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 Gothenburg - Nordics Fall 2025 Semester!
If you want to build a startup in Gothenburg and could use expert training and feedback, then apply to the Gothenburg Founder Institute today, or attend a free event.
Those who apply by the Early Admissions Deadline (Aug 31, 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 Gothenburg in 2017, the Founder Institute has helped launch several promising companies in the region, and our efforts in Gothenburg have also been profiled by several high profile media channels.
To celebrate the launch, the Gothenburg Founder Institute will several free startup events for the general public, where you can meet top entrepreneurs and learn more about the program:
- FI Nordics Graduation featuring Thomas Bigagli (Plug & Play Ventures): 6:00pm, Jul 23, 2025 (Europe/Stockholm): https://FI.co/e/376440
- Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
- Founder’s Guide to AI: Using Agentic Workflows to Automate Repetitive Tasks: 7:00pm, Jul 23, 2025 (Europe/Stockholm): https://FI.co/e/373592
- Best Practices on Building Innovation Hubs for Universities & Colleges: 7:00pm, Jul 24, 2025 (Europe/Stockholm): https://FI.co/e/375936
- Responsible AI for Startups: Frameworks You Can Apply from Day One: 7:00pm, Jul 28, 2025 (Europe/Stockholm): https://FI.co/e/376091
- Meet the FI Alumni Scaling Startups in Europe: 7:00pm, Aug 04, 2025 (Europe/Stockholm): https://FI.co/e/375600
- Entrepreneurship Education: Lessons from Startup Accelerators: 7:00pm, Aug 07, 2025 (Europe/Stockholm): https://FI.co/e/375297
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 7:00pm, Aug 11, 2025 (Europe/Stockholm): https://FI.co/e/374579
- Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 7:00pm, Aug 18, 2025 (Europe/Stockholm): https://FI.co/e/374781
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 7:00pm, Aug 25, 2025 (Europe/Stockholm): https://FI.co/e/375446
- Ask an Investor Anything: Q&A with Rich Maloy: 2:00am, Sep 09, 2025 (Europe/Stockholm): https://FI.co/e/376662
- How to Get Investors to Notice Your Startup: AMA with Marta Marrucco: 7:00pm, Sep 17, 2025 (Europe/Stockholm): https://FI.co/e/373954
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 Gothenburg are local startup leaders Amy Sanford (Principal, Sanford Career Consulting), Helgi Gudmundsson (Founder - Trainer & Coach, Keystone Skills), and Peter Nordin (Founder and CEO, Hive Workspace Gothenburg).
In addition, some of Gothenburg's top entrepreneurs will mentor founders in the program, providing them with expert training, feedback, and evaluation. The list of mentors for the Gothenburg - Nordics Fall 2025 includes:
- Abdellah Aouf: Chief Executive Officer, GO PLATFORM
- Abid Masood: Founder, Buddio
- Adam Webb: Founder - Lifelong, We Are Lifelong AB
- Adeo Ressi: CEO, Decile Group / VC Lab
- Adrian Arnsvik Bjurefalk: Investor I early-stage venture capital in nordics and baltics, Inventure
- Ahmed Mounir: Mr, Mindshift Ventures
- Aisha Mossberg
- Alexej Samsonenko: Co-founder, ARDI
- Alfredo Jollon: Managing Director, Techstars Stockholm
- Ali Jamal: GP, First Check Ventures
- Alvaro Rojo: Product leader, HSBC
- Amanda Enocksson Gyllenberg: COO l Portfolio Manager l Partner, VNTRS
- Amanda Evans: Chief Growth Officer, Enigio
- Amir Pas: Expansion Manager , WeWork
- Anastasia Trofimova: CEO and Co-Founder, YOUR BEET
- Anders Ekstrand: Senior Solution Architect, Softhouse Consulting
- Anders Moberg: Partner, Cirio
- Anders Norlin: Strategic Advisor, Nvise
- Anders Hammarbäck: Partner, Antler
- André Francois: Co-Founder and Board Member, Happy at Work International
- Andrea Hemming: Legal specialist in healthcare, AI and data privacy, Institutet för Medicinsk Rätt AB
- Andreas Ahlenius: Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer, Amuse
- Andreas Svendsen: Senior Consultant / Engagement Manager, Rouse AB
- Andreea Marinescu: CEO, Tech Add-Venture
- Andrew Hennigan: Lecturer, Coach, Writer, Andrew Hennigan Consulting
- Andy Cars: CEO & Founder, Lean Ventures International AB
- Anette Nordvall: Venture Partner, Butterfly Ventures
- Anjali Malhotra: Founder & CEO, C-Xcel
- Anjali Westwood: Founder, Maternia Care
- Anna König Jerlmyr: Former Mayor of Stockholm
- Anna Pyykkö: Founder & CEO, Female Founders Suomi
- Anna Nadeina: Growth&Partnerships Executive, MarsX
- Anna Gissler: CEO, Invest Stockholm
- Annika Vangstad: Head of Group Creative , Nordea
- Antonella Stromberg: Co-Founder, The Real Hero
- Arcui Usoara: Founder/CEO, Iaculus
- Ariane Bucquet Pousette: Project Lead Manager Startups, Invest Stockholm
- Aristo Togliatti: CEO, Loop
- Astrid Kristensen: CEO, LEIA
- Ati Serpoushan: Founder , Department of Motion
- Aviv Shalgi: CEO, Solar Simplified
- Ben Stacey: CEO, Pitchverk
- Bente Loe: Partner, Alliance Venture
- Berg Moe: Chairman, Gründervekst AS
- Beril Kocadereli, Antler
- Caritta Seppä: Investment Manager, Spintop Ventures
- Carl-Henrik Koit: CEO, Almi Stockholm Sörmland
- Caroline Wachtmeister: Principal, Industrifonden
- Cenan Karaer: Founder & CEO, AllCall International AB
- Charlotte Christensen: Executive Director, Fintocat
- Charlotte Ekelund: Investor & External Relations Director, Sting
- Chintan Oza: Founder, Anantam Ecosystems
- Chris Albinsson: Partner & Co-founder, node.vc
- Chris Foltz: Global Entrepreneur-In-Residence, Founder Institute
- Christian Schaffner: CEO, 61st Digital Agency
- Christopher Tehrani: About Cirio People Career News and insights Search Christopher Tehrani Head of Patent Litigation/Senior Counsel
- Claes Mikko Nilsen: Investment Director, NordicNinja VC
- Dan Mc Cormick: Venture Partner, Antler.co
- Daniel Somos: Investor, Mean Reversion AB
- David Knutsson: Founder, Parently
- David Holm: General Partner, Xplorico
- David Clark: Venture Partner, Tera VC
- Dennis Surendra: CEO & Founder, IdeaBits AB
- Dennis Kibirev: Chief Growth Officer, Mesh Ai
- Dominic Davies: CEO, Immetric AB
- Donnie Sc Lygonis: Innovation Strategist & Business Coach, KTH Innovation
- Dr. Hanan El Basha: Co-Founder & Chief Strategy Officer, Maverika
- Elena Bunel: Project Manager, Zero Carbon Forum
- Elena Mlotok: General Manager, Head of EU Newsstand, Amazon
- Eleonore Hinlopen: Strategic Program Manager, Mastercard Lighthouse
- Elin Fokas-Schuettinger: COO, Mindmore
- Elin Tornblad: Female Founder of the year 2020 | Organizer, Gothenburg Tech Week
- Elisabeth Loibl: Owner, Lise & Co AB
- Elsa Hyland: Angel Investor, Startup Advisor
- Emelie Gustafsson Maistedt: Founder & CEO, Gemme & Co-founder & CEO, Gemme
- Emil Jerndal: Head of M&A, Effektify
- Emil Wasteson: Co-founder & COO , Hooked Foods AB
- Erik Hallberg: Chair Of The Board Of Directors , Fidesmo
- Erik Kalrberg: Founder and CEO, Finkontoret coworking
- Erik Afzelius: COO, UnTap!
- Erik Oskarsson: Country Manager, Rouse Sweden
- Evelina Anttila: Partner & VC Investor, Wellstreet
- Fanny Sjöström: Founder , Swiftr
- Fedja Porobic: Head of Growth, Improove
- Felicia Nordgård: Head of Nordics, Peak
- Felipe Wigren: CEO, ACCOMPANY
- Fernanda Torre: CEO, NextAgents
- Filip Waak: Founder, bered.nu
- Filip Veli Gultekin: Angel Investor, Startup Advisor
- Fran Merino: Co-Founder, Bull Collective
- Fredrik Arnander: Co-founder & Partner, Standout Capital
- Fredrik Rosengren: Accelerator Manager & Business Coach, Sting
- Frida Wikström: Head of Communications and External Relations, Smart Freelance Cooperative Sweden
- Funda Sezgi: Co-founder & MD at Norrsken Impact Accelerator, Norrsken Foundation
- Gabriele Garavini: New Business Development Manager, Telia
- Gabrielle Ödhammar: Functional Lead Talent Planning, Group People, Nordea
- Gemma Whitehouse: Founder & Director, Ingeniva
- Gustaf-Wilhelm Hellstedt: Startup Coach, H & Partners Global Vision Ltd
- Gustav Dalén: Talent Acquisition Specialist, Sting
- Guy Parry: Senior Product Manager, VNTRS
- Haider Abdo: Founder & CEO, Returnado
- Hamed Ordibehesht: Founder & CEO, Ponture
- Hanna Dynesius: Co-founder, Beyond Profit
- Hannah Meiton: SaaS Advisor & Board Member, Mentimeter, Kognity, All Ears, Insurely, Videoly, MedUniverse
- Hannes Rosén: CEO & Co-Founder, StartupTools
- Hannes Helander: Head of Startup Programs, Connect Sverige Region Öst
- Harsh Sheth: Founder, Apeability
- Henric Westergren: Business Developer, Softhouse
- Henrik Tellving: Partner, node.vc
- Henrik Reimavuo: Investor, J12 Ventures
- Henryk Stawicki: Founding Partner, Change Pilots
- Hrishi Rajan: Founder, TrusTrace
- Ida Herbertsson: Head of Fast Track Capital, Minc
- Ida Eriksson: Industrial Advisor Manager, Nordic Capital
- Idowu Akinde: Founder, Impact Hub Lagos
- Iñaki Escudero: Brand Strategist & Co-Founder, The Real Hero
- Ingrid Maurstad: Commercial Manager, Katapult Ocean
- Isabel Keulen: Investment Manager, Spintop Ventures
- Isabella Palmgren: CEO & Co-Founder, Mimbly
- Ivana Von Proschwitz: International Relations Coordinator, AI Sweden
- James Phelan: Investment & Growth, The Cannon
- Jan Ameri: Executive Chairman, ArcticStartup Media Oy
- Jan Zając: CEO, Sotrender
- Janne Saarikko: Director, Food Ecosystems Accelerator, Founder Institute
- Jasmin Elmi: Program Manager, Sustainability & Social Impact tech, Mastercard Lighthouse
- Jeanette Carlsson: Founder & CEO, Tech Nordic Advocates
- Jenny Gizard: Innovation Advisor, Almi Stockholm
- Jens Wernborg: Director, Startup Grind Hong Kong
- Jens Christian Aune: Investment Manager, Startuplab
- Jesper Johansson: CEO, Talent Eye
- Jesper Kjellerås: Founder & Chairman, Impact Hub Stockholm
- Joachim Cronquist: Founder, Sparplatsen
- Joachim Widd: COO and Partner, VNTRS
- Joachim Rittfeldt Hofvenschiöld: Co-Founder, uBIT
- Joel Sunnehall: CEO & Founder, Desifer Advisory
- Joel De Nes: Full Stack Engineer & Consultant, Co-Founder, Algrow AI
- Johan Johansson: Angel Investor & Board Professional
- Johan Nordin: Strategic Advisor, AgileFirst
- Johan Berglind: CTO, VNTRS
- Johan Attby: General Partner, Norrsken Accelerator
- John Elvesjö: Managing Partner, node.vc
- John Drakenberg Renander: CEO & Co-founder, Alex Therapeutics
- John Sjölander: Partner, Newion Partners B.V.
- John Rush: Founder, MarsX Inc
- John Erik Hassel: Owner/Executive Advisor, Oanæs & Co AS
- Jonas Åström: Founder & Partner, Recuro
- Jonas Glädt: Chief Operating Officer, Legal Career
- Jonas Malm: Investment Associate, node.vc
- Jonas Bygdeson: Founder, My Dream Now
- Jonatan Håkansson: Growth Consultant, Hawkeye Invest
- Jonathan Greechan: Co-Founder & CEO, Founder Institute
- Jonathan Ilicki: Head of Growth, Platform24
- Jørn Haanæs: Investment Director, Katapult
- Julia Nilsson: Senior Portfolio Manager, Antler
- Junada Sulillari: Lecturer/Start-up mentor, "Fan S. Noli" University
- Katja Bergman: Partner, Brightly Ventures
- Kevin Albrecht: CTO, P.F.C.
- Kira Unger: CEO & Co-founder, PocketLaw
- Knut Wien: Chief Vision Officer (CVO) & Co-Founder, Startup Norway
- Kristína Némethová: Head of Program, Kiuas
- Lauri Robbins Ericson: Founder, Speaker, Connector, Lauri.co
- Leif Frykman: Founder & Chairman of the Board, LegalWorks Nordic
- Leo Giertz: General Partner, Icebreaker.vc
- Lesley Pennington: Founder, BEMZ
- Lina Svensberg: Program Manager / Co-Founder, DigitalWell Ventures
- Linda Fragner: Founder, Upgreen
- Linus Dahg: Investment Director, Inventure
- Lisa Franzi: Transformation Manager , Telia Sverige
- Lisen Oliw: Managing Director Nordics, Norrsken Foundation
- Luar Busó: Industry Manager, Google
- Lukas Linden Malmberg: Senior Investment Analyst, Icebreaker VC
- Magnus Bergmark: Innovation Manager, Telia Company
- Magret Jokela: Head of Program, Hanken Business Lab
- Mala Valroy: Head of Ericsson ONE EMEA, Ericsson
- Malcolm Larri: Founder, Brave Personal Development
- Manolo Obaya: Startup Coach & Head of International Growth, Founders Loft
- Mara Rada: Chief Operations and Strategy, Loon (loonbio.com)
- Mardin Baban: Executive Director, Nya Kompisbyrån
- Mari Lahti: Head of Community & Operations, KIUAS
- Mari Luukkainen: Principal, Icebreaker.vc
- Maria Lindholm: Head of Partnerships, Wellstreet
- Maria Karlbom: Co-founder & CEO, Bospek AB
- Maria Grabowska: Manager, +impact accelerator
- Maria Ingelsson: VP Legal and HR, Automile Inc
- Maria Ideström: Legal Counsel, H&M Group
- Marie Gillstam: Innovation Advisor, Almi Företagspartner Stockholm Sörmland AB
- Marie-Louise Dahl: Principal Innovation & Strategy | Program Manager, Stellar | Mastercard Lighthouse
- Matti Lindberg: Associate, Legal Counsel, Rouse Sweden
- Max Samuel: Partner, SNÖ Ventures
- Mehkar Sheikh: CEO, Venture Cup Sweden
- Mei Wen: Founding Partner, Yinvest
- Michael Lantz: CEO, Accedo
- Michal Gromek: Fintech Expert, Safello
- Michel Laporte Godorn: Founder & CEO, Vimentis Group AB
- Miguel Quintana: Founder, consultant and coach, Mindfulnets and Covitalia
- Mikael Blix: CEO & Founder, Heja
- Mikael Angesjo: General Manager Nordics, Crowdcube
- Mikael Angesjo: Startup Advisor & Investor
- Mikael Arndt: Founder, Department of Awsome AB
- Mikaela Larsell Ayesa: COO, uBIT.vc
- Milena Kraeva: Founder & CEO, Nexus Impact Ventures
- Miriam Sundholm: Founder, Aumla
- Moaz Hamid: founding partner, mvmt ventures
- Mohammed Kashif: Senior Quality Assurance Automation Engineer, Department of Motor Vehicles
- Monika Elling: Executive Chairman, Talent Eye
- My Mattsson: Senior Associate, Rouse
- Naimul Abd: CEO, Connect Öst & SweBAN (Swedish Business Angel Networks)
- Nathan Evans: Founder | Angel Investor | Advisor , Stealth Fintech Startup
- Nea Harjanne: CEO, Kiuas
- Niklas Rudemo: Chief Product Officer, StartupTools
- Niss Jonas Carlsson: Founder, Språkkraft
- Ola Wassvik: Co-Founder & CTO, Flatfrog Laboratories AB
- Olena Rogozina
- Olena Bochulia: Co-Founder, Severus
- Olga Padulosi: Marketing & Partnerships, AppFollow
- Oskars Jepsis
- Ozan Alptekin: Co-founder & CTO, BISU
- Özge Özen Zink: Partnership Manager Entrepreneurs, SEB
- Pär Lagerström: Investment Manager, Almi Invest
- Patrick O'Connor-Read: AI || Blockchain || Product, Architect & CTO
- Patrik Kägu: Innovation Advisor, Almi Stockholm Sörmland
- Peder Rotkirch: Founder, Join the Carnival
- Per Ström, First Gate Invest
- Per Björklund: Partner, Further Than Capital
- Peter Carlsson: Partner, Spintop Ventures
- Peter Ingman: Co-Founder
- Pierre Killy: Chief Technology Officer, DigiExam
- Pontus Lund: Investment Manager, Wellstreet
- Pouria Kay: Founding Partner, Atlan
- Praveen Mayakar: Investor, MaxRoot
- Preben Fjellaker Mathisen: Senior Advisor - Startups, Innovation Norway
- Ragnheidur Magnusdottir: Founder & Chair of the Board, Nordic Ignite
- Raman Ramalingam: Startup recruitment & HR consultant, talentX
- Randy Cottin: Founder & CEO, Nesta.se
- Rebecca Holmberg: at, Backing Minds
- Rebecka Löthman Rydå: Investment Director, Inventure
- Reid Jackson: Investment Manager, Luminar Ventures
- Remi Saint-Jean: Founder, delighting.io
- Resad Zacina: Chief Growth Officer, Ministry of Programming
- Richard Cristina: Co-founder (MentorLabs), Founder (Bloom), Bloom
- Rickard Damm: Head of Zone, Telia Company
- Rita Anson: Co-Founder Nordic Ignite, Secretary General NorBAN Norwegian Business Angels Network
- Rodrigo Garay: Founder, Ponture
- Rodrigo Muñoz
- Russell Brand: CEO & Founder, Responsible Solutions Limited
- Saga Löfgren: Brand Manager, LEIA Health
- Saliou Sall: Founder & CEO, Tripier AB
- Salmine Sassi: Entrepreneur in Residence, Seedstars
- Sameer Sortur: Founding Partner, SquareCircle Ventures
- Sameh Katr: Chairman of the Advisory Board, Boost Turku
- Sami Ahvenniemi: General Partner, Vendep Capital
- Sami Vikback: CEO & Founder, 8 Media Ventures
- Sami & Helena Sulieman: Entrepreneur & Investor
- Sara Håkanson Maxence: Founder, Fincipio AB
- Sara Hjortmar: Senior Associate, Seedrs | Republic Nordics
- Sarita Runeberg: CEO, Maria 01
- Sebastien Archambeaud: Founder & CEO, Handiscover
- Sigrid Hellberg: Venture Lead & Business Designer, Desifer
- Simon Turner: Founding Partner, Groundbreaking, Managing Director, FI Ghana
- Simon Olson: Founding Partner, XY Ventures
- Sissel Hansen: Founder & CEO, Startup Guide
- Smriti Mishra: Head of AI, Earthbanc
- Sofia Lindelöw: Managing Director Nordics, Norrsken
- Sofia Breitholtz: CEO, Reach for Change
- Sofie Marin: Founder & CEO, Arts Dynamics
- Sokol Vjerdha: Mentor, FI Sweden
- Stefan Sonnerstedt: CEO, Connect Sverige Region Öst
- Stefan Frank: Investor, Board Professional & Senior Business Advisor, Vitellius Invest
- Stefan Lindeberg: Partner, Further Than Capital
- Steph Thommen: Founder, purposeful.tech
- Stéphane Nasser: Co-Founder, OpenVC
- Sunil Dutt: Founder & CEO, Vembla
- Svetlana Stotskaya: Mentor, Techstars Sustainability Paris
- Taylor Ryan: 6x Start-up Founder, Investor, and Web3 Expert, Layer Three Ventures
- Ted Bowman: Partner at Wellstreet and Director of Product Management a Klarna, Wellstreet
- Teresa Acuña Lopez: Culture Strategist , Culture By Design
- Terhi Johanna Vapola: Managing Partner & Founder, Greencode Ventures
- Tetiana Siianko: Head of Accelerator Program, NoMoonShot
- Thomas Bigagli: Partner, Plug and Play
- Tiina Laisi Puheloinen: CEO, Finnish Business Angels Network (FiBAN)
- Timo Felin: Investment Director, Vendep Capital
- Timo Linnemann: Ventures Lead Hamburg & Nordics, Plug and Play
- Tobias Bard: CEO, Prototyp
- Torsti Tenhunen: Angel Investor & Board Professional
- Trevor Longino: Founder & CEO, CrowdTamers
- Ulf Linden: Founder and COO, LegalWorks Nordic
- Ulrika Martin: Business Developer, Spotlight Stockmarket
- Vanessa Mbamalu: Startup Manager, Startup Norway
- Vesa Riihimäki: Head of Startup & Growth Finland, Nordea
- Victoria Kopylov: Founder, ThinkAloud
- Vik Li: Investment Director, Ericsson Ventures
- Ville Simola: CEO, Maria 01
- Vincent Weir: Co-Founder and Startup Champion, Mastercard Lighthouse & Time to Raise
- Vladimir Pletyukhin: Founder and Creative Director, Launch Deck
- Wiktoria Wójcik: Co-Founder, inSTREAMLY
- Wilhelm Lundborg: Founder & CEO, Investor & mentor, Homer.co
- Ying-Ying Huang: Investor, APX
- Zafer Elcik: Co-founder, Otsimo
- 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.
