Now, more than ever, the world needs entrepreneurs to rethink what’s possible.
As a result, the Founder Institute, the world’s largest pre-seed startup accelerator, is excited to announce that it is officially launching its newest chapter in Levant Region focusing on founders from Jordan, Iraq, and Lebanon. While the Silicon-Valley based program has chapters in over 200 cities worldwide, early-stage entrepreneurs in Levant can now take advantage of the Founder Institute's renowned structure, mentor support, and network to build their enduring new companies.
Applications to the first-ever Founder Institute Levant are now open, and anyone interested in a structured and proven process to building something meaningful can apply at FI.co/apply/levant
The Founder Institute provides high-potential entrepreneurs and teams with the support network and structured growth process needed to get to traction and funding. Since 2009, the Founder Institute has helped over 5000 Alumni raise over $950M funding, get into seed-accelerators, generate traction, recruit a team, build a product, transition from employee to entrepreneur, and more.
To celebrate the launch, the Founder Institute will host several free startup online events in MENA over the coming weeks, where you can learn virtually from top entrepreneurs and hear more about the program:
- Founder’s Guide to AI: Using AI to Increase Productivity: 8:00pm, Jul 16, 2025 (Asia/Baghdad): https://FI.co/e/374122
- Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
- Founder’s Guide to AI: Using Agentic Workflows to Automate Repetitive Tasks: 8:00pm, Jul 23, 2025 (Asia/Baghdad): https://FI.co/e/374152
- Best Practices on Building Innovation Hubs for Universities & Colleges: 8:00pm, Jul 24, 2025 (Asia/Baghdad): https://FI.co/e/375966
- Responsible AI for Startups: Frameworks You Can Apply from Day One: 8:00pm, Jul 28, 2025 (Asia/Baghdad): https://FI.co/e/376121
- Entrepreneurship Education: Lessons from Startup Accelerators: 8:00pm, Aug 07, 2025 (Asia/Baghdad): https://FI.co/e/375327
- How to Come Up with Great Startup Ideas: 8:00pm, Aug 11, 2025 (Asia/Baghdad): https://FI.co/e/374609
- Co-Founder Networking: Find a Business Partner: 8:00pm, Aug 18, 2025 (Asia/Baghdad): https://FI.co/e/374812
- Startup Pitch Practice: Share Your Idea and Get Expert Feedback: 8:00pm, Aug 25, 2025 (Asia/Baghdad): https://FI.co/e/375472
- Ask an Investor Anything: Q&A with Rich Maloy: 3:00am, Sep 09, 2025 (Asia/Baghdad): https://FI.co/e/376717
- How to Get Investors to Notice Your Startup: AMA with Marta Marrucco: 8:00pm, Sep 17, 2025 (Asia/Baghdad): https://FI.co/e/373941
The Levant program is led by some of the region's top startup leaders, Maher Santarissy (CEO, Moment Venture Consulting), and Mohammad Santarissy (CEO, RelativelyFund).
The region is ripe with talent, we believe that startups are key drivers to economic growth and innovation, the Founder Institute can increase an aspiring tech entrepreneur's chance for success by providing a structured program, the necessary skills, mindset and access to Silicon Valley and global expertise.
In addition, some of the region’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 Levant virtual 2021 Founder Institute includes:
- Abdellah Aouf: Chief Executive Officer, GO PLATFORM
- Abdulelah Alshareef: Vice President, Merak Capital
- Abdulrazzaq Alyan: Co-Founder, Tamkeen Alamal
- Ahmad Santarissy: CEO, We The Makers LLC
- Ahmad Nazzal: Senior Analyst - FinTech Innovation & Investment, Arab Bank - AB Accelerator
- Ahmed Nassef: Founder, Leadsmart
- Ahmed Al Kiremli: Co-Founder, CEO, Orisdi
- Ahmed Jamal: CEO, Padash
- Ahmed Morsy: Founder and CEO, Just to Learn
- Ahmed Rashad: Founder, Business بالعربي
- A J Dugar: Fractional Partnerships Officer, Regenerative Technologies LLC
- Alessandra Scicchitano: Founder, AURES, and Lecturer, Swiss Business School
- Alex Pavel: Managing Director - Middle East, Africa and Asia, Pagero
- Alex Glenn: Founder of Partnerhub, Partnerhub
- Aliya Nur Babul: Venture Partner, Global Millennial Capital
- Ana Bibikova: Founder
- Andreas Schumacher: Artificial Intelligence , Munich Re
- Arthur Gusev: Founder and CEO, Launch Deck
- Basmah Osman: Executive Coach / Facilitator , ElleKhan
- Ben Stacey: CEO, Pitchverk
- Cedric Naintre: Business Angel, Sales Advisor, Hyperplan
- Chad Fox: Managing Partner, Fox Ventures
- Charles Shaban: Consultant, Self
- Chintan Oza: Founder, Anantam Ecosystems
- Christian AlMurr: Co-founder & CEO , Jedo
- Christian Vezjak: Co-founder & CEO, TAP
- Dan D'souza: Intrapreneurship and New Ventures Senior Manager, L Marks
- Dav Masaon: Co-Founder , Zanda
- David Prais: Chairman, Greater London Investment Fund (GLIF)
- David Postolski: Partner, Gearhart Law
- David Gildeh: Leader, Telemetry Insights, Netflix
- Deep Moteria: Founder , Elluminati
- Ebin Ephrem Elavathingal: Director/Tecknogog, MERSTRA Foundation / MITC
- Edgar Kussberg: AI Group Product Manager, Snyk
- Edgar Kussberg: Staff Product Manager , Snyk
- Elia Nuqul: Owner, Investor, Mentor, Co-Founder, Nuqul Group
- Fady Santarissy: Managing Partner, cg imagine+invent
- Fahed Qteishat: Associate Director, Middle East Venture Partners (MEVP)
- Farhat Bashir: Founding CEO, Seerab Technologies
- Filip Karwala: Co-founder, Partner, Move Ventures
- Franklin Kamnang Ngansop: Co-founder , Vitamin C&S Coaching
- Gaelle Yammine: Associate, Middle East Venture Partners (MEVP)
- Grant Felgenhauer: Managing Partner, Euphrates Ventures
- Greg Ignarowicz: SDR Director, Factorial
- Hamdi Tabbaa: Co-founder and CEO , Abwaab
- Hanan Shahin: Co-Founder & CEO , BLOOMit
- Hanan Shahin: Co-founder & CEO, Bloomcart
- Hani W. Naguib: Author | Speaker | Mentor, HNT innovation studio
- Hasan Ahmad: Consultant, Hasan Ahmad
- Hisham Rashed: Associate, Levari
- Hussam Hammo: CEO & Founder, Tamatem Games
- Ibrahim Faza: GM, JordanStart
- Irina Baskova: Growth coach for B2B sales and go-to-market., independent consultant.
- Ivan Ivanka: CEO / General Partner, i1x Venture Studio / Camel Capital
- Ivan Hoo: Owner, IHAYO
- Jad El Boustani: Managing Director, Middle East Venture Partners (MEVP)
- June W Choi: Managing Partner, Serval Ventures
- Kareem El Shaffei: Director of Product, Money Fellows
- Karim Djerboa: Business Development Specialist, MAVENTERSE
- Karim Hamdan: Managing Partner, DINARe VENTURES
- Laura Olivier Khudairi: Executive Director, Iraq Tech Ventures
- Lauren Jane Heller: Executive Leadership Coach, On Deck/ Iberdrola Australia
- Loek Daemen: Presentation Skills Trainer & Founder , Pitch Perfect
- Luis Ferreira: Mentor, FI
- Maher Kaddoura: Investor, Al Jude
- Maher Santarissy: Managing Director, moment
- Majd Alaily: Founder, Ruya Advisory
- Marie Therese Fam: Partner, Silicon Badia
- Marisa Bryce: CEO, Jack and Blue Capital
- Marwan Said: CEO, E Points Group
- Marwan Abu sakha: Co-Founder & CEO, Kitchefy
- Michael Makdah: Fractional CMO, Rapid Expansion
- Michael Ho: Founder , Ventures Cubed
- Mikhail Tykuchinskiy: Managing Partner, Reassembly Point
- Mohamed Tohami: Founder & CEO, Passion Point
- Mohamed Ramadan: Associate, Levari
- Mohd Santarissy: Co-CEO, Relatively Fund
- Mortada Al Khateeb: Co-founer and CEO, Needbooth
- Mudar Jeiroudi: Managing Partner, Jeiroudi Law Firm
- Muhanad Wadah: Founder & CEO, Shab
- Muhannad Taslaq: General Manager, Integral Reality Labs
- Nader Amiri: General Partner, Homegrown Ventures
- Nadia KANOUN: CEO, Senior Adviser, Trainer & Coach, IHSCEN for Startups
- Nadine Zerrini: Director, Founder Institute Boston
- Najiba Wajiha Mahboob: CEO, Toureela
- Nela Dunato: Brand Designer, Nela Dunato Art & Design
- Nidal Bitar: Chief Executive Officer, ICT Association of Jordan - int@j
- Nikola Korać: CEO, Downstream Business Solutions
- Omar Tabbaa: Chairman / CEO, Eat Holding
- Paul Turken: Professor, Marketing & Strategy of Business School Netherlands
- Philippe Linus Petit: Public Speaking Expert & Storytelling Coach
- Raja Mawad: Founder, Thrv.health
- Rami Essaid: CEO, Finmark
- Ramzi Halaby: CEO, The Online Project
- Ramzi Nahawi: Product Design , Bubble
- Rasha Laswi: Partner, Andersen
- Rawaz Rauf: Partner, Euphrates Ventures
- Rishi Sharma: West Coast Lead , Newlin VC
- Roberto Croci: Regional Startups Enabler, .
- Ruba Darwish: Operations Manager, BMB Jordan
- Ruba Fakhouri: Psychological , Counseling
- Rudy Bekerejian: Founder & CEO , Ecomz
- Ryan Micheletti: Head of Global Operations, Founder Institute
- Salha Al Aqeel Alghamdi: CEO, FI GCC
- Sameer Sortur: Founding Partner, SquareCircle Ventures
- Samer Arabiat: Consultant
- Sara Alkhatib, SpaceDeco
- Sara Ledterman: General Partner, 3+ Ventures
- Saumya Bhatnagar: CTO & Co-Founder, Involve.ai
- Saurabh Nathany: Startup & VC Lawyer, White Summers Caffee & James, LLP
- Sawsan Lubani, iRole
- Shaun Gold: Entrepreneur, storyteller, GP at Improve Ventures, Improve Ventures
- Shaza Bassam: Associate, Levari
- Simon Turner: Founding Partner, Groundbreaking, Managing Director, FI Ghana
- Simon Tkachenko: Principal, Modus Capital
- Sokmean Nou: Front End Services Lead, Acrisure
- Tamer Al Salah: Managing Director, BeyondCapital
- Tarek Roushdy: Angel Investor, UI Investments
- Tariq El Titi: Managing Director , Janus Ventures
- Trevor Longino: Founder & CEO, CrowdTamers
- Triska Hamid: Editorial Director, Wamda
- Vaios Gkitsas: Founder , The Upset Partners
- Vidar Andersen: Founding Principal, +ANDERSEN & ASSOCIATES
- Vincent Marsland: Senior Founder Success Manager, Communitech
- Vladimir Pletyukhin: Founder and Creative Director, Launch Deck
- Wajeeha Al Husseini: Director of Communications, Umniah
- Yasmine Darwich: Founder of DonaLeb | Social Impact, DonaLeb
- Zaid Ibrahim: Consumer Marketing Director, Umniah
- Zeid Husban: Serial Entrepreneur | 2 Exits | Experienced Leader | Angel Investor
- And many more to be announced.
The Founder Institute is designed for founders and teams all throughout the pre-accelerator/pre-seed stage, including aspiring founders with a full-time job, solo founders, teams, and founders of established companies that are pre-funding. The organization's mission is to "Globalize Silicon Valley" and build sustainable startup ecosystems that will create one million new jobs worldwide.
Levant Region entrepreneurs can join us in the upcoming Levant Virtual Summer 2021 Program and help build the future.
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Apply to the 2021 Virtual Summer Program at fi.co/apply/Levant, those that apply by the Early Application Deadline (2020-08-08) are eligible for reduced pricing. To learn more visit FI.co/overview.
