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 Belo Horizonte - Brasil 2026 Semester!
If you want to build a startup in Belo Horizonte and could use expert training and feedback, then apply to the Belo Horizonte Founder Institute today, or attend a free event.
Those who apply by the Early Admissions Deadline (dez 07, 2025) 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 Belo Horizonte in 2016, the Founder Institute has helped launch several promising companies in the region, and our efforts in Belo Horizonte have also been profiled by several high profile media channels.
To celebrate the launch, the Belo Horizonte Founder Institute will several free startup events for the general public, where you can meet top entrepreneurs and learn more about the program:
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 2:00pm, out 27, 2025 (America/Sao_Paulo): https://FI.co/e/381069
- Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 10:00pm, nov 10, 2025 (America/Sao_Paulo): https://FI.co/e/381091
- How to Unlock Your Region’s Entrepreneurial Potential for Economic Growth: 2:00pm, nov 12, 2025 (America/Sao_Paulo): https://FI.co/e/381113
- Ask an Investor Anything: Q&A with Kirby Winfield: 3:00pm, nov 17, 2025 (America/Sao_Paulo): https://FI.co/e/381134
- Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 3:00pm, nov 24, 2025 (America/Sao_Paulo): https://FI.co/e/381155
- Build Your 2026 Startup Operations Plan: 3:00pm, dez 01, 2025 (America/Sao_Paulo): https://FI.co/e/381651
- Hiring for Startups: How to Build Your Team Early: 3:00pm, dez 08, 2025 (America/Sao_Paulo): https://FI.co/e/380765
- Founder Showcase: Startup Pitch & Networking Event, with Jenny Fielding: 2:00pm, dez 10, 2025 (America/Sao_Paulo): https://FI.co/e/380894
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 3:00pm, jan 26, 2026 (America/Sao_Paulo): https://FI.co/e/382005
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 Belo Horizonte are local startup leaders Janayna Bhering Cardoso (CEO, SafeTest Diagnósticos) and Pedro Villaça de Almeida (Co-founder & Manager, Pillow Aceleradora), supported by Managing Director of the Founder Institute in Brazil, Nima Kazerooni (Co Founder, Jupter).
In addition, some of Belo Horizonte's top entrepreneurs will mentor founders in the program, providing them with expert training, feedback, and evaluation. The list of mentors for the Belo Horizonte - Brasil 2026 includes:
- Abdellah Aouf: Chief Executive Officer, GO PLATFORM
- Admar Neto: Founder and Cofounder, Northern and Paraty Brazil by UTMB
- Alberto Ferreira: Co Founder, Cervejaria Baden Baden
- Alexandre Dinkelmann: CO-FOUNDER, ONYO
- Alexandre Bezerra: CEO & Founder, Amachains
- Alexandre Uehara: Palestrante e Conselheiro de Inovação Corporativa | Top 3 e Top10 mentor do Ano Startup Awards 2022/23/24 | Analista Shark Tank Brasil, Innov8
- Aline Catiusce: COO, Softsul Sistemas
- Amanda Martins: Founder, ciclou
- Ana Pires: Head of International Partnerships, Softex
- Ana Julia Ferreira: Project Management Officer (PMO), Radix Investimentos
- Andre Almeida: Founder, Business Portugal
- Andre Lin: Expert em Projetos de Inovação Aberta, FENASBAC
- Andre Torbitoni: Founder | estratégia e escalabilidade tecnológica, Uníssona
- ANDRE TCHERNOBILSKY: Board member, Founder, CEO, Innovation and Impact Projects
- André Costenaro: Director of Business Development and Innovation, OCP
- Andrea Monti: Managing Director Impact and Sustainability, Founder Institute
- Andrea Cerqueira: Sales, Marketing and Customer Success Director, Motivart
- Andreea Marinescu: CEO, Tech Add-Venture
- Andries Oudshoorn: angel investor, advisor and board member, Amachains
- Angela Lupi: Co-Founder, Nebula Prima
- Anna Carolina Cobianchi: Community Associate, WEWORK
- Arturo Flores Marquéz: Angel Investor & CFO , Traxión
- Bruna Losada: Vice-Diretora-Geral | Deputy Dean & COO, Saint Paul Escola de Negócios
- Bruno Dequech Ceschin: Co-founder & CFO, JUPTER & Director, Founder Institute Brazil
- Bruno Okamoto: Founder, EUNERD
- Carlos Nogueira: Head of Sales, Donnelley Financial Solutions (DFIN)
- CAROLINE FARIA: Sustainability Specialist, Schneider Electric
- Cesar Thomé: CFO, Levitar
- Cintia Mano: CEO, COREANGELS
- Claudio Gianturco Gulisano: Managing Partner, Lean Business Research (www.leanbr.org)
- Claudio Las Casas Alelaf: CEO, Argenprom Brasil
- Claudio Santiago: Partner, EscapeTime Brasil
- Clovis Castelo Junior: Head of Research /Member of the Board /Lecturer, FATEC USA / ClienteSA
- Daniel Vasserman: Head of Corporate Innovation & Partnerships, 100 Open Startups
- Daniela Coimbra Swiatek: Especialista em Inovação, Nowy Swiat Pesquisa e Assessoria
- Daniela Simão: Audit Committee Member, BANCO NACIONAL DE ANGOLA
- Daniela Albini Pinheiro: Analista de inovação, CPQD
- Denise Pereira: CEO, Denise Curi, Phd
- Diego Perez: Legal, Compliance & Co-Founder, StartMeUp Crowdfunding
- Diego Simon: Founder & CEO, B2B Master
- Don Samoil: Managing Partner, Trusted Scale
- Eder Campos: Mentor e Investidor Anjo | CX | Modelo de negócios | Cultura, FDC - Fundação Dom Cabral
- Edson Ferro: Diretor de Operações Empresariais, SIMPOSS Assessoria Empresarial.
- Eduardo Martucci: Product Owner, Exactaworks · Full-time
- Eduardo Mendes: Senior Sales Executive - Financial Services , SAS
- Eduardo Micheletto: Diretor, Micheletto Comunicação
- Eduardo Nunes: CEO, ATRIA Corp
- Elcio Morelli: Founder, Health Angels Br
- Ely Dirani: Associate Professor, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo
- Emily Coelho: Head da Jornada do Empreendedor , SMU Investimentos
- Eniceli Rodrigues Moraes: Director, CPQD
- Erica Fridman Stul: Managing Partner, Sororité
- Fabiana Alves: Marketing & Communications Manager, Comgás
- Fabiano Porto: Executive Director, Global Regeneration Institute
- Fabio Frazão: Founder and Director, Mexeri.ca
- Fabio Nogueira: Founder & CEO, Aurora Venture Builder
- Fábio Póvoa: Managing Director, Smart Money Ventures
- Fabiola Benvenuti: Human Resources Advisor, Dentsu
- Fabricio Lira Figueiredo: Head of Ventures, CPQD
- Felipe Brasileiro: co-founder & CEO, Parafuzo
- Felipe Dos Santos: Co-Founder, Play2sell
- Felipe Wasserman: PARTNER , BABUXCA
- Felipe Giannetti: Managing Partner, StartSe
- Felipe Maruyama: Diretor de Operações, programas e projetos, Centro de Inovação, Empreendedorismo e Tecnologia (CIETEC)
- Fernanda Stasczak: CEO, Adviseo Consultoria Empresarial
- Flavio Galvão: CEO & Founder, ECP Ambiental / StayEasy / Canal Poluição
- Francesco Weiss: Co-Founder & CEO, eRa - Retail Analytics
- Franco Torres: Associate, Brunel Partners
- Frank Rolim: Frank Rolim, Founder conecte.ai
- Franklin Kamnang Ngansop: Co-Founder, Vitamin C&S Coaching
- Gabriela Accorsi: CPO e Co- Founder , La Decora
- Gianfranco Vento: CEO , Cassa di Risparmio di San Marino
- Giovanna Claro: Founder & General manager, eHeadset
- Graziella Comini: Associate Professor, School of Economics, Business and Accounting at the University of São Paulo
- Guilherme Yata: Founder-CEO, S3 Projects
- Guilherme Terrengui: Founder, Sumsub
- Guilherme Skaf Amorim: Head of Partnerships Head of Partnerships , Wayra Brasil
- Guillermo Guzmán: GP, Guzman Ventures
- Henrique Macedo: Socio/Partner, GAAP Consultoria & Corpservices Group
- Henry Suzuky: CEO & Founder, Axonal Consultoria Tecnológica
- Humberto Matsuda: Managing Partner, Matsuda Invest
- Icaro Molinari: CEO & Founder, CoProdux
- In Hsieh: Empreendedor especialista em Ecommerce
- Javier Caruso: Founder & CEO , Webstart
- Jeferson Procopio: CEO & Founder, Quick Digital
- João Cerqueira: Co-Founder and CEO, 4H Knowledge Management
- João Gabriel Chebante: Consultor, Sucellos
- Jorge Azevedo: Angel Investor and Author, Como nasce uma startup
- Juliana Gavini: Especialista de desenvolvimento industrial, SENAI - Serviço Nacional de Aprendizagem Industrial
- Junior Borneli: CEO e Fundador da StartSe, StartSe
- Lais Fonseca Alves: Founder & CEO , Precavida
- Lara Bandeira: Sr. Portfolio Associate, Founder Institute
- Laura Gurgel: Founder, Clube de Negócios
- Laurent Serafini: CEO
- Leandro Hernández: Founder, Cuida.Life
- Leo Gmeiner: Program Director, Founder Institute Brasil
- Leonardo Gaitan: CEO & co-founder, Autoparti
- Leonardo Addeo Ramos: Vice-Director Clinico, Hospital Nipo-Brasileiro
- Lucas Galvanini: Co-Founder & Sales Director, KnowCode
- LUIZ EDUARDO LEAO: Gerente de Tecnologias Educacionais, SENAI - Serviço Nacional de Aprendizagem Industrial
- Marcelo Vivacqua: Founder and CEO, Associação Brasil Internacional de Inventores, Cientistas e Empreendedores Inovadores - ABIPIR
- Marcelo Bella: C-Level, Mentor e Investidor Anjo, Picpay
- Marcelo Vasconcelos: Managing Partner, Black Lion Brasil
- Marcio Motter: Finance Executive “as a service” | Advisor | Mentor, N/A
- Marcio Mendes: CEO & Founder, Marketing Sustentável
- Marco De Biasi: Startups Investor & Advisor /Program Director, FI/LGA /LAAS
- Marcos Olmos: Head of VC, VOX Capital
- Marcos Cacalis: Head of Innovation and Optimization, Kashimir Consultoria e Gestão Empresarial
- Mariana Hagel: Owner, Hagel Consulting
- Mariana Velásquez: Founder - CEO, BRANDDU
- Mariana Guarini: Membro do Conselho de Administração , MAM - Museu de Arte Moderna de São Paulo
- Mariana Camargo: CEO, Uníssona
- Mariana Stamato: Co-Founder & Co-entrepreneur, Devir Social / Trê Investindo com Causa
- Matheus Breguêz: Diretor de Inovação e Tecnologia, Fundação Beta
- Matteo Santini: Startups Private Investor, Private Investor
- Maurizio Calcopietro: Managing Partner, Core Angels Atlantic
- Mayra Motta: Sócia, Mayra Motta Advocacia
- Michelle Soares Borelli: Lider de Comunidade, ESPM Escola Superior de Propaganda e Marketing
- Monica Lobenschuss: CEO, Vendas Exponenciais
- Monique Schwinden: Sócia e Diretora Comercial, Escape Time Brasil
- Morganna Tito: Assessora, Secretaria de Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação do Estado de São Paulo
- Nara Iachan: CMO, Cuponeria
- Nelson Moreira Da Silva Junior: CEO, Supereficiente
- Neusa Andrade: CEO & Founder, Indiip- Intelligent Drug Information and knowledge Integration Platform LLC
- Nima Kaz: Co Founder, JUPTER & Director, Founder Institute Brazil
- Odete Afonso Duarte: Corporate Communication Branding , ESG Executive, Consultant
- Otávio César Cafundo De Moraes: CEO , Brasil Diverso
- Paloma Lecheta: Regional Director - LatAm, Founder Institute
- Pâmela Ponce: CEO, IAPRENDI & ELA S/A
- Patricia Lacerda: CEO & Founder, FOL Solutions
- Paula Machado: CEO & Founder, Meister Safe System, Look2You
- Paulo Faria: CEO & Founder, OTSE
- Paulo Carneiro: Manager, Craton-Roche
- Pedro Napoleão Jr.: CEO & Founder, ByStartup
- Peixoto Accyoli: Chief Executive Officer, RE/MAX Brasil
- Rafael Sampaio: CEO Brasil, NovaRed
- Rafael Campos: VC Portfolio Manager, VOX Capital
- Rafael Honorato: Founder, Lidero
- Rafael Angelo Nanis: Coordenador Growth Marketing, Atmosfera Ventures
- Rajanish Karki: Founder, Beats Bazar
- Raquel Molina: CEO, Futuriste Tecnologias Inovadoras
- Rebeca Dreicon: Regional Managing Director Latam, Toluna Group
- Reinaldo Azevedo: CEO, ENERGY REVIEW
- Renata Bonaldi: CEO & Founder, Sleep Up
- Renata Marques: CIO Latin America, Natura &Co
- Renato Simon: Managing Partner, LAAS Latin American Angels Society
- Ricardo Normand: Venture Partner, Tomahawk.vc
- Ricardo Oliani: Director, Counselor e Co Founder, ABRAPS - Associação Brasileira dos Profissionais pelo Desenvolvimento Sustentável
- Ricardo Wang: Ex-Founder, Investor, Enthusiastic and Curious, GM, ex(Mdlz, RB and Kerry)
- Ricardo Pinto Martins: Founder, TRIWI
- Ricardo Oliveira: Founder and Managing Director, RWO Assessoria Empresarial
- Roberto Soria: AI Transformation | Cloud Solution Architecture | Customer Success Lead | Digital & Business Transformation | Security | Technology, Microsoft
- Robson Del Fiol: Channel & Franchising Director, Skyone
- Rodrigo Bindes: CEO e Co Founder, Nutrifresh
- Rodrigo Huback De Azevedo: Founder/CEO, ISBrasil e IBND
- Rodrigo Oliveira: CRO, StayApp
- Rodrigo Oliveira: CEO e Diretor de Estratégias, Plástico Virtual, Blob e Álamo Inteligência Comercial
- Rodrigo Saad Rodrigues: CEO & Founder, Monitoragua
- Rodrigo Barbosa: Partner, Communications Director, Araucária Ventures & Consulting
- Rodrigo Grossi: Founder and COO, Dynadok
- Sanderson Pajeú: Founder & CEO, naPorta
- Sandra Arango: FMCG International C-Level Executive, Ex-P&G/KHC/Reckitt
- Semi Kim: Sr. Fintech Business Development Manager, Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- Sergio Escobar: CEO & Partner, BCF Ventures, Managing Director, Lalotte Ventures
- Sergio Emanuel Cusmai: CEO and Founder, AIpha-G
- Simone Galvagno: ESG Business Developer & Consultant, Azeus Convene
- TATIANA YOSHIDA: Innovation and Technology Coordinator, Grupo Energia
- Thiago Garcia: CEO & General Partner, 10X Partners
- Tijana Momirov: Startup Consultant - Product Management, StartupSetup
- Vando Ribeiro: CEO, Grupo 2MI
- Vanessa Abrahão: Head of Customer Success , Groove Marketing de Incentivo
- Victor Lugli: Managing Partner, Lugli Group
- 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 Belo Horizonte and launch a company in 2018.
