Startup Accelerators
Find Your Perfect Program
Startup accelerators offer early-stage companies funding, mentorship, and a network in exchange for equity. Compare 11 vetted programs — investment terms, focus areas, acceptance rates, and deadlines.
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11 accelerators
Y Combinator
San Francisco, CA (Hybrid)
Y Combinator is the world's most prestigious startup accelerator. Since 2005, YC has funded over 4,000 companies including Stripe, Airbnb, DoorDash, Coinbase, Instacart, Dropbox, and Reddit.
Y Combinator (YC) provides seed funding for startups across two annual batches — Winter (January–Mar...
Apply by: Twice yearly — check ycombinator.com
Techstars
Global (50+ cities)
Techstars is one of the world's largest pre-seed investors and accelerator networks. Since 2006, it has funded over 3,500 companies across programs in more than 50 cities globally.
Techstars runs intensive 13-week accelerator programs in cities across North America, Europe, Asia, ...
Apply by: Rolling — varies by program location
500 Global
San Francisco, CA (Global focus)
500 Global (formerly 500 Startups) is one of the most active global seed funds, with investments in 2,800+ companies across 80+ countries since 2010.
500 Global runs the Flagship Accelerator, a 4-month intensive program held in San Francisco for star...
Apply by: Rolling applications — check 500.co
Antler
Global (25+ cities)
Antler is a global early-stage VC firm that helps talented individuals find co-founders and build high-potential companies from scratch, operating in 25+ cities worldwide.
Unlike traditional accelerators, Antler accepts individual founders (not just teams) and helps them ...
Apply by: Rolling — check antler.co for local cohort dates
Alchemist Accelerator
San Francisco, CA
Alchemist Accelerator specializes in enterprise and B2B startups, helping founders close their first enterprise customers and raise seed rounds from its deep network of corporate and VC partners.
Founded in 2012, Alchemist focuses exclusively on startups whose revenue comes from enterprises (not...
Apply by: Rolling — check alchemistaccelerator.com
Entrepreneur First
London, Berlin, Paris, Singapore, Bangalore, Toronto
Entrepreneur First identifies and recruits exceptional talent, helps them find co-founders, and supports them to build high-ambition technology companies from scratch across Europe and Asia.
Founded in London in 2011, Entrepreneur First operates on the belief that the most important driver ...
Apply by: Rolling — check joinef.com for cohort dates
Seedcamp
London, UK (Europe-focused)
Seedcamp is Europe's most active pre-seed fund and accelerator. Founded in 2007, it has invested in 450+ startups including unicorns UiPath (valued at $35B) and Wise ($11B).
Seedcamp invests €200,000 into early-stage startups in exchange for 7–10% equity, acting as a long-t...
Apply by: Rolling applications year-round
Plug and Play
Sunnyvale, CA (60+ global offices)
Plug and Play is one of the world's largest innovation platforms, running vertical-focused accelerator programs that connect startups with Fortune 500 corporations for pilots, partnerships, and investment.
Founded in 2006 in Sunnyvale, CA, Plug and Play connects startups with the corporate partners they n...
Apply by: Rolling — multiple verticals running simultaneously
MassChallenge
Boston, MA (Global: Switzerland, Israel, Mexico, UK)
MassChallenge is a nonprofit, equity-free accelerator with programs in Boston, Switzerland, Israel, Mexico, and the UK. It awards competitive cash prizes of up to $1 million with no equity taken.
Founded in 2009 in Boston, MassChallenge takes zero equity and operates as a nonprofit organization....
Apply by: Annually — check masschallenge.org for program dates
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