And let the world watch how you really do it!
The Founder Games is the first accelerator that doubles as a reality show, where early-stage startups are tested through real business challenges, real investors and real pressure - all captured on camera.
No Demo Day theater. No scripted success. Just execution, growth and truth.
We select startups that already have something real - an MVP, early traction or a clear problem worth solving.
Submit your startup details through our application form
Shortlisted teams are invited for thorough evaluation
Final teams enter the accelerator + reality show experience
Before applying, we strongly recommend downloading the Application Guide. It explains what we look for (and what we don't), how the show and accelerator actually work and what kind of founders thrive in this environment.
Download The Founder Games Application GuideFree PDF, 5 min read
This is not a 'watch-from-the-back-row' accelerator. You are in the arena!
You're tested through high-pressure business challenges — sales, PR, storytelling, investment negotiations — compressing months of learning into days.
Your journey is documented and distributed through a 10-episode reality show, reaching audiences across 15+ countries. Investors don't just see your deck — they see how you think, react, and lead.
Founders receive targeted support from operators, investors, and experts — before, during, and after challenges, not in generic office hours.
Selected startups compete for a €300K investment pool and gain direct exposure to VCs, angels, corporates, and partners actively looking for deals.
You join a regional founder community spanning Southeast Europe and beyond — mentors, alumni, investors, and future collaborators.
You're tested in real pressure situations, revealing how you think, decide, and lead when it matters. Most founders say this is where real clarity begins.
It works!
of startups raised funding during the show
generated revenue while participating
entered active investment negotiations
These are the founders who chose to step into the arena. Follow their journey as they build, grow and compete.
Cloud 9 TV is building a premium short-form vertical media format that reveals how wealth, influence and access really work inside the world’s most elite travel destinations, starting with Mykonos.
GetWork is the Uber for home services.
Virtual Story turns screen time into interactive learning. Built by a filmmaker, the platform combines storytelling, education and cognitive development, with projected B2B revenue of more than $70,000 for 2026.
The Software Society is an all-in-one SMB engine combining CRM and automated SEO. Jon brings serious execution experience, including SEO campaigns for New Balance and Purina that achieved 27x traffic growth. His platform is built for small businesses that need growth tools without enterprise complexity.
WellPet uses AI to better understand dogs’ health, behavior and emotional patterns. Built with Infineon Edge AI, the platform is tackling a fast-growing pet-tech market where owners want better tools to understand the pets they love.
Pet Travel Advisor is an AI concierge and digital passport system for pet-friendly travel. With 1,000+ businesses onboarded and a community of 20,000 followers, Andrea is building around a problem millions of pet owners already understand: traveling with animals is still too complicated.
LitArchive is a gamified webnovel platform built to make literature more profitable for authors. With a 50%+ revenue split and the founder’s 200k TikTok following, the company is combining creator economy, publishing and community-driven storytelling.
GM360 creates immersive 360° virtual tours for real estate, hospitality and local businesses. But the bigger vision is not only production. Gentjan is building a city-partner network, aiming for 300 partners in year one, so local businesses can get a professional digital footprint at scale.
Tourifique is a video-first travel platform turning discovery into booking. With partnerships connected to the New York Tourism Board, BSE Global and the Brooklyn Nets, plus 6.1 million organic TikTok views, the startup is building where content, tourism and commerce meet.
Minglr is a non-dating proximity app built around spontaneous real-life connection. With 1,550 active users, it helps people discover others nearby without turning every interaction into a swipe. It is not trying to replace human connection - it is trying to make the first step easier.
Findzzer is a social discovery platform for events and venue reservations, built for a generation that wants to know where to go, who is there and what is happening now. With 2,000+ active users and 246k monthly views, the platform is already becoming part of the urban nightlife layer.
QluPod is building clinical-grade wearable technology as a Class II Medical Device with TÜV/CE approval. While most wearables focus on lifestyle, QluPod focuses on health monitoring and telemedicine, tracking six vital signs and connecting patients to a wider care ecosystem.
The Founder Games is more than a show or an accelerator — it’s a growing community of ambitious builders from across Southeast Europe. Get access to a curated founder network, practical playbooks, mentors, capital, and a platform where your story can be seen by the region and beyond.
If you want comfort, this isn't for you. If you want growth, visibility and real feedback - it is.
Join the next cohort of founders building in public
Get access to content, founder stories, learning resources and future opportunities, even if you're not on the show (yet)
This is where startups stop hiding behind slides and start proving what they're made of.
Be among the first to experience 'The Founder Games' in a way like no other. Subscribe now and gain premium access to the show.
Women in Business track