The Founder Institute, the world's premier startup launch program, is currently exploring a new semester launch in Rome for 2017 to help local entrepreneurs build meaningful companies.
If you'd like the Founder Institute to help you launch your startup, then fill out an Interest Form or attend a FREE event to learn and learn from top startup experts. If enough people complete this form by the Launch Deadline (Nov 27, 2026), the Founder Institute will formally launch a {season, year} program in your city.
To test the demand for a Rome - Italy Fall 2026 program, the Founder Institute will host several FREE startup events in Rome:
- The AI-Native Founder Revolution: Build Your Company Faster Than Ever : 6:00pm, Jul 08, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/401592
- Venture Trailblazers featuring Tim Draper: 5:00pm, Jul 09, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/401984
- Go From Idea to Working App with AI, Featuring Adeo Ressi: 7:00pm, Jul 09, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/402111
- How to Build Without a Team Using AI with Jonathan Greechan: 6:00pm, Jul 14, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/401824
- Stop Overthinking and Build a Great Startup Idea: 6:00pm, Jul 20, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/398676
- [Restricted] VIP Pitch Lounge: Pitch Live and Get Feedback from Investors & Advisors: 6:00pm, Jul 28, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/401111
- Learn from AI-Native Solo Alumni: How FI Grads Built Without a Co-Founder: 6:00pm, Aug 04, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/398709
- From Idea to Action: The Startup Mindset : 2:30pm, Aug 10, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/398706
- FounderX Silicon Valley 2026: Global Conference in San Francisco: 2:00am, Aug 26, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/399852
- What Makes Investors Say Yes: Startup Funding AMA: 6:00pm, Sep 01, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/398795
- How to Build a Strong Pipeline of Entrepreneurs for your Innovation Hub: 6:00pm, Sep 15, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/398251
- From Dreamer to Doer: Build the Founder Mindset: 6:00pm, Oct 13, 2026 (Europe/Rome): https://FI.co/e/399056
Leading the Founder Institute's efforts in Rome are local startup leaders Alessia Gianaroli (Co Founder/Chief Communication Officer, Blast) and Rosbeh Thomas Zakikhani (Chief Operation Officer & Co-founder, Blast).
Other successful entrepreneurs who have pledged their support to mentor founders in a Rome Founder Institute program include:
- Alberto Martellini: Ecosystem leader | Entrepreneur | Mentor, Founder Institute Innovation Partner
- Alberto Lombardi, Energy Expert | Sustainability Passionate | Angel Investor | Start up Advisor
- Alberto Giusti: Co-founder & General Partner, P3Ventures
- Alberto Clavarino: President, Fondazione Genova Startup
- Alessandro Gaini: Founder, Buongiorno San Paolo
- Alessandro Zanchetton, Ciao Elsa
- Alessandro Cillario: Co-Founder, Cubbit
- Alexandra Fattal: Venture Partner, Loyal VC
- Andrea Ramoino: Transformational Leader, Fintech, Payments, Digital Assets, SaaS
- Andrea Arienti: CEO & Founder, 3dnextech
- Angelica Velati: Co-founder and Social Impact Manager, BEBY.best - Better Environment Better You
- Anna Gaile: Co-Founder , Edudoro.eu & zlotynauczyciel.pl
- Antonello Schiavo: EMEA Delivery Manager, Google
- Antonia Verna: Partner, PORTOLANO CAVALLO
- Aras Bilgen: UX Consultant / Trainer, Aras Bilgen
- Ben Stacey: CEO, Pitchverk
- Bruno Reggiani: Coo - co-founder, Tot.
- Camilla Barlocco: Founder, UBI Consulting
- Camilla Bellotti: Leadership Consultant
- Chris Foltz: Global Entrepreneur-In-Residence, Founder Institute
- Corrado Blandini: Lawyer & Business Coach, Uno Quattro
- Duygu Sefa: Co-Founder, Babonbo
- Edoardo Volta: SVP Partnerships & Business Development, Curve
- Emanuele Torlonia: Managing Director, Italian Angels for Growth
- Enrico Frascati: Freelancer, Digitalvibe
- Fabio Costa: Founder, SecurityCert
- Fabrizio Spaolonzi: Co-founder, Buongiorno San Paolo
- Filippo Satolli: CEO | Board Member | Entrepreneur | Advisor & Investor, Cii2
- Francesco Gia: Accelerator Associate, IMPACT HUB MILANO
- Giacomo Poggiali: Product Advisor, 500 Global
- Giancarlo Vergine: Founder & Managing Partner, Over Ventures
- Giorgio Seveso: Co-Founder, Tundr
- Irene Verheijen, FI Amsterdam
- Ivelin Ivanov: Venture Advisor, Founder Institute
- Iwona Kerr, Energy Mix Ventures
- Jeffrey Paine: Founding Partner, Golden Gate Ventures, Singapore
- Julián Jordan: CEO, Grupo DISS
- Lorenzo Di Cataldo: Head of Partnerships, Emotion Network
- Lorenzo Giampaolo Arrigoni: Associate, PORTOLANO CAVALLO
- Luigi Cito: Relationship Director, WEX Inc.
- Mahir Iskender: Founder, KNDR Digital
- Marco De Biasi: Startups Investor & Advisor /Program Director/Conselheiro Fiscal, LGA/Italcam/Mobicity
- Marco Cello: Founder, Meshify
- Marco Boscariol: Associate, Portolano Cavallo
- Marta Marrucco: Owner, Smart Founder
- Massimiliano Squillace: Founder, Contents.com
- Massimo Schiavi, FI Milan
- Massimo Romani: dr. Massimo Romani, CFO and financial background - EMBA
- Mauro Baldoni: Founder, Beat2Impact
- May Mor: Organizational Consultant and Coach, Scale with May
- Michele Mattei: Investor, Fintech expert, Manager, Qwist
- Mimi Yagoub: Thought Leadership & PR , Publicize
- Mohammed Kashif: Senior Quality Assurance Automation Engineer, Department of Motor Vehicles
- Natalia Iudina: Co-founder & COO, Zlotynauczyciel.pl, Edudoro.eu
- Pier Paolo Mucelli: Entrepreneur, TechItalia Lab
- Pietro Braguglia: Co-Founder, Beaversity Consulting
- Rajel Khambhaita: Financial and Investment Advisor, Funder Advisor
- Russ Lewis: Digital transformation & Investor, Agile transformation services and solutions
- Sadegh Sarvi: Project Manager, INTRASENSORS BV
- Serdar Yucel: Director Sales, Marketing and Strategy, TUBITAK
- Serephina Ha: Managing Director, Founder Institute - Los Angeles and Boston
- Sergio Rossi: CEO, Fondazione Genova Startup
- Shubhit Khaneja: Principal Product Manager, Zalando
- Simone Dozza: CRO, Kiratech
- Stefano Toro, Prolaw
- Sush Bapna: General Partner, 10Ten Ventures
- Varun Jain: Founder, 99foundr
- Victor Schiller: President, R Cubed Group
- Vincenzo Cioffi: Startup Advisor, Business Angel, Investor, Growth Engine
- Vladimir Pletyukhin: Founder and Creative Director, Launch Deck
- And many more to be announced.
Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 200 cities and 100 countries, the Founder Institute has helped launch some of the fastest-rising startups across 6 continents, including Udemy, Realty Mogul, iCarsClub, Itembase, goplaceit, Appota, and many more. The company's mission is to "Globalize Silicon Valley" and create sustainable startup ecosystems that will create one million new jobs worldwide.
The Founder Institute is the most challenging and effective step-by-step startup launch program for talented and motivated aspiring entrepreneurs. Our program gives you a structured process and constant feedback from expert mentors and a global network of entrepreneurs. 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.
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.
