The Founder Institute startup accelerator opened in Berlin in 2011, and since then, it has helped launch nearly 20 new technology companies. While all of our grads are exceptional, there are a few who stand out. The graduates profiled below have all achieved significant milestones, building meaningful and enduring technology companies aimed at improving the lives of people all over the world.
Without further adieu, we present to you the most promising Berlin grads of 2013;
Itembase is a social web service that helps online shoppers organize and manage their post-purchase experience. The startup recently raised a $3.25m funding round and brought on former Skype investor, Morton Lund, as Chairman of the Board. In 2011 Itembase won the 10th Founder Showcase, fuelling their initial growth. Click here to learn more about Itembase.
Capsuling helps you to share and discover moments at the right time and place. Prior to joining FI, Co-founder, Michael Ronen, was the recipient of the Venture Village One Sentence Pitch Competition, winning a full scholarship to the program. They recently appeared on VentureVillage again, for their acceptance to the You Is Now accelerator program in Berlin. Click here to learn more.
Exploribox delivers monthly science experiment kits for children ages 5-10. The subscription service has gained significant traction in Germany and will soon be offering the box in English. They participated in the Berlin Startup Camp Pitch Marathon and have been featured in a number of notable blogs in Germany. Click here to learn more about Exploribox.
KeyRocket analyzes your work and shows relevant keyboard shortcuts for Microsoft Office and Windows Explorer in a small notification window. They have received numerous 5 star reviews and have been featured on PC World, GigaOm, and other prominent tech blogs. In 2012 they received seed funding from High-Tech Gründerfonds. Click here to learn more about KeyRocket.
Ondango is a shopping solution that allows brands to sell their products directly on their Facebook Pages. In 2012 the startup secured a $500k seed round from early-stage London VC Connect Ventures (the firm’s first investment in Germany) and later picked up an additional round, bringing their funding to over $700k after only 11 short months in operation. Click here to learn more about Ondango.
Tab-Ticketbroker (50Hours) is a professional ticket broker for concerts, festivals, sports and cultural events in Germany and Europe. This summer, the startup secured an undisclosed six-figure financing round from WestTech Ventures, an investment from German Media Pool VC, and launched its last-minute ticketing app 50hours. Click here to learn more about Tab-Ticketbroker.
The Berlin Founder Institute is currently accepting applications for the Autumn 2013 Semester. If you could benefit from expert training and feedback to launch a company in Berlin, click here to learn more and begin your application today. Final applications are due Sunday (Oct 13, 2026).
