About us
Startup Founder 101 brings together aspiring and experienced tech entrepreneurs to discuss, meet, and collaborate to build great new startups, and to push the local startup ecosystem forward.
This group hosts numerous free events throughout the year where you can learn the best practices of starting a company from people who have been there and done that. You’ll have the opportunity to meet local founders and investors, exchange ideas with experts, get feedback on your idea, participate in startup workshops, and more.
Typical startup event topics include:
• Coming up with a strong startup idea
• Startup legal basics
• How to pitch your startup
• Starting a company without quitting your day job
• How to raise funding for your startup
• And much more!
Join the group to be invited to our next event!
Upcoming events
6
Startup Funding in Germany: 2027 Market Outlook & Fundraising Insights
·OnlineOnlineJoin us for an exclusive Founder Institute event, where we bring together a panel of esteemed investors to discuss the German startup funding scene, get their insights on the current investment landscape, trends, and opportunities, and learn how to increase the chances of raising the next round for founders and aspiring entrepreneurs.
Our panel of prominent German investors will share their perspectives on the European fundraising scene in 2026, their expectations for 2027, their insights on securing funding, the key factors they consider when evaluating startups, and the common pitfalls to avoid during the fundraising process.
❯ Panel:
- Olav Carlsen (Innovation Manager, SPRIND - Bundesagentur für Sprunginnovationen)
- Frank Nicolaisen (Managing Director, HypoVereinsbank - UniCredit)
- Katrin Robeck (Managing Director, IBB Ventures)
- Mohammad Hossein Tavangar (Director, Founder Institute Germany)
In addition to gaining expert advice on startup funding, attendees will learn more about the Founder Institute's agentic programs, which have helped 9,000+ entrepreneurs worldwide turn their ideas into successful businesses.
❯ Event Highlights:
- A panel discussion featuring top VCs in the European startup ecosystem
- Q&A session, allowing attendees to ask questions and engage with the speakers
- Networking opportunities with fellow entrepreneurs, investors, and industry professionals
- Information on the Founder Institute's accelerator programs and how they can help startups secure funding and grow
❯ What You'll Learn:
- The current market situation and the market outlook in 2027 for Founders and VCs
- Key metrics and prerequisites for raising funding in 2026
- How to make yourself more attractive to investors
.
❯❯ This is a live, interactive online event, so be sure to RSVP at https://fi.co/e/402807/meetup to receive the Zoom URL to join us live!
3 attendees
U.S. Visas & Immigration 101 for Startup Founders
·OnlineOnlineBuilding a company in the U.S. is hard enough. Doing it as a non-citizen founder means navigating an immigration system that was never designed with startups in mind. This 101 session breaks down the essentials in plain English. You'll get a clear map of the visa paths open to founders, how they differ, and what each one actually asks of you when you're the one building the company. We'll also look at how milestones like fundraising and revenue shape your options, and the mistakes that quietly put a founder's status at risk. Bring your questions for a live Q&A at the end.
❯❯ RSVP now at https://fi.co/e/405316/meetup to get your link and join us live! This event is hosted in partnership with Manifest Law , a modern immigration law firm helps founders and companies get the visas they need to build in the U.S. — O-1A, E-2, L-1, H-1B, and green cards. Learn more at: https://gomanifestlaw.com/founderx
❯ What You'll Learn:
- Which U.S. visas are actually open to founders, and how the main options differ
- What "self-sponsorship" really means, and when it's possible
- How fundraising, revenue, and traction can strengthen or complicate your case
- The status risks hiding in a pivot, a down round, or a slow start, and how to plan ahead
- Where to start if you're building in the U.S. without a visa strategy yet
❯ Who Should Attend:
- Non-citizen founders building, or planning to build, a company in the U.S.
- Founders already on a visa who are fundraising, pivoting, or scaling
- International entrepreneurs deciding which visa path fits their plans
- Anyone who wants the immigration basics before sitting down with a lawyer
.
❯❯ Don’t miss this live, interactive online event packed with valuable insights! RSVP now at https://fi.co/e/405316/meetup to get your link and join us live!
1 attendee
From Dreamer to Doer: Build the Founder Mindset
·OnlineOnlineHave you ever wondered why some people take the leap while others stay stuck? The difference isn't luck, resources, or timing — it's the way founders think. Join Jonathan Greechan, Co-Founder & CEO of the Founder Institute, for a fascinating deep-dive into the psychology behind entrepreneurial action. In this live session, you'll unpack the cognitive patterns that hold aspiring founders back and explore the mental frameworks that top entrepreneurs use to push through uncertainty. With practical exercises and a follow-up networking session, you'll leave with both insight and momentum.
❯❯ RSVP now at https://fi.co/startupwebinar/24087 to get your link and join us live!
❯ What You’ll Learn:
- How to move from hesitation to action and stop waiting for the "perfect time"
- The 4 core mental barriers that keep you stuck in the startup journey
- The key mindset shifts from “It’s not my fault” to “What can I do differently?”
- How to train your mind to embrace progress and overcome excuses with clarity and confidence
- Practical exercises to leave the event feeling empowered and ready to take the next step
❯ Featured Speaker:
- Jonathan Greechan - Co-Founder & CEO at Founder Institute: Since 2009, Jonathan has grown and scaled the world's largest pre-seed accelerator to chapters in over 200 cities and 100 countries, producing over 9,000 portfolio companies with an estimated value of $2BN. He also serves as an Advisor to Oxford Entrepreneurs (Oxford University), Horasis, and the USC Incubator (University of Southern California). Previously, Jonathan was a Partner of TheFunded.com, the first website for founders to rate and review venture capitalists, and an Executive Producer of the Founder Showcase. This leading Silicon Valley startup conference hosted speakers like Elon Musk. Jonathan’s writing has been featured in Fortune, TechCrunch, and Entrepreneur Magazine, and he has spoken at startup conferences on four continents.
❯ Who Should Attend:
- Aspiring founders with an idea but who haven’t started building yet
- Entrepreneurs looking to break through mental blocks and move forward with their ideas
- Early-stage founders who feel stuck in analysis paralysis or waiting for the “right moment”
- Anyone eager to develop an entrepreneurial mindset and gain the confidence to move from idea to execution
.
❯❯ Don’t miss this live, interactive online event packed with valuable insights! RSVP now at https://fi.co/startupwebinar/24087 to get your link and join us live!
3 attendees
Founder Meet&Greet & Cofounder Search: Cohort Start Edition!
KERB Food Hall, Potsdamer Platz 2, Berlin, DELooking for the right people to support you with your next step? Looking for the right co-founder? Just have a question?
We are proud to continue this event series with guided networking and great people from different angles of the Berlin startup ecosystem with you at the KERB food hall!
If you have a startup idea or a growing company and you want to expand your network in Berlin, then join us for the in-person 'Founder Meet & Greet' event. At this informal networking event, you can connect with other early-stage entrepreneurs, startup mentors, and advisors from the Founder Institute Berlin network. Socialize over drinks with potential co-founders, advisors, mentors and partners. Most of all, get away from the computer and have fun!
❯ Your hosts of the day:
- Ferdinand Mühlhäuser (Managing Director @ Founder Institute Germany)
❯ Who should Attend?
- Anyone interested in entrepreneurship
- Anyone who has a pre-seed tech company or a startup idea
- Anyone interested in joining a startup accelerator
- Anyone who is looking for a cofounder or would want to join a startup as a cofounder
❯ What is the Agenda?
- (Guided) Networking, Socializing and Drinks
Code of conduct
We are committed to a respectful and inclusive environment for everyone. Discrimination, harassment, or inappropriate behavior of any kind will not be tolerated, and we reserve the right to remove attendees who violate this code of conduct.❯❯ This is a live offline event, to be sure to receive our updates be sure to RSVP at https://fi.co/e/404580/meetup!
To join our upcoming Founder Institute program in October 2026, you can apply here: https://fi.co/Germany. For more information about the investors, accelerators, incubators, and tech events available in Berlin, see our list of Startup Resources.
About Founder Institute
The Founder Institute is the world’s most proven network to turn ideas into fundable startups, and startups into global businesses. Since 2009, our structured accelerator programs have helped over 9,000 entrepreneurs raise over $1.75BN in funding. Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 100 countries, our mission is to empower communities of talented and motivated people to build impactful technology companies worldwide.80 attendees
Past events
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