Accelerators
How to get into and make the most of YC, Techstars, and the top startup accelerators — applications, deadlines, terms, and what they look for.
Accelerators9 min
Fintech Startup Programs 2026: Stripe, Plaid, Mastercard, Visa
Five fintech infrastructure providers, five different bars. Stripe wants institu…
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to Company Ventures Residency in 2026
Company Ventures runs a 12-month New York residency with no rent and no equity. …
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to Ethereum Foundation Ecosystem Support Program in 2026
ESP grants are non-dilutive and scoped to open-source public goods. Here is the …
Accelerators8 min
How to Apply to Atomic in 2026
Atomic is a venture studio, so you apply as a person and co-found an idea it alr…
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to Third Derivative in 2026
Third Derivative writes no standard check. It matches you into an investor and c…
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to UK Defence Innovation in 2026
UKDI absorbed DASA. There is no single application: you bid into one themed comp…
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to MATTER in 2026
MATTER is a Chicago healthcare membership community, not an equity accelerator. …
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator in 2026
LACI takes a 1.5% to 3% warrant, not zero equity, and runs separate tracks for d…
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to Hub71 in 2026
Hub71 pays half its package in kind and half in cash for equity through a SAFE. …
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to UnternehmerTUM / XPRENEURS in 2026
UnternehmerTUM runs three separate things and only one is the accelerator. Here …
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to Flat6Labs in 2026
Flat6Labs is a network of country funds, not one accelerator. The published chec…
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to Newlab in 2026
Newlab is a membership community with a machine shop, not a cohort accelerator. …
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to Solana Foundation Grants in 2026
Solana Foundation grants pay against milestones, not roadmaps. Here is the rolli…
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to Arbitrum Foundation Grants in 2026
Arbitrum has two funding doors: a rolling Foundation application and a DAO gover…
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to Snowflake Startup Accelerator in 2026
Snowflake admits startups to its accelerator on a rolling basis and publishes no…
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to High Alpha in 2026
High Alpha is a venture studio, not an accelerator. You apply to co-found a comp…
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to Web3 Foundation Grants in 2026
The Web3 Foundation has discontinued its general Grants Program. Here is the pub…
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to Startup SG Founder in 2026
Startup SG Founder runs through Accredited Mentor Partners, so winning an AMP is…
Accelerators8 min
How to Apply to Expa in 2026
Expa's current published route is an open idea submission with no deadline. The …
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to Outlier Ventures Base Camp in 2026
Base Camp prices two assets, not one. Here are the six application steps, the pu…
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to Greentown Labs in 2026
Greentown takes no equity and writes no standard check. It rents you a bench. He…
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to StartX Med in 2026
StartX Med takes 0% equity and charges no fees, but eligibility is the real gate…
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to OpenAI Startups Program in 2026
OpenAI Startups is not a cohort with a deadline. The credits route runs through …
Accelerators10 min
How to Apply to Pioneer Square Labs in 2026
PSL does not run a batch. You email hello@psl.com and apply to become the CEO of…
Accelerators8 min
How to Apply to Start-Up Chile in 2026
Start-Up Chile is equity-free, government-run and pays in Chilean pesos. The pri…
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to Oasis500 in 2026
The Apply Now link is the only route Oasis500 publishes. No deadline, no check s…
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to MongoDB for Startups in 2026
MongoDB for Startups is a credits program, not a check. No dollar amount is publ…
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to Oracle for Startups in 2026
Oracle publishes an OCI credit range, a live form and no deadline. The enterpris…
Accelerators8 min
How to Apply to YES!Delft in 2026
YES!Delft takes no equity, and it is still not free. Two programs, two fee struc…
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to EXIST Startup Grant in 2026
EXIST is applied for through a German university, not directly. The sponsoring c…
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to MedTech Innovator in 2026
MedTech Innovator is a competition, not a cash-for-equity accelerator. Roughly 1…
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to K-Startup Grand Challenge in 2026
K-Startup Grand Challenge runs an elimination funnel: 80 teams, then 40, then 20…
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to LabCentral in 2026
LabCentral rents you Kendall Square bench space and publishes no equity term and…
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to Lanzadera in 2026
Lanzadera is free and takes no equity. The price is six months of full-time foun…
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to DIFC FinTech Hive in 2026
DIFC publishes no cash award, no equity percentage and no dated 2026 intake. Wha…
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to NATO DIANA in 2026
NATO DIANA screens your cap table before your technology. Here is the challenge-…
Accelerators9 min
How to apply to Wayra in 2026
Wayra has no dated global cohort call in 2026. The application that works is a m…
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to T-Hub in 2026
T-Hub is not one program. Lab32 publishes a 4% acceptance rate, T-Hub publishes …
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to JLABS by Johnson & Johnson in 2026
JLABS is lab space and access, not an investment program. Johnson & Johnson publ…
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to Afore Founders in Residence in 2026
Afore Founders in Residence is a pre-idea program with no deadline, about 10 sea…
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to MassRobotics in 2026
MassRobotics is a fee-based robotics residency plus a separate accelerator with …
Accelerators8 min
How to Apply to Colosseum in 2026
Colosseum publishes no accelerator application form. You get in by finishing Ete…
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to Vercel for Startups in 2026
There is no open application. You need an approved Vercel Startup Partner behind…
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to DigitalOcean Hatch in 2026
DigitalOcean retired Hatch and replaced it with the Startups program. No deadlin…
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to Claude for Startups in 2026
Applying takes two minutes. Qualifying for credits requires institutional equity…
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to Venture for ClimateTech in 2026
You can apply from anywhere in the world, but every application has to answer fo…
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to Mastercard Start Path in 2026
Start Path is a corporate program, not a cash accelerator. Mastercard publishes …
Accelerators7 min
How to Apply to Nucleate Activator in 2026
Nucleate Activator is pre-company matchmaking, not a funding round. It is free, …
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to Elemental Impact in 2026
Elemental funds projects, not just companies. Here is the rolling application se…
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to imec.istart in 2026
imec.istart pays 100,000 euros through a convertible loan, not an equity cheque.…
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to FinTech Innovation Lab in 2026
FinTech Innovation Lab is three separate Accenture programs in New York, London …
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to Starburst Aerospace in 2026
Starburst is not one accelerator with one deadline. ICDA, ASTRA, SCALE and the S…
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to Visa Fintech Fast Track in 2026
Fast Track is a route into Visa's network, not a cohort accelerator. Visa publis…
Accelerators7 min
How to Apply to Betaworks Camp in 2026
Each Betaworks Camp runs on a theme, so your application is judged against Betaw…
Accelerators8 min
How to Apply to Startup Wise Guys in 2026
Europe's volume B2B accelerator runs out of Estonia. The flagship advertises up …
Accelerators8 min
How to Apply to Conviction Embed in 2026
Conviction Embed writes $250K on an uncapped, no-discount MFN SAFE and stacks ov…
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to Emergent Ventures in 2026 (Tyler Cowen's Grant)
Emergent Ventures is one online form, a 1,500 word proposal, and no published aw…
Accelerators8 min
How to Apply to LAUNCH Accelerator in 2026 (Jason Calacanis)
Eleven of the 25 sessions are investor pitches, so LAUNCH sells reps, not curric…
Accelerators10 min
How to Apply to Startupbootcamp in 2026 (Pick the Right Track)
You do not apply to Startupbootcamp. You apply to one sector program, and the te…
Accelerators8 min
How to Apply to Startmate in 2026 (Australia & NZ)
Startmate invests AUD 120,000 at an AUD 1.5 million post-money cap. Here is the …
Accelerators8 min
How to Apply to Soma Fellows in 2026 (Soma's Uncapped Check)
Soma Fellows advertises up to $2 million in uncapped funding on one track and en…
Cornerstone16 min
How to Apply to Founder Institute in 2026 (FI Agentic Program)
FI cut its 14-session accelerator to a 10-session AI-native program in 2026. Her…
Cornerstone19 min
How to Apply to Microsoft for Startups in 2026
Founders Hub branding is gone from Microsoft's current pages. Here is the live e…
Accelerators8 min
How to Apply to Greylock Edge in 2026 (And When to Skip It)
Greylock does not require Edge companies to take its capital. Here is the rollin…
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to Seedstars in 2026: Programs and Open Calls
Seedstars is not one accelerator with one cheque. Here is which open calls are l…
Cornerstone17 min
How to Apply for AWS Activate Credits in 2026
The up to $200,000 headline is a ceiling on the provider-backed Portfolio path. …
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to Forum Ventures in 2026 (B2B SaaS)
Forum runs a B2B accelerator, a pre-seed fund and an AI venture studio. The appl…
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to Founders Factory in 2026
Founders Factory runs 13 open corporate-partnered programs behind one accelerato…
Accelerators7 min
How to Apply to Alliance DAO in 2026
Alliance publishes its terms: $400,000 on a SAFE at a $4 million post-money cap …
Accelerators8 min
How to Apply to Latitud Fellowship in 2026 (LatAm Founders)
Latitud writes $62,500 for 2.5% on a SAFE, an implied $2.5M post-money. Here is …
Accelerators8 min
How to Apply to Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator (ERA) in 2026
ERA prices its program in public: $150,000 on a 6% post-money SAFE. Here is the …
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to Boost VC in 2026
Boost VC says it is not an accelerator. It leads pre-seed rounds with $500,000 c…
Accelerators7 min
How to Apply to gener8tor in 2026
gener8tor is not one accelerator. It reports 460+ accelerators across 50+ commun…
Accelerators8 min
How to Apply to Berkeley SkyDeck in 2026
You do not need a Berkeley affiliation to get into SkyDeck. What the Batch 23 ap…
Cornerstone18 min
How to Apply to EIC Accelerator in 2026: Stages and Odds
The biggest funding package a European deep-tech startup can win without a term …
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to MassChallenge in 2026
MassChallenge takes no equity and writes no upfront check. Here is the applicati…
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to On Deck in 2026 (And Whether the Cohort Is Worth It)
On Deck's current fellowship is a five day San Francisco week, not the remote pr…
Cornerstone14 min
Accelerator vs grant vs pre-seed: which to chase first in 2026
Three funding routes priced against each other in equity, elapsed time and optio…
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to Plug and Play Accelerator in 2026
Plug and Play takes no equity and charges no fee, so there is only one axis left…
Accelerators8 min
How to Apply to Seedcamp in 2026
Seedcamp is a private fund with a community, not a batch accelerator. Here is th…
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to NVIDIA Inception in 2026
NVIDIA Inception is free, rolling, and not a GPU giveaway. The four eligibility …
Accelerators9 min
How to apply to HAX accelerator (SOSV) as a hardware startup in 2026
HAX judges hardware applications on technical de-risking, not growth metrics. He…
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to Innovate UK Smart Grants in 2026
Smart Grants have been paused since January 2025. Here is what the last publishe…
Cornerstone17 min
Startup Cloud Credits Compared: AWS, Google, Microsoft, NVIDIA (2026)
Every provider leads with its maximum and buries the tier that unlocks it. The d…
Cornerstone16 min
How to Apply to Thiel Fellowship in 2026 (And Whether You Should)
The Thiel Fellowship pays $250,000 over two years and takes no equity, but you m…
Cornerstone18 min
How to Apply for SBIR Grants and STTR Awards in 2026
SBIR is the largest non-dilutive cheque in US deep tech and a year-long process.…
Accelerators9 min
How to Apply to Google for Startups Accelerator in 2026
The accelerator is equity free and regionally fragmented, and the cloud credits …
Accelerators9 min
South Park Commons vs Entrepreneur First vs Antler (2026)
The three pre-idea programs differ most on how hard they push you into a cofound…
Accelerators8 min
South Park Commons Application Examples and Answers (2026)
SPC does not publish model answers, so this walks the substance it says it asses…
Accelerators8 min
Sequoia Arc Application Examples: Strong vs Weak Answers (2026)
Sequoia publishes the framework it judges early companies on, not model answers.…
Accelerators8 min
Pre-Idea Founder Programs 2026: Get Funded Before an Idea
A side-by-side map of the programs that fund founders before the idea exists: EF…
Accelerators8 min
Z Fellows Application 2026: How to Apply, and Is It Worth It
Z Fellows advertises $10,000 for a one week program with ten builders. Here is w…
Accelerators8 min
Station F Founders Program application: how to apply in 2026
Station F is a campus, not a check-writing accelerator. Here is how the Founders…
Accelerators8 min
Neo accelerator application 2026: Residency vs Scholars
Neo runs two programs applicants confuse: Residency for startup teams and Schola…
Accelerators9 min
IndieBio application 2026: how to apply to SOSV NY and SF
IndieBio is now SOSV NY and SOSV SF. Here is what the application asks, what the…
Accelerators8 min
The HF0 residency application in 2026: the real selection bar
HF0 backs 10 teams at a time and publishes no eligibility rubric. Here is the re…
Accelerators7 min
EWOR Fellowship Application 2026: Terms and Selection
EWOR runs two fellowship tracks with very different prices. Here are the actual …
Accelerators7 min
Creative Destruction Lab application 2026: how CDL works
CDL is not an accelerator: no demo day, no standard equity, and mentors can stop…
Accelerators7 min
Alchemist Accelerator application 2026: a B2B founder's guide
What the Alchemist Accelerator application rewards in 2026: named pipeline, pilo…
Accelerators7 min
AI2 Incubator application 2026: how to apply, terms, and fit
The AI2 Incubator rebranded to AI House in June 2026. Here is what the applicati…
Accelerators8 min
Activate Fellowship application 2026: how to apply, what you get
Activate is two years of hard-tech funding with no equity taken. Here is the eli…
Accelerators8 min
The a16z CSX application in 2026: terms, batches, and the bar
What a16z crypto has actually published about CSX: the $500,000 terms, the in-pe…
Accelerators8 min
Entrepreneur First Application Examples and Interview Bar (2026)
EF backs individuals before they have a company, so the form rewards evidence of…
Accelerators8 min
Accelerator equity terms compared: the 2026 dilution table
The published equity terms from YC, Techstars, EF, Antler, 500 Global and a16z s…
Cornerstone7 min
Accelerator Application Deadlines 2026: Batch Dates Tracker
Published 2026 deadlines and cohort dates for YC, Techstars, Antler, Alchemist a…
Accelerators7 min
Accelerator acceptance rates 2026: the published odds compared
The only accelerator acceptance rates that come from the programs themselves: YC…
Accelerators7 min
Techstars application example: what gets in (2026)
A side-by-side teardown of strong vs weak Techstars application answers, plus th…
Cornerstone17 min
How to apply to Techstars in 2026 (application guide)
The 2026 Techstars application broken down section by section, with current deal…
Cornerstone15 min
How to apply to South Park Commons in 2026
What South Park Commons actually wants in the 2026 Founder Fellowship applicatio…
Cornerstone14 min
How to apply to Sequoia Arc in 2026
The open vs sourced paths into Sequoia Arc, what Sequoia screens for, and how th…
Cornerstone18 min
How to apply to PearX in 2026: the cornerstone guide
The 2026 tactical guide to PearX: deadlines, four-stage interview, $250K-$2M ter…
Cornerstone15 min
How to apply to Entrepreneur First in 2026
EF backs individuals before they have a co-founder, an idea, or a company. Here'…
Cornerstone12 min
How to apply to Antler in 2026
Antler invests in <0.2% of applicants, before you have an idea or a co-founder. …
Cornerstone12 min
How to apply to a16z Speedrun in 2026
The full a16z Speedrun application breakdown: 5 questions, deal terms, SR007 dat…
Cornerstone12 min
How to apply to 500 Global in 2026
The flagship 500 Global application in 2026: program structure, $150k for 6% ter…
Accelerators7 min
Antler application examples: what gets in (2026)
What a strong Antler application example actually shows in 2026: spike, track re…
Accelerators8 min
500 Global application examples: what gets in (2026)
Annotated 500 Global application example answers, with the traction, distributio…
Cornerstone14 min
The H1 2026 Startup Accelerator Report
What every major startup accelerator actually offers in H1 2026: terms, acceptan…
Accelerators5 min
YC application example: accepted vs rejected answers (2026)
Side-by-side teardown of accepted vs rejected YC application example answers: th…
Cornerstone15 min
How to apply to Y Combinator in 2026 (deadline playbook)
The end-to-end Fall 2026 YC application playbook: the July 27 deadline, the ques…
Accelerators8 min
YC vs Techstars vs European accelerators 2026: honest comparison
YC still moves the needle. Techstars is geo-vertical insurance. EF and Antler ar…