Georgia Startup Academy by 500 Global (Innovative Startup Acceleration Program)

Georgia Startup Academy by 500 Global (Innovative Startup Acceleration Program) is sponsored by Georgia's Innovation and Technology Agency (GITA). The Georgia Startup Academy by 500 Global is a 12-month startup acceleration program designed to support early-stage founders in transforming innovative ideas into scalable technology businesses.

Georgia Startup Academy by 500 Global | 500 Global Georgia Startup Academy by 500 Global Information Session is now available to watch on-demand. This webinar will give you everything you need to know about our new program designed for early-stage founders in Georgia actively building a startup, with a clear problem and an initial product or MVP in progress.

July 2026 - June 2027 | Tbilisi, Georgia Georgia Startup Academy by 500 Global The Georgia Startup Academy by 500 Global, a part of GITA's Innovative Startup Acceleration Program, is a comprehensive 12-month program designed for early-stage founders in Georgia looking to validate their problem, build or enhance their product, strengthen their business model, and prepare for local and international growth.

Applications for MVP Stage (Stage 2) is now open.

Application Deadline: July 31, 2026 MVP Stage Dates: August 31 - December 18, 2026 Full Program Dates: July 6, 2026 - June 25, 2027 Program Details About Us Frequently asked questions Empowering Georgia’s Next Generation of Tech Innovators The Georgia Startup Academy by 500 Global, a part of GITA's Innovative Startup Acceleration Program, is designed for founders who want to transform early concepts into startups.

Over the course of this 12-month program, you will have the opportunity to gain access to a rigorous, structured pathway that helps you validate your problem, understand your market, build your MVP, refine your business model, as you look to enter both local and international markets with confidence.

Uniquely curated for aspiring entrepreneurs, university students with startup ambitions and/or early-stage founders building tech-driven solutions in Georgia.

This program is open to all Georgian and international founders who: Have a registered legal entity in Georgia, or are planning to establish one Have a problem they need to validate Need support building or refining a minimum viable product (MVP) Seek to understand market needs for product-market fit (PMF) Aim to launch a new product in Georgia Keen to explore new markets beyond Georgia If your startup is at the early-revenue stage with the potential to address global markets and seeking VC investment to grow, please check out our 500 Eurasia Accelerator .

Georgia Startup Academy by 500 Global offers founders Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Ac lacus vestibulum vestibulum tortor sed egestas congue et leo. Learn directly from global mentors who have supported thousands of founders worldwide.

The curriculum blends Silicon Valley ethos with market realities in Georgia, helping you build a product customers truly want. International Market Exploration Gain exposure to international perspectives that prepare you to scale beyond Georgia. Build a product that is competitive in your target markets, backed by a network that has the potential to open doors across borders.

Every session across the three stages - Founder-Market Fit, MVP, and Market Entry - is designed such that you’re not just learning concepts, but immediately able to apply them to drive progress for your startup.

Funding & Investor Networks Startups advancing to Stage 2 and Stage 3 receive grants of GEL 50,000 and GEL 150,000* respectively from Georgia’s Innovation & Technology Agency (GITA), and opportunities to present at the final showcase.

Here’s what you can expect Stage 1: Jul 6, 2026 - Aug 28, 2026 (2 months) This stage is designed to help founders refine their business concepts, understand market needs, and validate their problem through structured mentorship and coaching. The duration of Stage 1 is 2 months, and up to 40 startups will be mentored.

Key Focus Areas for Stage 1: Founder’s unique capabilities and competitive edge Identifying and analysing market opportunities Customer discovery and problem validation Business roadmap refinement and product positioning Financial planning and budgeting At the end of this stage, the goal is that startups would have a validated problem-solution fit and a deeper understanding of their target market.

The program Fee for Phase 1 is $35,000 per startup , excluding travel expenses. This fee covers the comprehensive support, mentorship, and resources provided throughout Phase 1. By completing Phase 1, startups is expected to gain valuable insights, refine their strategies, and make informed decisions for successful market expansion.

Stage 2: Aug 31, 2026 - Dec 18, 2026 (4 months) Minimum Viable Product (MVP) In this stage, startups focus on developing a functional MVP that can be tested in the market. The goal is to create a version of the product that provides enough value to attract early adopters and validate user needs. The duration of Stage 2 is 4 months, and up to 20 startups will be mentored.

Key Focus Areas for Stage 2: Designing and building the first working prototype Running user testing and collecting feedback Refining product features based on early customer interactions Establishing a business model and initial revenue streams Identifying potential product-market fit Startups selected for this stage will receive a grant of GEL 50,000 from GITA*.

Startups will also have the opportunity to exhibit at the Product Open House to a community of founders, mentors, ecosystem partners, potential customers, and relevant industry experts to gather product feedback in real-time. The program Fee for Phase 1 is $35,000 per startup , excluding travel expenses. This fee covers the comprehensive support, mentorship, and resources provided throughout Phase 1.

By completing Phase 1, startups is expected to gain valuable insights, refine their strategies, and make informed decisions for successful market expansion. Stage 3: Jan 11, 2027 - Jun 25, 2027 (6 months) The final stage of the program is dedicated to helping startups enter the market, scale operations, and secure long-term business success. The duration of Stage 3 is 6 months, and up to 10 startups will be mentored.

Key Focus Areas for Stage 3: Implementing a go-to-market strategy Developing customer acquisition and retention strategies Scaling business operations and expanding sales channels • Teaching startups how to secure funding Exploring international market expansion through strategic partnerships and networks Startups selected for this stage will receive a grant of GEL 150,000 from GITA*.

Startups will also have the opportunity to showcase their innovations to the wider ecosystem that includes VCs, potential partners, and industry leaders at the final showcase for the potential to secure other growth opportunities. The program Fee for Phase 1 is $35,000 per startup , excluding travel expenses. This fee covers the comprehensive support, mentorship, and resources provided throughout Phase 1.

By completing Phase 1, startups is expected to gain valuable insights, refine their strategies, and make informed decisions for successful market expansion. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Hac quam suscipit et ultricies.

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Company one-liner goes here. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetus, suscipit et ultricies. A high-intensity, full-day startup sprint for aspiring entrepreneurs, early-stage startup teams, student founders, and builders ready to move from idea to action.

On April 18, 2026, in Tbilisi , participants will learn to identify real customer problems, test assumptions, run fast experiments, and build a simple MVP demo in a community of like-minded innovators in Georgia. Only 50 spots are available , early application is encouraged .

Build in Georgia Webinar Series A special 3-part webinar series, designed to help early-stage founders validate their problem, discover their early adopters, and translate customer insights into a clear game plan for their startup. Register now for a preview of Georgia Startup Academy by 500 Global, a part of GITA’s Innovative Startup Acceleration Program.

Get access to the info session to learn how you can apply to the upcoming accelerator program. Get access to a free 60-minute masterclass with Timur Daudpota. * STARTUPS RECEIVING A GRANT FROM GITA SHALL BE FIRST REQUIRED TO ENTER INTO A SEPARATE GRANT AGREEMENT WITH GITA.

500 GLOBAL SHALL NOT BE INVOLVED IN ENTRY OF THE GRANT AGREEMENT, THE AWARD AND DISBURSEMENT OF THE GRANT, ALL OF WHICH SHALL BE IMPLEMENTED BY GITA. 1. AS OF 30 JUNE 2025.

ASSETS UNDER MANAGEMENT (“AUM”) STATED HEREIN ARE ROUNDED TO THE NEAREST $100M AND ARE CALCULATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SEC FORM ADV PART 1A INSTRUCTION.

FIGURES DENOTED WITH A “+” ARE APPROXIMATIONS FOR CONVENIENCE: WHERE THE FIGURE RELATES TO A VALUATION, THE ACTUAL VALUE IS ABOVE THE FIGURE STATED AND WHERE THE FIGURE DOES NOT RELATE TO A VALUATION OR IS AN AGGREGATION, THE ACTUAL VALUE IS WITHIN A 10% DIFFERENCE OF THE INDICATED FIGURE. THIS PROGRAM IS OPERATED BY 500 STARTUPS INCUBATOR, L. L.

C (TOGETHER WITH ITS AFFILIATES, “500 GLOBAL”) AND THE FUNDS ADVISED BY 500 STARTUPS MANAGEMENT COMPANY, L. L. C.

DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY REVENUE GENERATED BY THESE ACTIVITIES. SUCH PROGRAMS AND SERVICES ARE PROVIDED FOR EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THIS WEBSITE IS INTENDED SOLELY TO PROVIDE INFORMATION REGARDING 500 GLOBAL AND THE STATED PROGRAM.

ALL CONTENT PROVIDED IN THIS WEBSITE IS PROVIDED FOR GENERAL INFORMATIONAL OR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. 500 GLOBAL MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS AS TO THE ACCURACY OR INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS WEBSITE AND WHILE 500 GLOBAL HAS TAKEN REASONABLE STEPS TO ENSURE THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS WEBPAGE IS ACCURATE AND UP-TO-DATE, NO LIABILITY CAN BE ACCEPTED FOR ANY ERROR OR OMISSIONS.

NOTHING IN THE CONTENT DELIVERED THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, SERVICES OR EVENTS BE CONSTRUED AS LEGAL, TAX OR INVESTMENT ADVICE BY 500 GLOBAL (INCLUDING INVESTMENT ADVICE AS DEFINED IN THE U.S. INVESTMENT ADVISERS ACT OF 1940). THIS WEBPAGE IS UPDATED AS OF NOV 2025. PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM DOES NOT INCLUDE OR GUARANTEE AN INVESTMENT FROM 500 GLOBAL, OR ITS RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES.

HOWEVER, PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM DOES NOT PRECLUDE 500 GLOBAL AND ITS AFFILIATES FROM CONSIDERING FUTURE INVESTMENTS IN A PARTICIPATING COMPANY. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD ANY STATISTICS, QUOTATIONS OR OTHER CONTENT BE INTERPRETED AS TESTIMONIALS OR ENDORSEMENT OF THE INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE OF ANY 500 GLOBAL FUND BY A PROSPECTIVE INVESTOR CONSIDERING AN INVESTMENT INTO ANY 500 GLOBAL FUND.

DEMO DAY IS AN INVITATION-ONLY EVENT AND THE INTENDED AUDIENCE FOR THIS EVENT IS LIMITED TO PERSONS QUALIFYING AS "ACCREDITED INVESTORS" AS DEFINED IN REGULATION D UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND MEMBERS OF THE PRESS.

ALL CONTENT PROVIDED IN THE EVENT IS PROVIDED FOR GENERAL INFORMATIONAL OR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED AS INVESTMENT ADVICE BY 500 GLOBAL OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES OR AS AN OFFER TO SELL OR SOLICITATION OF INTEREST TO PURCHASE ANY SECURITIES. NO CONTENT OR INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE EVENT IS OR IS INTENDED AS AN OFFER TO PROVIDE ANY INVESTMENT ADVISORY SERVICE OR FINANCIAL ADVICE BY 500 GLOBAL.

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD ANY CONTENT HEREIN OR IN THE EVENT BE CONSTRUED AS FUND MARKETING MATERIALS BY PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS CONSIDERING AN INVESTMENT INTO ANY 500 GLOBAL INVESTMENT FUND. INCLUSION AS A PRESENTING COMPANY IN DEMO DAY DOES NOT NECESSARILY CONFIRM INVESTMENT BY A 500 GLOBAL FUND IN SUCH COMPANY.

500 GLOBAL HAS NOT TAKEN ANY ACTIONS TO QUALIFY THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE EVENT UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY JURISDICTION WHERE ACTION FOR THAT PURPOSE IS REQUIRED. PERSONS OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES WHO VIEW THE EVENT MUST OBSERVE ANY APPLICABLE LAWS AND RESTRICTIONS RELATING TO VIEWING THIS EVENT AND ANY RELATED ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES. 2.

DATA IS AS OF 3 NOV 2025 WHICH HAS NOT BEEN INDEPENDENTLY VERIFIED 3. DATA IS AS OF 22 OCT 2025 WHICH HAS NOT BEEN INDEPENDENTLY VERIFIED Contact Careers Content Hub Portfolio Newsletter Partnerships LP Portal Strategy Directory