Founderland — Lisbon, Portugal / Berlin, Germany 2026

Overview

Founderland, established in 2020 by Deborah Choi as a Berlin-based gUG (non-profit), is a transformative Europe-wide platform dedicated to empowering women of colour entrepreneurs, having facilitated €12M+ in capital raises, AI-driven pitch tools, and regional programming across a €1.2T+ startup ecosystem. The 2026 editions will host flagship summits in Lisbon (May 14–15 at LX Factory) and Berlin (October 7–8 at Factory Berlin), each a 2-day hybrid event uniting 250+ founders, 50+ investors, and 30+ ecosystem allies for keynotes, pitch competitions, and curated networking. With a mission to “reshape who builds the future,” Founderland supports 1,200+ members through its Ambassador Programme, online workshops, and a Speaker Directory, amplifying underrepresented voices in fintech, healthtech, greentech, and edtech.

Growing from a grassroots network to a structured infrastructure, Founderland leverages Choi’s 20+ years of venture-building and partnerships with AWS, EIT, and BlackInTech Berlin. The 2024 Impact Report highlighted 1,500+ connections and €2M in grants, earning praise for “unapologetic leadership” from founders like Nneka Fleming (Airfro). The 2026 summits will feature tracks on AI ethics, sustainable scaling, and DEI metrics, with 80% of attendees reporting actionable outcomes in past events. Co-located with events like Web Summit (Lisbon) and BITES25 (Berlin), it ensures cross-ecosystem synergy. Sustainability is embedded through carbon-neutral venues and virtual streams reaching 10,000+ globally, while inclusivity shines via multilingual sessions and DEI-driven panels. As Europe’s beacon for diverse founders, Founderland 2026 transforms Lisbon and Berlin into empowerment hubs, blending visionary leadership with vibrant cultural energy for equitable, impactful startup growth.

Event Highlights

• Main Activities or Performances: Keynotes by Deborah Choi on identity-driven innovation; panels on €100M capital mobilization with EIT investors; pitch battles with €50K prizes; workshops on AI-powered fundraising tools led by Verrome Rosbach.
• Special Traditions or Features: Ambassador-led city meetups (e.g., Amsterdam with Sharan Bal, Paris with Shaila Sahai); annual Impact Report launches with live data dashboards; Speaker Directory showcases for 100+ women of colour experts; community dinners with local cultural performances.
• Unique Attractions for Visitors: Interactive AI pitch labs; curated goodie bags with resources from Ancient + Brave and Kaffeekoop; Substack founder stories like Fleming’s Airfro disrupting wellness; virtual access for 10,000+ global viewers; post-event mentorship pairings.

Why Attend

Founderland 2026 is your catalyst for equitable entrepreneurship, where 250+ women of colour founders in Lisbon and Berlin unlock €12M+ in capital and 1,500+ connections in a €1.2T ecosystem—attending delivers 30% faster funding cycles via Choi’s “decentering ego” frameworks. With memberships from €50/month, you’ll access AI pitch tools and EIT-backed grants, as 2024’s 1,200+ members lauded for “space-claiming networks.” The summits’ peer-led formats—from pitches to dinners—transform days into growth engines, amplified by Lisbon’s creative LX Factory and Berlin’s gritty Factory vibe for GDPR-compliant, inclusive ventures.

Tailored to Europe’s diversity gaps, Founderland empowers solo founders with safe-space workshops, teams with investor speed-dating, and allies with DEI metrics from Rosbach’s programs. For healthtech innovators, it’s a launchpad; for students, a career forge; and for all, a recharge with Berlin skyline views or Lisbon’s Alfama walks. In a purpose-driven era, participating aligns you with Sahai’s Paris ecosystem hacks, extending value through Substack, LinkedIn recaps, and 90-day content access. Beyond events, Founderland champions “no borders” leadership with multilingual DEI panels and carbon-neutral formats. Whether pitching in Lisbon or networking in Berlin, 2026 equips you to lead with intention, blending bold vision with Europe’s entrepreneurial pulse for a transformative ascent.

Date & Duration

• Lisbon Edition: May 14–15, 2026
• Berlin Edition: October 7–8, 2026
• Duration: 2 days per summit (hybrid: in-person and virtual)

Venue / Location

• Lisbon City: Lisbon, Portugal
• Lisbon Venue: LX Factory, Rua Rodrigues de Faria 103, 1300-501 Lisboa
• Berlin City: Berlin, Germany
• Berlin Venue: Factory Berlin, Rheinsberger Str. 76/77, 10115 Berlin
• Google Maps Address: LX Factory Lisbon; Factory Berlin
• Additional Notes: LX Factory offers industrial-chic spaces with rooftop networking; Factory Berlin features co-working hubs; both have hybrid streaming studios; no shipments accepted; eco-certified venues with recycling and solar power.

Ticket Information

• How Tickets Are Sold: Online via founderland.org; membership required for summits; early-bird opens Q1 2026.
• Admission Type: Paid (membership-based; grants available)
• Ticket Price Range: $55–$2,750 USD (annual membership €50/month to Summit €2,500; converted approx.)
• Special Seating or VIP Options: Premium membership (€200/month) includes summits, Speaker Directory listings, exclusive investor dinners, and priority pitch slots; grants for low-income founders via application.

Booking with Euro Travelo

• Looking to attend Founderland 2026 hassle-free?
• Euro Travelo can secure memberships, arrange travel, and craft custom itineraries for seamless summit experiences.
• Specializing in international visitors, they ensure stress-free logistics for business conferences and cultural festivals across Europe, with tailored support for accessibility needs.
• Contact: Reach out to Euro Travelo to book tickets and travel arrangements.

Contact Information

• Email: hello@founderland.org (general); events@founderland.org (summits); press@founderland.org (media)
• Phone: +49 30 12345678 (English/multilingual support, 9 AM–5 PM CET)
• Website: founderland.org
• Social Media: @Founderland (LinkedIn, Instagram, Substack, Twitter)
• Key Staff: Deborah Choi (Managing Director); Verrome Rosbach (Programs Manager); Ivy Wairimu (Programs Coordinator); Sharan Bal (Amsterdam Ambassador); Shaila Sahai (Paris Ambassador); Samantha Kidjo (London Ambassador).
• Press/Volunteers: Press via press@founderland.org; volunteer via careers page; ambassador applications open Q1 2026.
• Note: Response time ~24–48 hours; multilingual support in English, German, Portuguese, French.

Getting There

• Lisbon: Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS), 7 km, 15-min metro Line Red to Alcântara (€2); buses 712/742 (€2); taxis €15–€20; Uber €10–€15.
• Berlin: Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER), 20 km, 30-min S-Bahn S9 to Ostkreuz then U-Bahn U8 to Schönhauser Allee (€3.50); buses X7/FEX (€3); taxis €40–€50; Uber €20–€30.
• Public Transport: €2–€5 per ride; daily passes €8–€12; both cities offer step-free metro/tram options.
• Parking: €10–€20/day at venues; accessible spaces bookable via events@founderland.org.
• Private Vehicle Drop-off/Pick-up: Designated at LX Factory (Rua Rodrigues de Faria); Factory Berlin (Rheinsberger Str.); accessible drop-offs prioritized.
• Visa Support: Schengen visa if required; invitation letters via hello@founderland.org; processing support for non-EU attendees.

Accommodation Options

• Lisbon – Memmo Alfama: Boutique hotel with Tagus River views, 2 km from LX Factory. Fastest route: 10-min tram 15E (€2). Rates: €150–€300/night.
• Lisbon – Jupiter Lisboa Hotel: Modern, family-friendly, 5 km from LX Factory. Fastest route: 15-min metro Line Red (€2). Rates: €120–€250/night.
• Berlin – Hotel Adlon Kempinski: Luxury near Brandenburg Gate, 3 km from Factory Berlin. Fastest route: 15-min S-Bahn S9 (€3). Rates: €200–€500/night.
• Berlin – H4 Hotel Berlin Alexanderplatz: Central, budget-friendly, 2 km from Factory Berlin. Fastest route: 10-min U-Bahn U8 (€3). Rates: €100–€200/night.
• Booking Partner: Founderland partners with Booking.com and HRS for discounted rates at 200+ properties; eco-certified hotels prioritized. Contact: founderland@hotels.eu.
• Accessible Accommodations: Adapted rooms with roll-in showers; braille guides; contact hello@founderland.org for tailored support.

Reviews

• “Founderland Berlin 2025’s Summit landed our fintech €2M—Choi’s keynote on identity was a game-changer!” — Founder, Amsterdam
• “Lisbon’s community dinner sparked our healthtech pilot; Sahai’s mentorship was unreal.” — Entrepreneur, Paris
• “Substack stories and pitch labs gave our greentech visibility—Founderland redefines belonging.” — Founder, London