Founder Institute - Afrikan Heroes

Founder Institute Opens Applications For The 6th Edition Of Its Programme In Tunisia

March 16, 2021

The Founder Institute (www.fi.co), the world’s leading startup launch and acceleration program, announced today that it has opened applications for its 6th semester in Tunisia. Since its launch in Tunisia in 2015, the program has created more than 33 promising innovation-driven startups, including several graduates developing innovative products. Founder Institute Tunisia has already launched some of the most promising startups in the Tunisian ecosystem such as Evey, Prefabulous, Moome, Vynd, Wattnow, ARCHIVART and many more.

Anyone interested in creating a startup can contact Founder Institute Tunisia at https://fi.co/join.

Events for the general public are planned soon, during which participants will be able to learn how to create a startup in Tunisia and find out more about our program.

For aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs who are up to the challenge, the Founder Institute’s comprehensive Silicon Valley step-by-step program provides the structure, mentor support and global network of entrepreneurs needed to launch a sustainable business. 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. Among the companies graduating from the Founder Institute are fast growing start-ups on 6 continents like Udemy, Realty Mogul, Itembase, goplaceit, Appota, and many more.

The Tunisian chapter of the Founder Institute will be led by Emna Ghariani, Global Director MENA region Founder Institute, Ali Mnif, Partnership Director Founder Institute and the new recruit within the Achref Chafter team, Program Manager Founder Institute Tunisia.

Founder Institute has more than 18,000 mentors on six continents, including some of the world’s most renowned entrepreneurs and investors. Founder Institute participants create their businesses alongside 20 to 40 start-up mentors who have created, managed or invested in high-growth technology companies, and the average mentor / founder ratio in each program is greater than 2 / 1. Our mentors join weekly sessions, share experiences, facilitate office hours, and provide critical feedback, assessment and guidance throughout the business creation process. Here is a non-exhaustive list of our brilliant network of mentors who have never stopped supporting the program.

Yehia Houri (Managing Director, Flat6Labs)
Houd Ghozzi (CEO, Open Startup Tunisia)
Noomane Fehri (CEO, Our Digital Future)
Phil Libin (Co-founder & CEO, All Turtles)
Amel Saidane (Co-Founder & CEO Betacube)
Khaled Ben Jilani (Executive Partner, AfricInvest)
Mondher Khanfir (Co-founder, Wikistartup)
Karim Jouini (CEO Expensya)

Anyone interested can apply to Founder Institute Tunisia at http://fi.co/apply before the deadline for submitting applications, set at April 4, 2021. This year, the 6th cohort of Founder Institute Tunisia is launched in partnership with Equity Capital (known as CTKD) and the law firm Mezoui Knani & Khelif. A big thank you to our partners who continue to believe in the essential role of the Founder Institute in the Tunisian ecosystem.

Charles Rapulu Udoh

Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based lawyer who has advised startups across Africa on issues such as startup funding (Venture Capital, Debt financing, private equity, angel investing etc), taxation, strategies, etc. He also has special focus on the protection of business or brands’ intellectual property rights ( such as trademark, patent or design) across Africa and other foreign jurisdictions.
He is well versed on issues of ESG (sustainability), media and entertainment law, corporate finance and governance.
He is also an award-winning writer

Newly Launched Africa-focused VC Pacer Ventures Goes Through Founder Institute To Invest In African Startups

December 15, 2020

African startups desirous of pitching the newly launched VC firm, Pacer Ventures, may have to go through Founder Institute. This is because Founder Institute (FI), the world’s largest pre-seed startup accelerator has annouced Pacer Ventures as ‘Investor in Residence’ for the Founder Institute’s African Accelerator program. As part of the program, all startups that graduate the Founder Institute in Africa will be reviewed by Pacer Ventures for potential investment in their seed or pre-seed round of funding.

*Ryan Micheletti, Head of Global Operations for the Founder Institute*

“FI is quickly becoming the gold standard for pre-seed acceleration in Africa,” says Ryan Micheletti, Head of Global Operations for the Founder Institute. “We are excited to strengthen our leadership position by partnering with Pacer Ventures to foster investment in FI Alumni all across the Continent.”

Here Is What You Need To Know

This development follows the announcement of Founder Institute as a strategic partner of Pacer Ventures for African early-stage startups that are solving some of the most critical problems on the continent.

Managing Partner of Pacer Ventures, Gbemi Akande, sees value in formalizing the partnership with the Silicon Valley based program.

“Our partnership is in line with what Pacer VC was set up to accomplish,” he said. “By partnering with Founder Institute, we at Pacer VC will accelerate our mission of supporting early stage companies. It is a win-win and we look forward to a mutually beneficial collaboration with FI.”

Pacer Ventures says it continue to leverage its strategic partnership with Founder Institute chapters throughout Africa to identify and recommend winning teams with scalable solutions that meet market needs.
FI has an Alumni strength of 100+ companies tackling various challenges across the continent and this is bound to grow with FI’s expanded footprint in Africa and Pacer’s move to increase access to early-stage funding.
Pacer Ventures was one of a handful of new funds selected to pitch to a global gathering of limited partners from around the world at the VC Lab Venture Forum, which has also led to increased interest from LPs around the world.

“Africa faces many challenges, but within every challenge lies opportunity and young people are leveraging technology to solve these problems across the Continent. It is our duty to inspire and fund the entrepreneurs who are building valuable solutions to our most pressing problems. Africa is the future, and investors and LPs are now becoming aware of this,” says General Partner at Pacer Ventures and FI Regional Director, Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata.

Charles Rapulu Udoh

Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based lawyer who has advised startups across Africa on issues such as startup funding (Venture Capital, Debt financing, private equity, angel investing etc), taxation, strategies, etc. He also has special focus on the protection of business or brands’ intellectual property rights ( such as trademark, patent or design) across Africa and other foreign jurisdictions.
He is well versed on issues of ESG (sustainability), media and entertainment law, corporate finance and governance.
He is also an award-winning writer

Application Opens For Founder Institute’s Startup Accelerator

October 10, 2020

The Founder Institute, the world’s largest pre-seed startup accelerator, has announced that its upcoming South Africa Virtual 2020 program is now accepting applications. In an effort to ensure the health and safety of the program’s mentors, partners, and participants, this Founder Institute cohort will be held completely online, allowing anyone to build a business alongside some of Cape Town’s top entrepreneurs and investors from the comfort of home.

Any aspiring entrepreneur or startup team interested in building a technology business is invited to apply to the South Africa Virtual 2020 Founder Institute at or attend a free online startup event in South Africa.

The South Africa Chapter will be led by local ecosystem leaders Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata Jnr. (Co-founder, GoDo Hub), Jo Eyre (tech marketer and business communication coach), Lara Onafeko (Co-Founder & CEO, Sidney Folarin Consulting), Yongama Skweyiya (Chief Executive, IsimoVest Venture Capital Partners), and will feature many of the region’s top startup investors, founders, and executives as mentors.

Pre-seed startup accelerator program for South Africa

The Founder Institute South Africa Virtual 2020 pre-seed accelerator program begins on 2021-01-26, and aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs looking to build solutions for the future will have the opportunity to:

Get constant feedback and regular office hours with 40+ South African Mentors, investors, and entrepreneurs.

Make quick progress on their business using a proven, structured process to get to traction and funding that has helped alumni build great products and raise over $950 million in funding.

Get fast-tracked to a suite of post-programs, including Funding Lab, to continue getting expert support for years to come.

Expand their support network to include startup founders, CEOs, and investors from the Founder Institute’s global network of 4,300+ alumni and 14,000+ mentors across 200+ cities

Charles Rapulu Udoh

Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based lawyer who has advised startups across Africa on issues such as startup funding (Venture Capital, Debt financing, private equity, angel investing etc), taxation, strategies, etc. He also has special focus on the protection of business or brands’ intellectual property rights ( such as trademark, patent or design) across Africa and other foreign jurisdictions.
He is well versed on issues of ESG (sustainability), media and entertainment law, corporate finance and governance.
He is also an award-winning writer