Today, the Founder Institute, the world's premier idea-stage accelerator and startup launch program, is excited to announce that we are now accepting applications for the Cyprus 2026 Semester!
If you are serious about launching a startup in Nicosia and could use expert training and feedback, then apply to the Nicosia Founder Institute today, or attend a free event.
Those who apply by the Early Admissions Deadline (Mar 01, 2026) will have their application fees waived (typically $50), and if you enroll by the Early Deadline you are also eligible for Founder Institute Fellowships.
Since launching in Nicosia in 2016, the Founder Institute has helped launch several promising companies in the region, and our efforts in Nicosia have also been profiled by several high profile media channels.
To celebrate the launch, the Nicosia Founder Institute will several free startup events for the general public, where you can meet top entrepreneurs and learn more about the program:
- The AI-Native Founder Revolution: Build Your Company Faster Than Ever : 7:00pm, Jul 08, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/401679
- Venture Trailblazers featuring Tim Draper: 6:00pm, Jul 09, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/402097
- Go From Idea to Working App with AI, Featuring Adeo Ressi: 8:00pm, Jul 09, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/402216
- How to Build Without a Team Using AI with Jonathan Greechan: 7:00pm, Jul 14, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/401896
- Stop Overthinking and Build a Great Startup Idea: 7:00pm, Jul 20, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/390593
- [Restricted] VIP Pitch Lounge: Pitch Live and Get Feedback from Investors & Advisors: 7:00pm, Jul 28, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/401218
- Learn from AI-Native Solo Alumni: How FI Grads Built Without a Co-Founder: 7:00pm, Aug 04, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/391145
- From Idea to Action: The Startup Mindset : 3:30pm, Aug 10, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/393331
- Stop Guessing, Start Raising: An Investor Q&A : 3:30am, Aug 11, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/392857
- Build a Startup Idea Investors Won’t Ignore: 3:00am, Aug 19, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/391302
- FounderX Silicon Valley 2026: Global Conference in San Francisco: 3:00am, Aug 26, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/399808
- What Makes Investors Say Yes: Startup Funding AMA: 7:00pm, Sep 01, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/392948
- How to Build a Strong Pipeline of Entrepreneurs for your Innovation Hub: 7:00pm, Sep 15, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/398361
- Break the Idea Loop and Decide What to Build: 3:00am, Sep 22, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/391582
- From Idea to Traction: Lessons From Global FI Alumni: 3:30am, Oct 06, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/390869
- From Dreamer to Doer: Build the Founder Mindset: 7:00pm, Oct 13, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/393461
- From Founder to Funded: Interactive Q&A with Top Startup Investor: 7:00pm, Nov 03, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/393108
- From “Maybe” to Momentum: Building a Great Startup Idea: 3:00am, Nov 18, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/391455
- From First Idea to First Funding: Global Alumni Stories: 7:00pm, Dec 01, 2026 (Europe/Athens): https://FI.co/e/391031
Leaders of the world’s fastest-growing startups have used the Founder Institute to transition from employee to entrepreneur, test their startup ideas, build a team, get their first customers, raise funding, and more - like Udemy, Realty Mogul, iCarsClub, Itembase, goplaceit, and Appota. Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 200 cities and 100 countries, the Founder Institute's mission is to "Globalize Silicon Valley" and create sustainable startup ecosystems that will create one million new jobs worldwide.
Running the Founder Institute's efforts in Nicosia include local startup leaders Argyris Argyrou (Founder, AtYourService.com.cy), Peter Lazou (Business Mentor, Startup Live Academy), and Stavriana Kofteros (Lead Organizer, Startup Academy).
In addition, some of Nicosia's top entrepreneurs will mentor founders in the program, providing them with expert training, feedback, and evaluation. The list of mentors for the Cyprus 2026 includes:
- Alexis Piperides: CEO, Proto.io
- Ali Akber: Founding Engineer | AI Consultant | Fractional CTO
- Alina Andreieva: DesignThinkers Academy business partner, Ascent Group Managing Partner, DesignThinkers Academy
- Anastasios Avranas: Managing Partner, Interfima
- Andreas Mathikolonis: Head of Crypto Business Development (Strategy) , BLK Group
- Andreas Livadiotis
- Andrei Yarantsau, DeepTech CY
- Andrey Kostyuk: Co-Founder, AAlchemy Ventures Limited
- Antoinia Norman
- Anton Vasiliev: General Partner, Freesearch Ventures
- Arseniy Dabbakh, Innotechnics
- Artak Sahakyan
- Ben Stacey: CEO, Pitchverk
- Beny Rubinstein, Eng, M.B.A., PhD Candidate: Founder & CEO, BZR Insights
- Brigitte Baumann
- Briken Bufi: CEO & Co-founder, Sainni AI
- Carmine Masiello: Entrepreneur, Mentor, CTO, KCYMA Studios Ltd
- Christiana Aristidou: International Business Lawyer, DEMOCRITOS ARISTIDOU & CO LAW FIRM
- Christina Michaelidou: Certified life and Business coach | Trainer | Author | Mentor | ICF CY Board director, DESIGN YOUR WINS
- Christina Orfanidou: Head of Group AI , Columbia Group
- Christos Christodoulou, Double Eye
- Constantine Demetriou: Mr, Neom Investment Fund
- Cyril Golub: Board Member, LatBAN
- Daniel Shterk: Founder & Chief Opportunity Curator, FundraisingDispatch.com
- Dionysis Partsinevelos: Venture Capital, 33East | G4 Ventures
- Edmund Frey
- Elena Michael: Founder, Evolving Minds & YoungstarsCyprus
- Frixos Larkos
- Gala Grigoreva: CMO/Go-to-Market and Growth Marketing Strategist , Adsterra
- Gary Stewart: Founder, MyCofoundr
- George Georgiou: CEO, Novatex Solutions
- George Economides: Vice-Chair at Totalserve Group | Partner at E & G Economides LLC, Totalserve Group
- Georgios Diamantopoulos: Founder, Zero to MVP
- Gillian Muessig: Ms, Mastersfund
- Ivan Yong: Organisational Pyschologist & Sales Coach, Nanyang Angelz Limited
- Janet Todorova: Head of Expansion, Founder Institute
- Julia Amatuni: Head of Strategy and Research, Asteriada
- Kanstantsin Netyliou: Co-Founder, Founders.cy
- Kat Gabrielle
- Katya Solov: Founder, Miranna
- Konstantinos Kareklas: Strategy and Operations, -
- Lida Liberopoulou: Independent Researcher & Founder, Threadbaire
- Maksim Leukhin: Head of Investor Relations , AAlchemy Ventures
- Maria Pallidou: Co-Founder and CFO , PhosPrint SA
- Maria Stylianou: Tech Leadership Consultant, Independent
- Marianna Prokopi Demetriades: Biotech Innovator, RSL Revolutionary Labs
- Marianna Hadjiandoniou, PERHA Group
- Mariano Kostelec: Founder & CEO, Inflection Systems
- Mario Paladini: Co-Founder & CEO, Club GLOBALS
- Marios Isaakidis: Director, infotropic.tech
- Melinda Bojte: Founder, Mels Digital, Aphrodite Events
- Michalis Antoniou: Mr, mmm
- Michalis Papadopoulos: Founder and CEO, Velicor Consulting
- Moysis Moyseos: Incubator Manager , Gravity Ventures
- Nicolas Rouhana
- Nikita Volchek: Founder & GP, Volchek Capital Partners
- Nikita Yuriev: Partner, ULTRA.VC
- Nikolas Mastroyiannopoulos
- Oksana Malysheva: Managing Partner, Sputnik ATX VC
- Oleg Tumanov
- Orlando Castellanos: CINO, NETinfo
- Ourania (Rania) Vrondou: Director , Hadjianastassiou, Ioannides LLC
- Pavlos Kleanthous: Founder & CEO, Parsectix
- Pavlos Loizou: CEO , Ask Wire
- Ricardo Marvão
- Richard Cristina: Principle Director & Founder , Bloom for Start Ups / Innovate U / Founder Institute.
- Richard Mort, Japan-Europe Facilitator
- Sandra Da Silva: Sandra Da Silva , The Inner Architect
- Sergei B Bogdanov
- Sergey Negodyaev: CEO, Aenix
- Sergey Osipov: Co-founder, Placy AI
- Sotiris Makrygiannis: Founder , AIA Lab
- Stavriana Kofteros: Special Entrepreneurship & Development Advisor Democratic Rally
- Styliani Petroudi: Director of Innovation, CYENS Centre of Excellence, CYENS
- Viktoria Kanar: Co-Founder, Re-Fresh Global
- Volodymyr Zhukov: Venture Partner, Network VC
- Yiannis Menelaou: Director, Xtellus Europe Ltd
- And many more to be announced.
The Founder Institute is the most challenging and effective step-by-step startup launch program for talented and motivated aspiring entrepreneurs. If you are serious about launching a startup, the Founder Institute can give you the structured process, constant feedback and evaluation from expert mentors, and global network of entrepreneurs you need to start an enduring company. In addition, the Founder Institute is the only program of its kind that focuses on people versus ideas, accepts founders with day jobs, and shares equity with all participants.
We hope you will join us in Nicosia and launch a company in 2016.
