30 Best Startup Accelerators 2022

If you’ve decided that a startup accelerator program is the right step for your company, your first task is to find the accelerator that works best for the stage your startup is in, your industry, and your entrepreneurial objectives. With so many accelerators to choose from, let’s take a look at some of the best startup accelerators. 

Best Startup Accelerator Programs for Entrepreneurs:

About

Number of Investments: 4,377 

Number of Exits: 425

One of the most famous startup accelerator programs, Y Combinator boasts a roster of impressive success stories, including Airbnb, DoorDash, and Coinbase — to name just a few. Each company is given $120,000 in funding annually, with the startups accelerated by Y Combinator totaling over $100 billion in value. 

Best For:

• High-growth startups
• Tech startups 
• Seed-stage startups 

Pros

• Unparalleled resources and opportunities for eligible startups 
• Brand exposure and association increases funding and growth opportunities 
• A large number of investments, totaling over 1,800

Cons

• Competitive application process

About

Number of Investments: 3,569

Number of Exits: 363

Startups looking for more than just funding, meet Techstars. Members of this accelerator can expect access to capital, mentorship, and more. Techstars also hosts Startup Week and Startup Weekend, two impactful events for the startup community to accelerate their companies quickly.

Best For:

• Tech startups 
• High-growth startups
• First-time entrepreneurs

Pros

• Many options for founders to accelerate their startup, including short-term workshops
• Access to a network of other startup founders and entrepreneurs 
• Substantial list of successful startups have participated in the program

Cons

• Specific to tech startups

About

Number of Investments: 2,775 

Number of Exits: 327

With a combination of different funding opportunities, 500 Startups, the venture capital firm specializing in early- and seed-stage startup acceleration, has a lot to offer startups of varying sizes. Their success stories include Credit Karma and Udemy, with the accelerator funding startups in 60 countries worldwide.

Best For:

• Early or seed-stage startups
• High-growth startups
• Tech startups

Pros

• 500 Startups offers large funds and micro funds 
• Services provided in 60 countries and counting 
• Experience in scaling hugely successful startups

Cons

• Less than 700 investments in startups

About

Number of Investments: 1,383 

Number of Exits: 133

Plug and Play is a startup accelerator program designed for technology companies. Startups that are accepted into Plug and Play can look forward to a 12-week program intended to spur innovation and connect exciting tech startups with blue-chip corporations. Since being founded in 2006, Plug and Play has raised over $9 billion for its portfolio of companies and boasts over 300 VC investors in its ecosystem. 

Best For 

• Tech startups 
• High-growth startups 

Pros 

• Great for connecting with blue-chip corporate partners 
• A responsive and helpful team
• Accommodates startups at any stage 

Cons 

• Only available to tech-centered startups

About

Number of Investments: 97 

Number of Exits: 3 

Google for Startups Accelerator is a global program, each composed of 10 to 15 startups that work together to help each other accomplish their entrepreneurial goals. Additionally, this accelerator offers one-on-one mentors and a tailored experience for each company to ensure each startup’s individual needs are met.

Best For:

• Technical founders 
• Growth-oriented startups
• Startups with scalable products 

Pros

• Programs offered across the world 
• Access to several valuable services 
• Equity-free 

Cons

• Competitive with few spots in each program

About

Number of Investments: 566 

Number of Exits: 45

Alchemist Accelerator is a startup accelerator that supports enterprise startups — defined as startups that sell their products to other enterprises rather than individual consumers — and any startup that has adopted the enterprise business model qualifies to apply. Along with offering opportunities to network with a supportive community of enterprise-focused founders and mentors, Alchemist Accelerator is also designed to provide customers with a structured path to fundraising and customer traction. 

Best For

• Enterprise startups 
• Early-stage startups 

Pros:

• Startups accepted into the program are automatically provided with a small, founder-friendly cash investment, typically around $25,000 
• 52% of startups are funded after completing the program 
• Over $1.2 billion of funding generated 

Cons: 

• Does not accept consumer startups

About

Number of Investments: 382

Number of Exits: 43

Based out of New York, Dreamit Ventures is a venture fund focused on startups that already have a pilot or existing revenue and are ready to scale. They have a range of investments in the healthtech and securetech sectors. Dreamit Ventures offers its portfolio companies access to a wide range of resources, including pilot programs, customer acquisition assistance, and business development support. Its portfolio consists of over 350 startups since 2008, including Allevi, Eko, and Agathos.

Best For

• Healthcare tech startups
• Security tech startups
• Startups with products already on the market

Pros

• Have lots of experience helping companies with a viable product scale
• Companies do not have to co-locate with Dreamit when starting
• Offers extensive 10-week virtual programs instead of 14-week  long programs

Cons

• Companies have to have a proven product or revenue to be accepted

See our full list of the best digital health incubators and accelerators for startups.

About

Number of Investments: 114

Number of Exits: 10

Founders Factory is a one-stop shop for everything a startup founder needs in order to launch, manage, and grow their business. With access to an extensive network of corporate partners and experienced staff, this accelerator program offers a six-month program designed to build companies as well as £30k in cash for eligible startups. 

Best For:

• Beauty startups 
• Fintech startups 
• Retail startups 

Pros

• Access to impactful corporate partners 
• Industry-specific accelerator programs 
• Services offered for every stage of the startup process from product development to growth

Cons

• Based only in London

About

Number of Investments: 3,049

Number of Exits: 153

MassChallenge is named after the intention of the organization: to develop solutions for massive challenges by leveraging the power of new, innovative startups. With nine accelerator programs globally, MassChallenge offers a global network for startup support specializing in Fintech, Healthtech, and Sustainability. 

Best For:

• Healthtech startups
• Fintech startups 
• Sustainable startups 

Pros

• A global network with nine accelerator programs 
• Experience accelerating nearly 3,000 startups 
• Over $3 billion generated

Cons

• Industry-specific startups

About

Number of Investments: 540

Number of Exits: 34

Startupbootcamp offers both accelerator and scale programs to support startups at every stage. With industry-focused programs offered globally, startups across the world can find the support systems they need to launch and grow their businesses. 

Best For:

• Fintech startups
• Renewable energy startups 
• Tech startups

Pros

• More than 20 industry-focused accelerator programs 
• Access to mentors, investors, and partners 
• Nearly 1,000 startups accelerated 

Cons

• Some industry programs only available in certain countries

About

Number of Investments: 180

Number of Exits: 37

Ranked the No. 1 accelerator by MIT's Seed Accelerator Benchmark since 2015, AngelPad boasts an impressive amount of startup funding, averaging $14 million in funding for startups that are a part of the program. This is a seed-stage accelerator based in New York and San Francisco. 

Best For:

• High-growth startups 
• Tech startups 

Pros

• Members of this accelerator have access to great funding opportunities 
• History of high valuations for participating companies
• Access to valuable mentorship opportunities

Cons

• Strictly venture capital funded startups

About

Number of Investments: 150

Number of Exits: 20

Amplify.LA is based out of Los Angeles and focuses on the earliest seed startups. With this focus, they are able to hand-hold startups from the moment they receive their first check to the moment they exit.  The close relationship the accelerator is able to build with its startups helps to establish more of a family bond than a financial investment.

Best For

• Pre-seed startups 
• Healthcare startups

Pros

• Offers complete mentorship
• Often the first investors in a company
• Develops close relationships with their investments

Cons

• Do not have as large of capital as other accelerators

About

Number of Investments: 316

Number of Exits: 31

Considered one of New York City's biggest tech accelerators, Entrepreneurs Roundtable has been investing in startups since 2010. They have a wide focus on the types of companies they invest in, from healthtech and fintech to retail and enterprise software. ERA has helped over 280 startups, including Appboy, Canary, and Humin (acquired by Tinder).

Best For

• Early-stage startups
• Tech startups

Pros

• New York’s largest accelerator program
• Includes over 500 mentors from some of the largest companies
• Alumni companies have raised over $1 billion in investor capital

Cons

• Competitive application process

About

Number of Investments: 2,314

Number of Exits: 57

The SOSV has lots of experience investing in multi-stage startups and even has enough raised capital to invest in 150 companies every single year. They are a global venture fund that has over 1,000 companies in its portfolio. There are over 1,000 mentors worldwide and about $1 billion in assets under management.

Best For

• Early-stage startups
• Innovative tech startups
• Asia-based startups

Pros

• Continues to grow with a 40% increase in portfolio companies and asset management funds since 2020
• Provides an extensive network of global mentors
• Operates the first ever China-based accelerator

Cons

• Lots of companies under portfolio

About

Number of Investments: 27

Number of Exits: 10

CO.LAB offers two 12-week accelerator programs for high-growth startups looking to quickly scale their company. The focus of these accelerator programs are consumer goods startups and business application startups, 

Best For

• Consumer goods startups 
• Internet application startups 
• Healthtech startups 

Pros

• Partnered with several impactful companies 
• Free housing offered throughout the accelerator process 
• Access to capital after completion of the program 

Cons

• Eligibility is dependent on growth and industry

About

Number of Investments: 100 

Number of Exits: 3

Union Kitchen is an accelerator program geared specifically towards food and beverage startups to help these companies bring new products to market while providing tools to develop a scalable business model. The program is separated into four stages: launch, product market fit, growth, and scale. 

Best For:

• Food startups 
• Beverage startups
• Product developers 

Pros

• Members are provided with services from launch to scale 
• Faster product development
• 250% higher success rate compared to food startups that aren’t members of the accelerator 

Cons

• Extremely industry-specific

See our full list of the best food incubators and accelerators for startups.

About

Number of Investments: 398

Number of Exits: 3

Newchip Accelerator is based out of Austin, Texas, and was established in 2006. They offer an online accelerator program that helps entrepreneurs with business development, customer acquisition, and fundraising. Newchip's curriculum comprises three main categories: startup essentials, business growth, and financing your business.

Best For

• Tech startups
• Automation startups

Pros

• Very clear and communicated application process
• A 100% equity-free accelerator program
• Completely remote program

Cons

• No in-person experience

About

Number of Investments: 174

Number of Exits: 7

Boomtown Accelerators, based out of Boulder, Colorado, isn’t your typical accelerator. Instead of promoting innovation internally through your own company, they foster relationships externally by designing and implementing customized turnkey programs that align with a business's strategy.

Best For

• Disruptive startups
• Startups open to external innovation

Pros

• Have a portfolio valuation of $1.4 billion
• Compliments a company's strategy by opening it up to outside ideas
• Produce long-term success through exposure to disruptive thinking

Cons

• Can seem counterintuitive for most companies

About

Number of Investments: 179

Number of Exits: 23

Born in Austin, Texas, Capital Factory invests in multi-stage startups and focuses on creating a larger network of opportunities. They have hosted over 900 tech-focused events and provide a coworking space of over 81,000 square feet for entrepreneurs. They've gathered over 150 of the top tech mentors in Texas to help their startups reach their full potential. 

Best For

• Tech startups
• Entrepreneurs looking for mentorship

Pros

• Have a facility of over 81,000 square feet for co-working
• Host hundreds of tech-focused events
• Have over 150 of the highest qualified Texas mentors 

Cons

• Specifically for Texas-based businesses

About

Number of Investments: 31

Number of Exits: 1

Lair East Labs is based in New York and has been recognized as one of the top 100 accelerators by Crunchbase. The focus is heavily on startups that include an international mindset and looks to disrupt the global market with innovative solutions. They offer their startups a $150,000 investment to start.

Best For

• Startups looking for international network
• Tech startups

Pros

• They build long-term relationships with their startups
• Have an extensive international network
• Custom tailor investors, mentors, and partners for every investment

Cons

• Strong focus on international potential only

About

Number of Investments: 490

Number of Exits: 53

Based in London, England, Seedcamp likes to invest in early-stage startups, often becoming one of their first investors. They focus more on startups that have global ambition and use tech to become successful. They have invested in over 400 companies that have disrupted industries, including nine European unicorns. 

Best For

• Early-stage startups
• Tech startups

Pros

• Their founders have raised over $7 billion in funding
• They are the primary accelerator for Europe
• Help startups grow from small businesses to large exits

Cons

• Only for early-stage startups

About

Number of Investments: 909

Number of Exits: 29

The government of Chile created Startup Chile to attract foreign entrepreneurs and investors to the country in an effort to create jobs and generate economic growth. They have had over 11,000 applications from 133 countries and have invested $40 million in over 800 startups. 

Best For

• Startups with global focus
• Startups looking for alternative funding

Pros

• Startups under their portfolio have raised more than $2 billion
• Valuation of the portfolio is over $5 billion
• Over 2200 startups under their portfolio

Cons

• Crowded portfolio

About

Number of Investments: 1,200

Number of Exits: 42

Wayra claims to be the most global, connected, and tech-driven innovation project in the world. They focus on digital startups and have a presence in over 14 countries. They have had over 1000 startup applications per year and invest $50,000 in each company they choose. They are active in nine different countries and have over 400 active startups.

Best For

• Digital Startups
• Tech startups

Pros

• Strong international focus
• Believe in disrupting pre-existing markets through technological change
• Connects Telefonica and technological disruptors

Cons

• Focused only on digital startups

About

Number of Investments: 234

Number of Exits: 41

From one of the biggest companies in the world,  Microsoft's Accelerator is a global startup accelerator program. They have helped over 1000 companies and have been operational in 14 countries. The aim is to help startups grow through access to mentorship, connections, and resources. They have a deep focus on cloud-based startups and help support them from conception to exit.

Best For

• Cloud-based startups
• Lean startups

Pros

• Startups can receive up to $150,000 in Azure credits
• Mentorship guidance from tech experts and business leaders
• Access to startup-friendly offers from Microsoft partners

Cons

• Works in Azure credits

About

Number of Investments: 1

Number of Exits: 0

More of a success ecosystem than an actual venture capital accelerator, StartX is from Cape Town, South Africa. The company functions more as an app for startups that includes features to help with mentorship, fundraising, and networking. Using the app, startup founders can book appointments with advisors and learn more about how to grow their startup into a success.

Best For

• Beginning startups

Pros

• Very simple to use
• Hosts a variety of beginner resources
• Does not require any equity

Cons

• No in-person experience

About

Number of Investments: 273

Number of Exits: 29

With a mission to accelerate the sci-fi future, Boost VC has invested in over 250 companies. They are focused on startups that are working on big ideas and have a global focus. They look for teams that have the ability to execute their vision and have a long-term view of their business. They include a three-month onboarding program that helps entrepreneurs secure better networks and funds using their demo day platform.

Best For

• Pre-seed startups
• Disruptive tech startups

Pros

• Invest up to $500,000 in pre-seed startups
• Target startups that raise less than $1 million but have an evaluation between $3 million and $7 million

Cons

• Tech-driven startups only

About

Number of Investments: 107

Number of Exits: 7

Located in the old factory town of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, AlphaLab helps tech startups grow by investing early and offering an intensive, hands-on program. They have an extensive mentor network along with educational sessions with some of the biggest industry leaders in the state. They also provide resources related to sales, digital marketing, customer acquisition, business operations, and fundraising resources. 

Best For

• Tech startups
• Gaming startups
• Software startups

Pros

• Hands-on approach to help startups
• Lots of experience for software companies
• Invests up to $50,000 with convertible note

Cons

• Specifically for early stage startups

About

Number of Investments: 210

Number of Exits: 17

Mucker Capital provides a solution for startups who aren't in Silicon Valley but who still want to have access to the same resources and networks. They are focused on companies that have a scalable business model and who can show early traction. They are based in Los Angeles but also have a presence in New York City and Chicago.

Best For

• Software Startups
• Tech startups

Pros

• Only work with around 10-20 companies a year
• Committed to building startups without using specific programs
• Have offices across the US, including Austin and Nashville

Cons

• Competitive field of applicants

About

Number of Investments: 136

Number of Exits: 15

Known as the world's first venture capital firm with a focus on the proptech industry, MetaProp is based in New York City. They have a global network of over 150 startups and investors and help their portfolio companies with resources, advice, and connections. They also offer an incubator program that helps startups grow their business. They are also committed to the CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion pledge to rally the business community to advance diversity and inclusion.

Best For

• Real estate startups
• Proptech startups

Pros

• They have created over $107 billion in enterprise value
• They have a 40% diversity rate of portfolio founders
• They have over 20 billion sq ft managed

Cons

• Real estate startups only

About

Number of Investments: 83

Number of Exits: 17

Hosting over 300 startups every year across three major programs that are all based on the stage of the startup, Berkeley SkyDeck  is one of the most well-known accelerators. They are based in Berkeley, California, and have a global reach with companies from over 30 countries. They are attached to Berkeley University, which gives them the ability to offer resources that other accelerators don't have and access to over 500,000 alumni.

Best For

• Tech startups
• Robotic startups

Pros

• Offer three programs, including the SkyDeck Accelerator Program, Innovation Partners Program, and Pad-13. 
• Offer specialized tracks depending on the industry of the startup
• Have achieved 17 exits

Cons

• Resources limited to Berkeley school and alumni

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