Investor Anything: Q&A with Nathan Beckord: 7:00pm, May 12, 2025 (Europe/Belgrade): https://FI.co/e/366474
- Future-proofing CPG Brands: Key Strategies for Sustainable Growth: 4:00pm, May 15, 2025 (Europe/Belgrade): https://FI.co/e/371037
- Launching and Scaling Startups in Europe: Insights from FI Founders: 7:00pm, May 19, 2025 (Europe/Belgrade): https://FI.co/e/368390
- Lessons Learned Raising from Top Silicon Valley VCs: AMA with Rajeev Behera: 6:00pm, May 29, 2025 (Europe/Belgrade): https://FI.co/e/371281
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 7:00pm, Jun 02, 2025 (Europe/Belgrade): https://FI.co/e/370635
- How to Build Your MVP Using Artificial Intelligence : 7:00pm, Jun 04, 2025 (Europe/Belgrade): https://FI.co/e/371403
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 2:00am, Jun 10, 2025 (Europe/Belgrade): https://FI.co/e/370805
- FI Alumni Panel: Meet Portfolio Companies and Ask Questions: 7:00pm, Jun 23, 2025 (Europe/Belgrade): https://FI.co/e/371831
- Startup Finance & Banking Basics: AMA with Grasshopper Bank: 7:00pm, Jun 25, 2025 (Europe/Belgrade): https://FI.co/e/372032
- Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 7:00pm, Jun 30, 2025 (Europe/Belgrade): https://FI.co/e/371672
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 7:00pm, Jul 07, 2025 (Europe/Belgrade): https://FI.co/e/370396
The Founder Institute will help to build a culture and ecosystem that will lead to more entrepreneurship in Serbia, cultivate great and new ideas, and ultimately create jobs and growth across the region" - Daniel Boehi, Co-Director of the Belgrade Founder Institute
Leading the Founder Institute's efforts in Belgrade are Aleksandar Bijelic (Management Consultant, Prova), Daniel Boehi (Founder and Investor, FoodPrint and MAD Capital), Milan Dobrota (Managing Director, LOGIT Solutions), and Tatjana Kalezic (a business consultant and startup coach, and Founder of the Serbia Start Up).
The Founder Institute will bring to Belgrade precious experience and worldwide best practices to provide startups, founders and entrepreneurs, with know-how indispensable in creating competitive advantages for their business" - Milan Dobrota, Co-Director of the Belgrade Founder Institute
Other successful entrepreneurs who have pledged their support to mentor founders in a Belgrade Founder Institute program include:
- Abdellah Aouf: Chief Executive Officer, GO PLATFORM
- Adeo Ressi: CEO, Decile Group / VC Lab
- Aleks Rakitch: Founder & CEO, MixAart
- Aleksandar Celeski: Executive Director, DUEL Consulting
- Aleksandar Stamboliev: CEO & Co-Founder, BAU Accelerator
- Aleksandar Bakoč: CEO & Founder, Algotech doo
- Aleksandar Bijelić: President of the Board, Serbian Venture Network
- Aleksandar Marić: Head Of Finance, Alt Labs
- Aleksandar Hangimana: Advisor & Investor, Noordenster B.V.
- Aleksandar Momiroski: COO & Co-founder, Comeunity Business Incubator
- Aleksandar Matanović: CEO & Founder, ECD
- Aleksandar Janičić: Founder/CEO, J Consulting Group
- Aleksandar Marić: Partner, Adore Chocolat
- Aleksandra Lazović-Lønningen: Building Collaborative Entrepreneurial Ecosystems l Growth and Innovation Strategist, Impact Hub Belgrade/InoSmart
- Aleksandra Vuković: Founder and Director | Nura digital & Singular Advantage, Nura Digital | Singular Advantage
- Ales Pustovrh: Partner, Bogatin doo
- Alex Migitko, UNIQUE.VC
- Alex Lunginovic: Broker/Vice President, Montalvo Ventures
- Alexander Naydenov: Head of Sales, GraphCMS
- Alexander Sumin: co-founder, Chief Marketing Officer, ClaimCompass
- Alexander Martynov: Head of Bio-IT, Biovision Ventures
- Alin Vacian: CEO, enovatika
- Alin Vacian: CEO, Enovika
- Almir Zejneli: CEO and Co Owner, ADRIA EXCLUSIVE LTD
- Ana Milicevic: Coordinator, Research and Development Hub at Faculty of organizational sciences
- Anđel Bošković: Co-founder & Head of Growth, Booking Dentist
- Andrei Cosmin Munteanu: Co-Founder & CEO, Cowork Timisoara
- Andrija Bednarik: Entrepreneur serving Humanity, Life Playing Club
- Anja Stanisic, Foundation Novak Djokovic - Original platform
- Anton Osipov: Product Designer & Founder, DdD Lab
- Ari Veltman: Business Strategy Advisor | Board Director | CBDO@, Sparko.TV
- Arseniy Dabbakh, Innotechnics
- Arthur Gusev: Founder and CEO, Launch Deck
- Athanasios Ladopoulos: Founder & CEO , MemoryGarden
- Ben Stacey: CEO, Pitchverk
- Benoit Doumas: Managing Director, BlackRock
- Berg Moe: Chairman, Gründervekst AS
- Bilyana Dimitrova: Managing Partner, Dimitrova and Staykova Law office
- Blanka Supe: Founder, Haos Community Space
- Boris Kolev: Founder and Managing Partner, DigiMark Ventures
- Boris Hristov: Founder and CEO, 356labs
- Borislav Miljanović: CEO, Represent System
- Borut Čeh: Co-owner and CEO, Labena ltd
- Boštjan Čeh: Co-Director, Labena Ventures
- Branko Bajić: Marketing and Products Director, Yettel Bulgaria
- Brian M Pasalich: Chief Executive Officer | Co-Founder, Behave Technologies (Formerly Syntoniq, Inc.)
- Charles Cormier: CEO, TopLeads Agency
- Chintan Oza: Founder, Anantam Ecosystems
- Christophe Nègre: General Partner, Western Balkans Private Equity Fund
- Clarisse Dr. Behar Molad: CHief Strategy Officer , Whistesteps Technologies
- Dajana Džindo: Executive Director, F787
- Daniel Lorer: Advisory Board Member, Quadrodynamics
- Daniel Michael Böhi: Executive Coach, Founder & Investor, Founder Institute
- Danijela Matovic: CEO & Founder, Parlok Consulting
- Darko Ivanović: General Partner, Balkan Tech Fund
- Darko Vidakovic: Darko Vidakovic, EASME
- Darko Burčul: Chief Marketing and PR, Infostud
- David Schoch: President and member of the Board of Directors, Serbian Private Equity Association
- Davor Sakač: Director, TS Ventures Fund
- Dejan Dramićanin: CEO, Bitgear
- Dejan Tonić: EBRD Associate, Regional Coordinator of Star Venture Programme for Western Balkans, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
- Dejan Vukmirović: Chief Technology Officer, Bakson Ltd
- Dilyan Dimitrov: Partner, Eleven Ventures
- Djordje Filipovic, 30Hills
- Dmytro Lokshyn: Head of Alternative Investments, Stockpile Inc.
- Don Samoil: Managing Partner, Trusted Scale
- Dóra Marosvölgyi: Founder & CEO, DARE Innovations
- Đorđe Ćelić: CEO, Poslovni inkubator Novi Sad - Business incubator Novi Sad doo
- Đorđe Zdravković: Cofounder & CEO, Protokol.io
- Dragana Vujovic Djermanovic: Growth Guide, PCG
- Drago Gverić: CEO, Innovation Center Banja Luka
- Dušan Karan: Enterprise acceleration consultant, Innovation Fund
- Dušan Obradović: Cofounder & CEO, Bold International Group
- Evgeny Podlesny: Director, CEECAT Capital
- Filip Sasic: Managing Director for Southeast Europe, Network 20/20
- Filip Komnenović: Product Manager, LambdaWorks
- Filip Bovan: Board member & Co-Founder, ESEM Business School | Ex J.P. Morgan M&A
- Filip Ivančić: Advisor
- Florin Grosu: Co -founder, Traderion
- Frank Mertens: Founder & CEO, FM Consulting GmbH
- Frank Petry: CEO, EuroTechInnovation
- Gaia Montelatici: Founder, STUDIO X Ventures
- Gajo Vanka: COO, Aim Cube Limited | UK
- George Sidjimkov: General Partner , Sofia Angels Ventures
- Georgi Malchev: Managing Partner, XploraBG
- Georgi Kadrev: Co-Founder & CEO, Imagga & Kelvin Health
- Glen Hellman: Glen Hellman - CRO & Business Development, CXO Elevate and University of Maryland
- Gogo Rafajlovski: COO, SEEUTechPark
- Goran Mladenović: CEO, Nis Cluster of Advanced Technologies (NI CAT)
- Goran Ćulibrk: Community Lead, Serbian Entrepreneurs
- Gregor Rebolj: Managing Partner, Silicon Gardens Fund
- Hristo Hristov: CEO, Darik
- Igor Madzov: Investement Director, NEST
- Igor Arsovski: Founder & CEO, Merakzy
- Ingeborg Gasser Kriss: Board Member, Advisor , Agent21
- Ivan Minić: Co-Founder, Pojačalo
- Ivan Nonković: Partner, Karanovic & Partners Law Firm
- Ivan Radojičić: Lecturer and Marketing manager, Turnkey
- Ivana Pesic Forbes: VP of design, Interactio
- Ivan E. Germanov: Certified Coach, Founder Institute
- Ivaylo Ivanov: Director, Founder Institute Eastern Europe
- Ivo Vasilev: Founder and CEO, Reloyalty
- Jakob Gajšek: GP, RUJ Ventures
- James Zanewicz: Chief Strategy Officer, Tulane University School of Medicine
- Jan Kobler: Managing Partner, South Central Ventures
- Janet Todorova: Head of Expansion, Founder Institute
- Janet Todorova: Head of Expansion, Founder Institute
- Jasmina Knežević: Founder and Supervisory Board Member, Acibadem Bel Medic
- Jasmina Jankičević: Chief Medical Officer, Innovaderm Inc.
- Jasna Pejović: CEO , Flourish
- Jeff Skiba: Consultant, Med Minding
- Jelena Plavanski, Business angels association of Serbia
- Jia Hong Shaw: Founder, Turn Off Turn On Ventures
- Jivko Ivanov: Managing Partner, Simbula Ltd.
- Johannes Benkhoff: Founder, innocellerate
- Jonie Oostveen: CEO , Digital Den
- Joshua Cheng: Founding Team, COO, Behave Technologies
- Jovan Tišma: Co-founder, ALL-ART
- Jovana Radlović: Head of EU Integration Centre, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia
- Juan Antonio De Lassaletta Fernández: General Secretary and Global Head Legal & Compliance , Vifor Fresenius Medical Care Renal Pharma/CSL Vifor
- Kamen Bankovski: Partner, Vitosha Venture Partners
- Karina Sotnik: Founder/CEO, WorldUpstart
- Keo Sar: Mentor, Advisor & Business Angel, August Hill
- Kostas Karolemeas: Founder, CEO, Allcancode
- Kristina Stevanović: Co-Founder, EPICentar
- Kristjan Zemljic: Founder, Odobreno, Kristjan Zemljič s.p.
- Lazar Lekić: Supercluster Manager, Serbia Innovates
- Lazar Grujicic: CEO
- Liang Sun: Founder, Solar Solutions HK Ltd.
- Luka Prišunjak: Ecosystem Facilitator, Swisscontact
- Luka Pejović: Director, BDO Ventures (Ventu.rs)
- Maaike Doyer: Founder, Epic Angels
- Maja Križan: Investment Manager, Business Angels of Slovenia
- Marat Shaidulatov
- Marita Price: Founder & Director, Hello
- Mark Rogers: CEO, Futurist Labs
- Mark Liepinsh: Managing director, Pulsar VC
- Marko Vučetić: PR manager, HelloWorld.rs
- Marko Dzombic: Co-Founder, K-EoP Protocol
- Marko Mijatović: CFO & Investment Principal, Fifth Quarter Ventures
- Marko Rosic: Senior Innovation Consultant, Science Park Graz
- Matej Rus: Head & Co-founder, PODIM
- Matija Srbic: Deep-tech venture builder programme director, Innovation center Nikola Tesla
- Max Gurvits: Managing Partner, Vitosha Venture Partners
- Maya Zlatanova: Co-Founder & CEO, FindMeCure
- Michael Kosic: Founding Partner, Loyal VC
- Mike Lingle: Entrepreneur / Mentor, Rocket Pro Forma
- Mila Milenkovic: Director of Sector for Strategy, Telekom Srbija
- Milan Ranđelović: Managing Director, Science and Technology Park Nis
- Milan Dobrota: CEO, Agremo
- Milen Ivanov: Managing Partner, Sofia Angels Ventures, Co-Founder, CEO Angels Club
- Milena Micanović: Director for Communications and Public affairs, OTP banka Srbija
- Mili Ibrulj: Principal , Fil Rouge Capital
- Miloš Milovanović: Co-founder & COO, Blinking
- Miloš Lazović: Ecosystem Facilitator, Swiss EP - Swisscontact
- Miloš Došen: CEO, Accounting and Tax Advisory Agency ‘Došen’
- Miloš Lukić: CEO & Co-Founder, ReadyCMS
- Miloš Polovina: CEO, TransferNova
- Miodrag Nenadović: Co-Founder, Brush Galaxy
- Miodrag Bukvic: Technology Sales, Business Development & Innovation, Startup Mentor & Strategic Advisor
- Mirjana Perkovic: Founder & CEO, LookStyler
- Miron Lukač: Co-founder, Portal World
- Misa Nikolic: CEO, Resonator – Creative Tech Hub
- Mladen Radišić: CEO, Foodscale Hub
- Mustafa Cakir: Co-founder, PATENT EFFECT
- Natali Delić: Director of the Directorate for Strategy and Digital, Telekom Serbia
- Nataša Rađenović Živanović: Chief Innovation Officer, OTP Connect
- Nataša Filipović: Managing Director, OvationBBDO
- Nathan Pike: Prior, Oxford Oracle
- Nebojša Đurđević: Partner, Vega IT
- Neda Trifunović: Manager, Business Angel Network DSI
- Nedeljko Milosavljević: Co-Director, Founder Institute Serbia
- Nedžad Lomigora: Managing Partner, Falcon Venture Partners LLC
- Nemanja Stefanović: CEO & Co-founder, HireApp
- Nemanja Petrović: Co-Founder, Traken
- Nemanja Zivkovic: Founder , Funky Marketing
- Nenad Paunović: Co-founder, Serbian Venture Network
- Nenad Novović: CEO and Founder, Amplitudo
- Nenad Božić: CEO & Co-founder, SmartCat
- Nenad Mladenović: Product Consultant / Strategic Advisor, Ingsoftware
- Niko Slavnić: Founder, IQbator
- Nikola Balić: Head of Growth, Daytona Platforms Inc.
- Nikola Obradović: Founder & CEO, Bridgewater Labs
- Nikola Mitic: Mr, SuperScale
- Nina Dremelj: President, Business Angels of Slovenia
- Olga Mirković Maksimović: COO, Videobolt
- Olivier Tilleuil: Founder and managing director (former), EyeSee
- Oskar Marko: Co-founder, Cropt
- Pavel Cholakov, Chief Ventures
- Peđa Predin: GP, Fifth Quarter Ventures
- Petar Atanasovski: Managing Partner, Attic42 Venture Builder
- Petar Savić: Partner, Supreme Factory
- Petar Tsachev: Investor, Launchub Ventures
- Péter Mogyorósi: CEO, Creative Accelerator
- Predrag Krupez: CEO, Blue Coast Brewing Company
- Primož Karpe: Partner / Chairman / Investment Committee member, Cedars Ltd / NLB Bank / Aroma Global Ltd / ALFI PE I & II
- Raanan Shenhav: Founder, RS-CPD
- Rada Đurović Vassena: Business Developer Consultant, Freelance
- Rade Rakočević: CEO & Founder, Senzal capital doo
- Radoslav Stankov: Head of engineering, Product Hunt
- Rishi Chowdhury: Founder & CEO, Incube Space
- Rok Zorko: Co-Founder, Outfit7
- Salim Virani: Founder, Source Institute
- Sam Eisenberg: Co-Founder, Design For Decks
- Sandra Nesic: Co-founder & Senior Innovation Consultant , Zavisi Consulting
- Sanja Brdar: co-founder, Cropt
- Saša Popović: Co-Founder and CEO, Vega IT
- Sascha Österle Nincic: Business Development, FT AG
- Stavros Pavlidis: Head Direct and Strategic Investments, Deep Capital Group
- Stefan Vladimirov: Creative Director, monolig.
- Stefan Mrvaljević: Founder and CEO, ACHIVR Educational Technologies
- Stephen O’Rourke: Founder & Principal Consultant, RegulatoryStory – Regulatory Affairs Consultancy
- Tadej Kurepa: Programme Manager of the Venture an Idea Project, Digital Sebia Initiative
- Tamara Čolić Milosavljević: Co-Director, Founder Institute Serbia
- Tatyana Mitkova: Co-Founder and CEO, ClaimCompass
- Teodor Panayotov: CEO, CourseDot
- Thibaut Taittinger: Founder & CEO, Puzl CowOrKing
- Tilen Šarlah: Managing Partner, Feelsgood Capital
- Todor Breshkov: Managing Partner, LAUNCHub Ventures
- Tom Vodopivec: Principal, Silicon Gardens
- Tomasz Golinski: Founding Partner, CofounderZone
- Vassil Popovski: CEO & Co-founder, Connecto.ai (Acquired by Leanplum)
- Vedran Rasic: CEO/Founder, LeadDelta
- Vedran Šimunović: Director, INTERA Technology Park
- Victor Schiller: President, R Cubed Group
- Viktor Minchev: VC Investor, Eleven Ventures
- Viktorija Petrov: PhD, Faculty of Economics, University of Novi Sad
- Vladan Todorović: CEO & Founder, Advanced Security Technologies ltd
- Vladimer Botsvadze: Advisory Board Member , The United States Artificial Intelligence Institute
- Vladimir Nedović: Owner, Synemedia
- Vladimir Bozovic: CEO, ZenHire
- Vladimir Pavlović: General Partner, Omorika Ventures
- Vladimir Vojvodić: Director of operations, Fuller Vision
- Vladimir Pletyukhin: Founder and Creative Director, Launch Deck
- Vladimir Vlahović: Founder & Managing Director, SOLVENTRY GmbH
- Vladislav Pavlov: Founder, Furtherance Network
- Vojin Šenk: Professor, University of Novi Sad
- Volen Vulkov: Co-Founder, Enhancv
- Voon Yee Ho: CEO, Techbridge Ventures Pte Ltd
- Vuk Lau: Partner, Silicon Gardens Fund
- Željko Ilić: Co-founder & General manager, InCentar
- Zoja Kukic Dordevic: VP Digital Transformation, Signet World
- Zoran Vasiljev: CEO, Centili
- And many more to be announced.
Founder Institute`s unique training and startup launching program will greatly improve Serbia`s startup scene through its emphasis on a structured process, and strong collaboration" - Tatjana Kalezic, Co-Director of the Belgrade Founder Institute
Help bring the Founder Institute to Belgrade and fill out an Interest Form today.
About The Founder Institute
The Founder Institute (www.FI.co) is the world's largest entrepreneur training and startup launch program, helping aspiring founders across the globe build enduring technology companies. In the Founder Institute's four-month, part-time program, promising startup entrepreneurs "learn by doing" and launch a company through structured training courses, practical business-building assignments, and expert feedback from a large network of business mentors. Plus, aspiring founders are not required to quit their day job to participate, so they can begin building a business around their ideas without putting their livelihood at risk.
Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 200 cities and 100 countries, the Founder Institute has helped launch over 7,500 companies, which have created over 30,000 new jobs. The company's mission is to "Globalize Silicon Valley" and create sustainable startup ecosystems that will create one million new jobs worldwide.
The Founder Institute was founded in 2009 by serial entrepreneur Adeo Ressi.
(Panorama of Belgrade with river sava on a sunny day image by Shutterstock)
