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9,000+ companies launched

200+ chapter cities

awaiting new founder...

New Founders Start Here

Go from idea to business faster than ever before with Founder Institute - the world's largest AI-native company builder.
Startups Built
9,000+
Alumni Funding
$2BN+
Chapter Countries
100+
Mentors & Investors
40,000+
Founders Trained
750,000+
Company Exits
200+
Estimated Portfolio Value
$20BN+
Chapters in Developing Nations
26%
Years in Operation
17+

Your 'Someday' Starts Now

The playing field has leveled. If you are ready to work and have the right set of AI tools - there has never been a better time to launch a startup.

The Platform

Become an AI-Native Founder

Founder Institute gives anyone with an idea the AI tools, agents, and feedback to launch a fundable business.

  • Market research

  • Customer outreach

  • 24/7 startup advisor

  • Fundraising

Founder working with AI tools
Busy work completed Customers ready for discovery Pitch deck drafted

Trusted by world-class organizations

From idea to funded, in their words

Graduates from 100+ countries, and founders in the 2026 agentic cohorts, on what the program changed.

My investor materials, my data room, my pitch deck, all of it exists because someone was going to ask for it each Thursday morning. I've never had that kind of forcing function.
  • First funding offer 2 weeks after Funding Day
  • Delaware inc. Aug 2026
Without Founder Institute, Udemy may have never raised any money.
FI's accelerator was tough, but it prepared me for life as an entrepreneur. The support from local leaders, mentors, and ecosystem partners helped us close our first round.
My investor materials, my data room, my pitch deck, all of it exists because someone was going to ask for it each Thursday morning. I've never had that kind of forcing function.
  • First funding offer 2 weeks after Funding Day
  • Delaware inc. Aug 2026
Without Founder Institute, Udemy may have never raised any money.
FI's accelerator was tough, but it prepared me for life as an entrepreneur. The support from local leaders, mentors, and ecosystem partners helped us close our first round.

There’s no better time than the present.

Apply to the Zimbabwe 2022 program today.

Four AI tools on every deliverable

Your program, run by agents

Every Sprint comes with the tools to finish it. Watch one week in the life of a founder on the platform.

  • Playbook: Personalizes your Sprints to your stage, industry and goals.

  • Pitch Gym: A live AI investor that interrupts, pushes back and scores you.

  • AI Assist: Drafts each deliverable with you, from your own answers.

  • Frank: Answers any startup question, at any hour, with your context.

Local support.
Global possibility.

Global businesses start local, so FI builds sustainable startup ecosystems to help aspiring entrepreneurs. Apply to build alongside top local investors, advisors, and mentors.

Calvin Rupango

Investment Associate, Ajim Capital

Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata Jnr.

Co-founder, techbuild.africa

Geraldine Mupandanyama

Managing Partner, Darena Ventures

Katie Mapondera

Founder and Managing Partner, Q L and D LLC

Nhena Nyagura

Mr, Lateral Insight Ventures

Kevin Kachidza

CEO, Sarafin AI

Peter Kazickas

CEO, uncommon.org

Farai Mazhandu

CEO and Co-founder, Beta Quantum Technologies

Elizabeth Pambuka

Founder CEO, Thandinvest

Prechard Mhako

Entrepreneur, Abiyedu Kin

Tanatswa Mukwesha

CEO, Hype Digital

Noel Mavura

Founding Executive Director, Investors Hub Africa

Audrey Chidawanyika

Founder and Startup Growth Strategist, Simbiso Jumpstart Initiative

Tadzie Madzima

Founder, Ignite Youth Organisation

Natalie Jabangwe

Founder - CEO, ibuhub

Victor Utedzi

Founder - CEO, African Transmission Corporation

Taku Machirori

Founder & Executive Director, Emergination Africa

Tanaka Tava

Venture Associate, Capital Factory

Chintan Oza

Founder, Anantam Ecosystems

Nick Hughes

Founder & CEO, Founders Live

Lavina Ramkissoon

Africa's Voice - Chairperson and Director #aiMom, Founder Institute

Tofara Lindsay Chokera

CEO and Founder, TofaraOnline

Ropafadzo Sandra Shoko

Lawyer, StartUps Incubation Hub Administrator ,The startup-up Bae, Elevate Trust

Simba Mswaka

Programs and Partnerships Manager, Tech Hub Harare

Frequently Asked Questions

Which program should I apply to?

If you have an idea and want to build a company, apply to the FI Agentic Program: 10 sessions plus Funding Day, a Playbook generated for your startup, Pitch Gym and weekly feedback from mentors. It runs in 200+ cities; apply to the chapter nearest you or to an online cohort.

See the program or see the bootcamps.

How much does it cost?

The entrance fee for the Zimbabwe cohort is $199 USD. It is fully refundable before Kickoff and 75 percent refundable before Session 3. Payment plans are available through Partial.ly (5 percent service fee). Teams of 2 to 3 founders pay 1.5 times the fee and teams of 4 to 5 pay 2 times; the 2.5 percent Equity Collective pledge is per company, not per founder.

Is there an equity component?

Yes. About two-thirds of the way through the program, founders pledge 2.5 percent of future equity to the Equity Collective. It activates only at a qualified financing, carries no board seat or voting rights, and dissolves if the company fails. How the Equity Collective works.

Where can I see the agreements?

All program agreements are public at fi.co/agreements, including the Entrance Agreement, the only document you sign to enroll, and the Warrant you sign later in the program.

Can I talk to someone about the program?

Yes. Come to a free event in your city or online at fi.co/events, where local leaders and mentors take questions, or write to us at fi.co/support.

Applications are now open

Build your startup with AI agents doing the work

Join the FI Agentic Program: an AI-powered curriculum, world-class mentors, and free AI agents to turn your idea into a fundable company.

9,000+ companies launched since 2009

Turn your idea into the next unicorn

Our programs helped launch Udemy, Esusu, and thousands more, with a portfolio worth an estimated $20B. Yours could be next.

200+ cities and 95 countries

Join the world's largest agentic company builder

A global network of founders, mentors, and investors building enduring companies, with free AI agents to help you do the work.

Apply Now