Time to Build: Applications Now Open to Founder Institute Sao Paulo 2023

Founder First, Founder Always. Join us in 2022: Founder Institute is the #1 place in the world to turn ideas into fundable startups, and startups into global businesses.

Today’s economic 'New Normal' is full of reshuffling industries, and new problems in need of solutions - now is a time for entrepreneurs to act.

Whether you need to test and validate early hypotheses before making a large financial commitment to your startup idea, or you are ready to push your startup to the next level through aggressive weekly growth sprints to refine your vision, improve key metrics, and prepare for investor diligence, Founder Institute has the proven processes and network to help you do it.

If you could use a structured process that tells you what to focus on when, and a lifetime of support from Brasil's top investors and entrepreneurs, then apply to the Sao Paulo 2023 Founder Institute today.

We will be hosting several free startup events in Brasil over the coming weeks, where you can learn from top entrepreneurs all from the comfort of home:

From Zero to Startup Idea: A Practical Founder Framework: 9:00am, mar 16, 2026 (America/Sao_Paulo): https://FI.co/e/387644
Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
Cash Flow Survival for a First-Time Founder: 1:00pm, mar 17, 2026 (America/Sao_Paulo): https://FI.co/e/388880
Venture Trailblazers, featuring Andrew D’Souza of Boardy (VIP Event): 12:00pm, mar 19, 2026 (America/Sao_Paulo): https://FI.co/e/390000
Startup Advisors 101: How to Find Advisors and Maximize their Impact: 9:30pm, mar 23, 2026 (America/Sao_Paulo): https://FI.co/e/388459
[Restricted] VIP Pitch Lounge: Get Feedback from Global Investors & Advisors (Private Event): 1:00pm, mar 24, 2026 (America/Sao_Paulo): https://FI.co/e/389088
From Idea to Startup Team: Meet Your Future Co-Founder: 10:00pm, mar 26, 2026 (America/Sao_Paulo): https://FI.co/e/392221
Solo-Founder 101: How Anyone Can Start a Business Using AI: 1:00pm, mar 31, 2026 (America/Sao_Paulo): https://FI.co/e/392596
Stuck Without a Startup Idea? Build One That Fits You: 9:00pm, abr 07, 2026 (America/Sao_Paulo): https://FI.co/e/390151
Real Startup Lessons From FI Alumni Across the World: 1:00pm, abr 14, 2026 (America/Sao_Paulo): https://FI.co/e/390780
From Invisible Founder to Industry Voice Using LinkedIn: 1:00pm, abr 27, 2026 (America/Sao_Paulo): https://FI.co/e/392460
How to Choose the Right Startup Idea Before You Build: 9:00pm, mai 18, 2026 (America/Sao_Paulo): https://FI.co/e/390352
Inside the Founder Institute: Real Stories From Alumni: 1:00pm, jun 02, 2026 (America/Sao_Paulo): https://FI.co/e/390512
Turn Startup Hesitation Into Action: A Founder Mindset Framework: 9:00pm, jun 15, 2026 (America/Sao_Paulo): https://FI.co/e/393239
Stop Guessing, Start Raising: An Investor Q&A : 9:00pm, jul 06, 2026 (America/Sao_Paulo): https://FI.co/e/392844
Stop Overthinking and Build a Great Startup Idea: 1:00pm, jul 20, 2026 (America/Sao_Paulo): https://FI.co/e/390650
From Idea to Action: The Startup Mindset : 9:30am, ago 10, 2026 (America/Sao_Paulo): https://FI.co/e/393362
Meet FI Alumni Founders: High-Growth Startups Panel : 1:00pm, ago 10, 2026 (America/Sao_Paulo): https://FI.co/e/391202
Build a Startup Idea Investors Won’t Ignore: 9:00pm, ago 18, 2026 (America/Sao_Paulo): https://FI.co/e/391279
What Makes Investors Say Yes: Startup Funding AMA: 1:00pm, set 01, 2026 (America/Sao_Paulo): https://FI.co/e/392979
Break the Idea Loop and Decide What to Build: 9:00pm, set 21, 2026 (America/Sao_Paulo): https://FI.co/e/391559
From Idea to Traction: Lessons From Global FI Alumni: 9:30pm, out 05, 2026 (America/Sao_Paulo): https://FI.co/e/390926
From Dreamer to Doer: Build the Founder Mindset: 1:00pm, out 13, 2026 (America/Sao_Paulo): https://FI.co/e/393492
From Founder to Funded: Interactive Q&A with Top Startup Investor: 2:00pm, nov 03, 2026 (America/Sao_Paulo): https://FI.co/e/393116
From “Maybe” to Momentum: Building a Great Startup Idea: 10:00pm, nov 17, 2026 (America/Sao_Paulo): https://FI.co/e/391438
From First Idea to First Funding: Global Alumni Stories: 2:00pm, dez 01, 2026 (America/Sao_Paulo): https://FI.co/e/391062

See all upcoming events

Make better, faster business decisions in 2022 by sharing your latest progress, challenges, and strategies for constant feedback and evaluation from our expert mentors and advisors, every step of the way–scale your team, develop new business opportunities, and recruit an amazing advisory board with the world's largest network of international startup founders, CEOs, advisors, and investors.

The Brasil accelerator is led by some of the region's top startup leaders, including Alexandre Uehara (Conselheiro de Inovação Corporativa e Palestrante, Innov8), Leo Gmeiner (CEO, School Guardian), Marco De Biasi (Startups Investor & Advisor /Program Director, FI/LAAS/LGA), Mayra Motta (Startups Legal Advisor & Local Leader Brasil , MM Corporate Law), Morganna Tito (Morganna Tito, inovabra). In addition, some of Sao Paulo's top entrepreneurs will be participating as mentors in the program, including:

Abdellah Aouf: Chief Executive Officer, GO PLATFORM
Admar Neto: Founder and Cofounder, Northern and Paraty Brazil by UTMB
Alberto Ferreira: Co Founder, Cervejaria Baden Baden
Alberto Martellini: Local Director , Founder Institute Italy
Alexandre Bezerra: CEO & Founder, Amachains
Alexandre Uehara: Palestrante e Conselheiro de Inovação Corporativa, Innov8
Aline Catiusce: COO, HISOWER
Amanda Martins: Founder, ciclou
Ana Pires: Head of International Partnerships, Softex
Ana Julia Ferreira: Project Management Officer (PMO), Radix Investimentos
Andre Almeida: Founder, Business Portugal
Andre Torbitoni: Founder | estratégia e escalabilidade tecnológica, Uníssona
ANDRE TCHERNOBILSKY: Board member, Founder, CEO, Innovation and Impact Projects
André Costenaro: Director of Business Development and Innovation, OCP
Andrea Monti: Managing Director Impact and Sustainability, Founder Institute
Andrea Cerqueira: Sales, Marketing and Customer Success Director, Motivart
Andreea Marinescu: CEO, Tech Add-Venture
Andries Oudshoorn: angel investor, advisor and board member, Amachains
Angela Lupi: Co-Founder, Nebula Prima
Anna Carolina Cobianchi: Community Associate, WEWORK
Arturo Flores Marquéz: Angel Investor & CFO , Traxión
Bernardo Ketzer, UNISA
Bruna Losada: Vice-Diretora-Geral | Deputy Dean & COO, Saint Paul Escola de Negócios
Bruno Dequech Ceschin: Co-founder & CFO, JUPTER & Director, Founder Institute Brazil
Bruno Okamoto: Founder, EUNERD
Carlos Nogueira: Head of Sales, Donnelley Financial Solutions (DFIN)
CAROLINE FARIA: Sustainability Specialist, Schneider Electric
Celia Caiuby: CEO, LegalFamily
Cesar Thomé: CFO, Levitar
Cintia Mano: Angel Investor
Claudio Gianturco Gulisano: Managing Partner, Lean Business Research (www.leanbr.org)
Claudio Santiago: Partner, EscapeTime Brasil
Clovis Castelo Junior: Head of Research /Member of the Board /Lecturer, FATEC USA / ClienteSA
CRISTIANO RUSSO: Health Innovation Strategist | Líder em Ecossistemas de Saúde Digital | Venture Partner | Professor PUCPR | Mentor Executivo |, Lake Innovation Studio
Daniel Vasserman: Head of Corporate Innovation & Partnerships, 100 Open Startups
Daniela Coimbra Swiatek: Especialista em Inovação, Nowy Swiat Pesquisa e Assessoria
Daniela Simão: Audit Committee Member, BANCO NACIONAL DE ANGOLA
Daniela Albini Pinheiro: Analista de inovação, CPQD
Denise Pereira: CEO, Denise Curi, Phd
Diego Perez: Legal, Compliance & Co-Founder, StartMeUp Crowdfunding
Diego Simon: Founder & CEO, B2B Master
Don Samoil: Managing Partner
Eder Campos: Mentor e Investidor Anjo | CX | Modelo de negócios | Cultura, FDC - Fundação Dom Cabral
Edson Ferro: Diretor de Operações Empresariais, SIMPOSS Assessoria Empresarial.
Eduardo Martucci: Product Owner, Exactaworks · Full-time
Eduardo Mendes: Senior Sales Executive - Financial Services , SAS
Eduardo Micheletto: Diretor, Micheletto Comunicação
Eduardo Nunes: CEO, ATRIA Corp
Elcio Morelli: Founder, Health Angels Br
Ely Dirani: Associate Professor, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo
Emily Coelho: Head da Jornada do Empreendedor , SMU Investimentos
Eniceli Rodrigues Moraes: Director, CPQD
Erica Fridman Stul: Managing Partner, Sororité
Fabiana Alves: Marketing & Communications Manager, Comgás
Fabiano Porto: Executive Director, Global Regeneration Institute
Fabio Frazão: Founder and Director, Mexeri.ca
Fabio Nogueira: Founder & CEO, Aurora Venture Builder
Fábio Póvoa: Managing Director, Smart Money Ventures
Fabricio Lira Figueiredo: Head of Innovation Hub, CPQD
Felipe Brasileiro: co-founder & CEO, Parafuzo
Felipe Dos Santos: Co-Founder, Play2sell
Felipe Wasserman: PARTNER , BABUXCA
Felipe Maruyama: Diretor de Operações, programas e projetos, Centro de Inovação, Empreendedorismo e Tecnologia (CIETEC)
Fernanda Stasczak: CEO, Adviseo Consultoria Empresarial
Flavio Galvão: CEO & Founder, ECP Ambiental / Canal Poluição
Frank Rolim: Frank Rolim, Founder conecte.ai
Franklin Kamnang Ngansop: Co-Founder, Vitamin CS Coaching
Gabriela Accorsi: CPO e Co- Founder , La Decora
Gianfranco Vento: CEO , Cassa di Risparmio di San Marino
Graziella Comini: Associate Professor, School of Economics, Business and Accounting at the University of São Paulo
Guilherme Yata: Founder-CEO, S3 Projects
Guilherme Skaf Amorim: Head of Partnerships Head of Partnerships , Wayra Brasil
Guillermo Guzmán: GP, AIDA Ventures
Guto Rosa: Head of Products, Superlógica Tecnologias
Henrique Macedo: Socio/Partner, GAAP Consultoria & Corpservices Group
Henry Suzuky: CEO & Founder, Axonal Consultoria Tecnológica
Humberto Matsuda: Managing Partner, Matsuda Invest
Icaro Molinari: CEO & Founder, CoProdux
Igor Louro, Wenovattion
In Hsieh: Empreendedor especialista em Ecommerce
Javier Caruso: Founder & CEO , Webstarted
Jeferson Procopio: CEO & Founder, Quick Digital
João Cerqueira: Co-Founder and CEO, 4H Knowledge Management
Jorge Azevedo: Angel Investor and Author, Como nasce uma startup
Juliana Gavini: Especialista de desenvolvimento industrial, SENAI - Serviço Nacional de Aprendizagem Industrial
Junior Borneli: CEO e Fundador da StartSe, StartSe
Lais Fonseca Alves: Founder & CEO , Precavida
Lara Bandeira: Sr. Portfolio Associate, Founder Institute
Laura Gurgel: Founder, Clube de Negócios
Laurent Serafini: CEO
Leandro Hernández: Founder, Cuida.Life
Leo Gmeiner: Program Director, Founder Institute Brasil
Leonardo Gaitan: CEO & co-founder, Autoparti / Kiddo
Leonardo Addeo Ramos: Vice-Director Clinico, Hospital Nipo-Brasileiro
Lorenzo Barbati: Executive Director, GV Angels
LUIZ EDUARDO LEAO: Gerente de Tecnologias Educacionais, SENAI - Serviço Nacional de Aprendizagem Industrial
Marcelo Vivacqua: Founder and CEO, Associação Brasil Internacional de Inventores, Cientistas e Empreendedores Inovadores - ABIPIR
Marcelo Bella: C-Level, Mentor e Investidor Anjo, Picpay
Marcelo Vasconcelos: Managing Partner, Black Lion Brasil
Marcelo Paulo: Head de Dados, Evertec Brasil
Marcio Motter: Finance Executive “as a service” | Advisor | Mentor, N/A
Marcio Mendes: CEO & Founder, Marketing Sustentável
Marco De Biasi: Startups Investor & Advisor /Program Director/Conselheiro Fiscal, LGA/Italcam/Mobicity
Marcos Olmos: Head of VC, VOX Capital
Mariana Velásquez: Founder - CEO, BRANDDU
Mariana Guarini: Membro do Conselho de Administração , MAM - Museu de Arte Moderna de São Paulo
Mariana Camargo: CEO, Uníssona
Mariana Stamato: Co-Founder & Co-entrepreneur, Devir Social / Trê Investindo com Causa
Matheus Breguêz: Diretor de Inovação e Tecnologia, Fundação Beta
Matheus Fagundes, LvlUp Ventures
Matteo Santini: Startups Private Investor, Private Investor
Maurizio Calcopietro: Managing Partner, Core Angels Atlantic
Mayra Motta: Sócia, Mayra Motta Advocacia Corporativa
Michelle Soares Borelli: Lider de Comunidade, ESPM Escola Superior de Propaganda e Marketing
Monica Lobenschuss: CEO, Vendas Exponenciais
Monique Schwinden: Sócia e Diretora Comercial, Escape Time Brasil
Morganna Tito: Assessora, Secretaria de Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação do Estado de São Paulo
Nara Iachan: CMO, Cuponeria
Nelson Moreira Da Silva Junior: CEO, Supereficiente
Neusa Andrade: CEO & Founder, Indiip- Intelligent Drug Information and knowledge Integration Platform LLC
Nima Kaz: Co Founder, JUPTER & Director, Founder Institute Brazil
Odete Afonso Duarte: Corporate Communication Branding , ESG Executive, Consultant
Otávio César Cafundo De Moraes: CEO , Brasil Diverso
Paloma Lecheta: Regional Director - LatAm, Founder Institute
Pâmela Ponce: CEO, IAPRENDI & ELA S/A
Patricia Lacerda: CEO & Founder, FOL Solutions
Paula Machado: CEO & Founder, Meister Safe System, Look2You
Paulo Faria: CEO & Founder, OTSE Finance
Paulo Carneiro: Manager, Craton-Roche
Pedro Napoleão Jr.: CEO & Founder, ByStartup
Peixoto Accyoli: Chief Executive Officer, RE/MAX Brasil
Rafael Sampaio: CEO Brasil, NovaRed
Rafael Campos: VC Portfolio Manager, VOX Capital
Rafael Honorato: Founder, Lidero
Rafael Angelo Nanis: Coordenador Growth Marketing, Atmosfera Ventures
Raquel Molina: CEO, Futuriste Tecnologias Inovadoras
Rebeca Dreicon: Regional Managing Director Latam, Toluna Group
Reinaldo Azevedo: CEO, Energy Review
Renata Bonaldi: CEO & Founder, Sleep Up
Renata Marques: CIO Latin America, Natura &Co
Renato Simon: Managing Partner, LAAS Latin American Angels Society
Ricardo Normand: Venture Partner, Tomahawk.vc
Ricardo Oliani: Director, Counselor e Co Founder, ABRAPS / Mosai&CO / Ogliani
Ricardo Wang: Ex-Founder, Investor, Enthusiastic and Curious, GM, ex(Mdlz, RB and Kerry)
Ricardo Oliveira: Founder and Managing Director, RWO Assessoria Empresarial
Roberto Soria: AI Transformation | Cloud Solution Architecture | Customer Success Lead | Digital & Business Transformation | Security | Technology, Microsoft
Robson Del Fiol: Channel & Franchising Director, Skyone
Rodrigo Bindes: CEO e Co Founder, Nutrifresh
Rodrigo Huback De Azevedo: Founder/CEO, ISBrasil e IBND
Rodrigo Oliveira: CRO, StayApp
Rodrigo Oliveira: CEO e Diretor de Estratégias, Plástico Virtual, Blob e Álamo Inteligência Comercial
Rodrigo Saad Rodrigues: CEO & Founder, Monitoragua
Rodrigo Barbosa: Partner, Communications Director, Araucária Ventures & Consulting
Rodrigo Grossi: Founder and COO, Dynadok
Rushdy Ahmad: Director, Wyss Diagnostics Accelerator, Harvard University
Sanderson Pajeú: Founder & CEO, naPorta
Sandra Arango: FMCG International C-Level Executive, Ex-P&G/KHC/Reckitt
Semi Kim: Sr. Fintech Business Development Manager, Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Sergio Escobar: CEO & Partner, BCF Ventures, Managing Director, Lalotte Ventures
Sergio Emanuel Cusmai: CEO and Founder, AIpha-G
Simone Galvagno: ESG Business Developer & Consultant, Azeus Convene
TATIANA YOSHIDA: Innovation and Technology Coordinator, Grupo Energia
Thiago Garcia: CEO & General Partner, 10X Partners
Tijana Momirov: Startup Consultant - Product Management, StartupSetup
Vando Ribeiro: CEO, Grupo 2MI
Vanessa Abrahão: Head of Customer Success , Groove Marketing de Incentivo
Victor Lugli: Managing Partner, Lugli Group

And many more to be announced.

Since 2009, Founder Institute’s highly-structured accelerator programs have helped over 8,900 entrepreneurs to grow quickly, know what to do next, and make key connections through the largest community of startup advisors in the world.

It all starts with our renowned ‘FI Core’ accelerator, which pushes founders at the idea and pre-seed stages to reach the milestones needed for investment and sustained growth. Alumni of FI Core then receive free access to our advanced ‘Founder Lab’ accelerators for years to come, and can get matched with prospective investors in the FI Venture Network - a collection of global funds actively investing in the earliest rounds of funding.

The results speak for themselves: FI Alumni have raised over 2BN in funding, and are building impactful businesses across 200+ cities and 100+ countries all across the globe. (see the FI 50 Report here).