The Founder Institute, the world's largest startup accelerator, is now accepting applications for the Toronto Summer 2026 Semester. Since launching in Toronto in 2014, the Founder Institute has helped launch 10 companies in the region, and we are now excited to launch many more.
If you could benefit from expert training and advice to launch a technology startup in Toronto, click here to apply today. The program is open to founders of all kinds – including solo founders, those without an idea or company, and those that have a full-time job.
Those who apply by the Early Application Deadline (Jun 16, 2026) will have their application fees waived (typically $50) and are eligible for Founder Institute Fellowships.
In the Founder Institute's four-month, part-time program, promising startup entrepreneurs “learn by doing” and launch a company through structured training courses, practical business-building assignments, and expert feedback from a large network of business mentors. Plus, aspiring founders are not required to quit their day job to participate, so they can begin building a business around their ideas without putting their livelihood at risk.
If you would like to learn more, then join us for the free, upcoming event:
- How to Find the First Customers for Your Startup Idea: 12:00pm, Aug 11, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/403292
- How to Get Customer Feedback on your Startup Idea in the Age of AI: 12:00pm, Aug 18, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/403450
- From Idea to Action: The Startup Mindset : 8:30am, Aug 24, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/395131
- FounderX Silicon Valley 2026: Global Conference in San Francisco: 8:00pm, Aug 25, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/399773
- Stop Guessing, Start Raising: An Investor Q&A: 12:00pm, Sep 01, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/395209
- [Restricted] VIP Pitch Lounge: Pitch Live and Get Feedback from Investors & Advisors: 12:00pm, Sep 08, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/401194
- How to Create a Great First Startup Pitch using AI: 8:30pm, Sep 14, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/403589
- How to Build a Strong Pipeline of Entrepreneurs for your Innovation Hub: 12:00pm, Sep 15, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/398314
- Break the Idea Loop and Decide What to Build: 8:00pm, Sep 21, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/395232
- Learn from FI Grads: How to Build Without a Co-Founder: 12:00pm, Oct 06, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/395157
- From Dreamer to Doer: Build the Founder Mindset: 12:00pm, Oct 13, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/395283
- From Founder to Funded: Interactive Q&A with Top Startup Investor: 12:00pm, Nov 03, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/395304
- From “Maybe” to Momentum: Building a Great Startup Idea: 8:00pm, Nov 17, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/395327
- From First Idea to First Funding: Global Alumni Stories: 12:00pm, Dec 01, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/395355
The Toronto Chapter will be led by local leader Kamal Hassan, the CEO of entrepreneurial management platform VentureLynx; Ilona Hassan, a fashion entrepreneur and communication specialist; and Sunil Sharma, Managing Partner of Extreme Venture Partners, one of Canada’s best performing seed-stage venture capital funds.
In only 17 years of operation, over 9,000 graduate companies across 200 cities have used the Founder Institute to validate their idea, develop their plans, refine their product, build an advisory board, prepare for seed funding, and more.
