It is time to build the future. Applications Now Open to Founder Institute Italy Summer 2020

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 Rome - Italy Fall 2026 program.

If you could use a structured process and a lifetime of support from Rome's top investors and entrepreneurs to build something meaningful, then apply to the Rome - Italy Fall 2026 Founder Institute today.

We will be hosting several free startup online events in Rome over the coming weeks, where you can learn from top entrepreneurs from the comfort of your home:

How to Get Your First 10 Customers Without a Marketing Team or Budget: 6:30pm, Jun 22, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/400758
Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
Economic Development: How to Build Entrepreneurial Communities: 5:00pm, Jun 23, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/400915
[Restricted] VIP Pitch Lounge: Pitch Live and Get Feedback from Investors & Advisors: 6:00pm, Jun 30, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/401111
Meet FI Alumni Founders: High-Growth Startups Panel : 6:00pm, Jul 07, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/398709
Stop Overthinking and Build a Great Startup Idea: 6:00pm, Jul 20, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/398676
From Idea to Action: The Startup Mindset : 2:30pm, Aug 10, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/398706
FounderX Silicon Valley 2026: Global Conference in San Francisco: 2:00am, Aug 26, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/399852
What Makes Investors Say Yes: Startup Funding AMA: 6:00pm, Sep 01, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/398795
How to Build a Strong Pipeline of Entrepreneurs for your Innovation Hub: 6:00pm, Sep 15, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/398251
From Dreamer to Doer: Build the Founder Mindset: 6:00pm, Oct 13, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/399056

See all upcoming events

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 Rome program is led by some of the region's top startup leaders, including Alberto Martellini (Founder Institute Innovation Partner, Vision to Life), Amadeus Samson, Ariona Krasniqi ( Local Leader – Mentor Network, Founder Institute), Azra Gurbuz (Local Leader - Marketing & Community Lead, FI), Giovanni Salvi (Data Scientist, Serenis).

In addition, some of Rome'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 Rome Founder Institute includes:

Alberto Martellini: Ecosystem leader | Entrepreneur | Mentor, Founder Institute Innovation Partner
Alberto Lombardi, Energy Expert | Sustainability Passionate | Angel Investor | Start up Advisor
Alberto Giusti: Co-founder & General Partner, P3Ventures
Alberto Clavarino: President, Fondazione Genova Startup
Alessandro Gaini: Founder, Buongiorno San Paolo
Alessandro Zanchetton, Ciao Elsa
Alessandro Cillario: Co-Founder, Cubbit
Alexandra Fattal: Venture Partner, Loyal VC
Andrea Ramoino: Transformational Leader, Fintech, Payments, Digital Assets, SaaS
Andrea Arienti: CEO & Founder, 3dnextech
Angelica Velati: Co-founder and Social Impact Manager, BEBY.best - Better Environment Better You
Anna Gaile: Co-Founder , Edudoro.eu & zlotynauczyciel.pl
Antonello Schiavo: EMEA Delivery Manager, Google
Antonia Verna: Partner, PORTOLANO CAVALLO
Aras Bilgen: UX Consultant / Trainer, Aras Bilgen
Ben Stacey: CEO, Pitchverk
Bruno Reggiani: Coo - co-founder, Tot.
Camilla Barlocco: Founder, UBI Consulting
Camilla Bellotti: Leadership Consultant
Chris Foltz: Global Entrepreneur-In-Residence, Founder Institute
Corrado Blandini: Lawyer & Business Coach, Uno Quattro
Duygu Sefa: Co-Founder, Babonbo
Edoardo Volta: SVP Partnerships & Business Development, Curve
Emanuele Torlonia: Managing Director, Italian Angels for Growth
Enrico Frascati: Freelancer, Digitalvibe
Fabio Costa: Founder, SecurityCert
Fabrizio Spaolonzi: Co-founder, Buongiorno San Paolo
Filippo Satolli: CEO | Board Member | Entrepreneur | Advisor & Investor, Cii2
Francesco Gia: Accelerator Associate, IMPACT HUB MILANO
Giacomo Poggiali: Product Advisor, 500 Global
Giancarlo Vergine: Founder & Managing Partner, Over Ventures
Giorgio Seveso: Co-Founder, Tundr
Irene Verheijen, FI Amsterdam
Ivelin Ivanov: Venture Advisor, Founder Institute
Iwona Kerr, Energy Mix Ventures
Jeffrey Paine: Founding Partner, Golden Gate Ventures, Singapore
Julián Jordan: CEO, Grupo DISS
Lorenzo Di Cataldo: Head of Partnerships, Emotion Network
Lorenzo Giampaolo Arrigoni: Associate, PORTOLANO CAVALLO
Luigi Cito: Relationship Director, WEX Inc.
Mahir Iskender: Founder, KNDR Digital
Marco De Biasi: Startups Investor & Advisor /Program Director/Conselheiro Fiscal, LGA/Italcam/Mobicity
Marco Cello: Founder, Meshify
Marco Boscariol: Associate, Portolano Cavallo
Marta Marrucco: Owner, Smart Founder
Massimiliano Squillace: Founder, Contents.com
Massimo Schiavi, FI Milan
Massimo Romani: dr. Massimo Romani, CFO and financial background - EMBA
Mauro Baldoni: Founder, Beat2Impact
May Mor: Organizational Consultant and Coach, Scale with May
Michele Mattei: Investor, Fintech expert, Manager, Qwist
Mimi Yagoub: Thought Leadership & PR , Publicize
Mohammed Kashif: Senior Quality Assurance Automation Engineer, Department of Motor Vehicles
Natalia Iudina: Co-founder & COO, Zlotynauczyciel.pl, Edudoro.eu
Pier Paolo Mucelli: Entrepreneur, TechItalia Lab
Pietro Braguglia: Co-Founder, Beaversity Consulting
Rajel Khambhaita: Financial and Investment Advisor, Funder Advisor
Russ Lewis: Digital transformation & Investor, Agile transformation services and solutions
Sadegh Sarvi: Project Manager, INTRASENSORS BV
Serdar Yucel: Director Sales, Marketing and Strategy, TUBITAK
Serephina Ha: Managing Director, Founder Institute - Los Angeles and Boston
Sergio Rossi: CEO, Fondazione Genova Startup
Shubhit Khaneja: Principal Product Manager, Zalando
Simone Dozza: CRO, Kiratech
Stefano Toro, Prolaw
Sush Bapna: General Partner, 10Ten Ventures
Varun Jain: Founder, 99foundr
Victor Schiller: President, R Cubed Group
Vincenzo Cioffi: Startup Advisor, Business Angel, Investor, Growth Engine
Vladimir Pletyukhin: Founder and Creative Director, Launch Deck

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).