Now, more than ever, the world needs entrepreneurs to build the future.
At the Founder Institute, we know times are tough, but we also know that economic downturns are a great time to start a business. This isn't just conjecture - the Founder Institute was started in April of 2009 (during the "Great Recession"), and world-leading companies like Microsoft, Tesla, and Apple also took advantage of cost savings during a recession to launch and get their initial traction.
That's why we are excited to announce today that applications are now open for the Barcelona - Spain Fall 2026 program.
If you could use a structured process and a lifetime of support from Barcelona's top investors and entrepreneurs to build something meaningful, then apply to the Barcelona - Spain Fall 2026 Founder Institute today.
We will be hosting several free startup online events in Barcelona over the coming weeks, where you can learn from top entrepreneurs from the comfort of your home:
- [Restricted] VIP Pitch Lounge: Get Unfiltered Feedback from Global Investors & Advisors: 6:00pm, may 26, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/395362
- Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
- How to Start a Unicorn as a Solo Founder, with Adeo Ressi: 8:00pm, may 26, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/399093
- Vibecoding 101 for Startups: Build Your First App w/ Mark Montalban: 6:30pm, jun 01, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/398036
- Inside the Founder Institute: Real Stories From Alumni: 6:00pm, jun 02, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/390394
- How to Launch an AI-Powered Company With a Day Job Featuring Adeo Ressi: 8:00pm, jun 08, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/399213
- Startup Advisors 101: How to Find Advisors and Maximize their Impact (POSTPONED): 2:30am, jun 09, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/388483
- What It Takes to Get Funded: Live Investor Q&A w/ Maayan Teper: 6:00pm, jun 09, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/396133
- Turn Startup Hesitation Into Action: A Founder Mindset Framework: 2:00am, jun 16, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/393120
- Stop Guessing, Start Raising: An Investor Q&A : 2:00am, jul 07, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/392853
- Meet FI Alumni Founders: High-Growth Startups Panel : 6:00pm, jul 07, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/391084
- Stop Overthinking and Build a Great Startup Idea: 6:00pm, jul 20, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/390532
- From Idea to Action: The Startup Mindset : 2:30pm, ago 10, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/393243
- Build a Startup Idea Investors Won’t Ignore: 2:00am, ago 19, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/391296
- FounderX Silicon Valley 2026: Global Conference in San Francisco: 2:00am, ago 26, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/399794
- What Makes Investors Say Yes: Startup Funding AMA: 6:00pm, sep 01, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/392860
- How to Build a Strong Pipeline of Entrepreneurs for your Innovation Hub: 6:00pm, sep 15, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/398268
- Break the Idea Loop and Decide What to Build: 2:00am, sep 22, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/391576
- From Idea to Traction: Lessons From Global FI Alumni: 2:30am, oct 06, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/390808
- From Dreamer to Doer: Build the Founder Mindset: 6:00pm, oct 13, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/393373
- From Founder to Funded: Interactive Q&A with Top Startup Investor: 6:00pm, nov 03, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/392998
- From “Maybe” to Momentum: Building a Great Startup Idea: 2:00am, nov 18, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/391449
- From First Idea to First Funding: Global Alumni Stories: 6:00pm, dic 01, 2026 (Europe/Madrid): https://FI.co/e/390948
Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 200+ cities worldwide, the Founder Institute provides high-potential entrepreneurs and teams with the devoted support network and structured growth process needed to get to traction and funding. Participants in the 4-month core program also get access to a lifetime of support through the Founder Institute's industry-leading post-programs.
The Barcelona program is led by some of the region's top startup leaders, including Andres Camacho, Barcelona Admin (., StartYou), Daniel Gonzalvez (Investment Manager | Chapter Director, Founder Institute), Federico Fernandez Dupouy (Entrepreneurship, Solar Energy, Finance & Investments, OTEPI & IESA), Raphael Jardim (Barcelona Program Director, Founder Institute).
In addition, some of Barcelona's top investors, entrepreneurs, and CEOs will be participating in the program, providing them with expert feedback and evaluation. The list of startup mentors for the Barcelona Founder Institute includes:
- Alberto Levy: CoFounder, Plentie
- Alberto Espinós: Founder & CEO, Tropicfeel
- Alex Navarro: Co-founder & International Development Director, Groupalia
- Alex Dantart: Co-Founder & CEO, Moonback
- Alex Ferreiro: Business Development Manager, DayOne
- Alfonso Riera: Director, Front Consulting Group
- Alfredo H. Cottin: Pitch Fixer & Brand Shaper, Post Data
- Ana Maiques: CEO, Neuroelectrics
- Andres Varela Da Costa: Disruptive business development, Thebeemine.lab / Servantrip.com / Havas Media / Gameloft / Snapchat
- Andrés Felipe Villegas: Estrategia, Independiente
- Antoine Morin: Co-founder & Creative Director, LeanTeams
- Anton Pinyol: Founding Partner, Firma
- Aquiles Este: CSO, Taga Brand Consultants
- Arvin Abarca: Founder & CEO, GrandVoyage
- Axel Serena: Axel Serena, Alva House
- Axel Serena: CEO, Vittalia
- Bernardo Hernández: CEO & Executive Chairman, Verse Technologies Inc.
- Carlos Esteban: Partner, Faber
- Carlos Jimenez: CIO, AXS FUND
- Carlos Muños: CEO , gestoriamunoz.es
- Carlos Jimenez: Founder & CEO, Usefull Agency
- Carlos Rivadulla Oliva: Manager IP & IT, ECIJA
- Cédric Naintré: Founder, Range-Moi
- Charles Ehredt: Founder & CEO, Currency Alliance
- Christian Rodriguez: Chairman & CEO , Mutter Ventures
- Clara Torrijos: CEO, GoKoan
- Cristina Morenete: Founder & human CEO, HUMAN MADE BRANDS
- Daniel Vecino: Founder, The Hero Plan
- Daniel Puerta Diaz: Founder and expert on Industrialization and Scale-up, Sunflower Labs
- Daniel Gonzálvez: VC Investor, FI
- DANIEL NIETO CORREDERA: Vice President, Mastercard
- David Boronat: Founder and CEO, Multiplica
- David Tomás: Founder and General Manager, Cyberclick
- David Vives Colilles: Chief of Staff, Myneral Labs Europe SL
- Didac Lee: Founder & CEO, Inspirit
- Federico Fernandez Dupouy: Entrepreneurship, Solar Energy, Finance & Investments, OTEPI RENOVABLES
- Ferran Jornet: Executive Director, Derecho.com & elAbogado.com
- Francisco Arechaga: Managing Partner, Nubelo
- Frederic Llordachs I Marques: Co-founder, partner, Doctoralia, Docplanner Group
- Gemma Sorigué: CEO & Co-Founder, Deliberry.com
- Giancarlo Vergine: Founder & Managing Partner, Over Ventures
- Gil Belford: Director, Corporate and Business Development, City Storage Systems
- Guifre Belloso Manera: Técnico Creación de Empresas, Barcelona Activa
- Heiko Rauch: Heiko Rauch - Co-Founder of UFOstart (Berlin FI), UFOstart.com
- Isabel Navarro Fernández De Caleya: Co-Fundadora, Fundación Créate
- J Martin Cabiedes: Partner, Cabiedes & Partners SCR
- Jaume Mayor I Agell: CEO & fundador, WeSmartPark
- Jaume Portell: Co-Founder and CEO, Beabloo
- Joan Marcos: Fundador & CEO, transForma
- Joaquim López: COO, Dozen Investments
- José Bermejo: FOUNDER, SCAPE VELOCITY
- José Vilar: Coordinador red EEN SEIMED, IVACE
- Josefa Marzo Pons: Portfolio Director, Kalonia Venture Partners
- Jose Ramon Campos Castillo: CEO-Founder, Ozeanic Devices S.L.
- Lavina Ramkissoon: AI Ethics and Technology Policy, African Union
- Leticia Domínguez: Partner, Ecija Abogados
- Luis Martín Cabiedes: Partner, Cabiedes & Partners
- Luis Grau: CCO, Qultiva Capital
- Marc Lladó: Founder & CEO, Ad-Pure
- Marc Vallhonesta: Founder & CEO, Funos & Partyo
- Maria Escarti Barcia: Director , Invest in Valencia
- Marta Campillo: Entrepreneurship Manager, ESADE BAN
- Marta Antúnez: Co-founder & Co-CEO, ChicPlace
- Michael Clark: Michael Clark - Product and Engineering, Stealth
- Miguel A. Tovar: Limited partner, Smartech Capital
- Mohammed Kashif: Senior Quality Assurance Automation Engineer, Department of Motor Vehicles
- Nacho Giral: Owner and Travel General Manager, Atrapalo.com
- Nektar Baziotis: Founder, ICARUS
- Nico Bour: Founder & CEO, Verticomm Network (Uvinum, Sportivic, Babibum & Mascotic)
- Onur Kutlu Gago: Serial Entrepreneur & Growth Advisor, Coimex
- Oriol Vila Grifoll: Founder & CEO, HOLALUZ.com
- Oriol Huesa Ripoll: CMO, TicketBureau
- Oriol Bes: Innovation Partner, transForma Partnering
- Oriol Vinzia: CEO, Peimi.co
- Oscar Sánchez: Founder & CEO, Tech Sales Group
- Oscar Macia: Founder & CEO, Forcemanager
- Pablo Lombeida: CEO-Founder, Brandon Logan
- Paula Arias López: Cofounder / People Strategy Mentor, Fresh People
- Rafael García Escarré: CEO & Co Founder, 101 Ventures
- Ricard Bonastre: Co-Founder & CEO, Lead Ratings
- Ricardo Fernández Flores: Managing Director, Destinia
- Ritika Mittal: Founder, Numakasé
- Rosario B Casas: Co Founder, XR Americas, LLC / Business Creative Partners SAS
- Ruben Lozano: Growth Marketing Manager, Lyssna
- Rui Falcão: Founder and Gatekeeper, REDangels and COREangels Network
- Taryn Andersen: President & Co-Founder , Impulse4Women
- Timo Buetefisch: Founder & CEO, Cooltra
- Urs Rothmayr: Founder & Managing Partner, Firstech Capital
- Veronica Borrowdale: Partner, A23 Advisors
- Víctor Gómez: CEO, 4Geeks Academy Europe
- And many more to be announced.
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).
Join us in Barcelona and help build the future.
Apply to the Barcelona - Spain Fall 2026 Founder Institute today, or learn more at FI.co/overview.
---
