25 Best Accelerators & Incubators in the USA

The benchmark against which all other accelerators are measured. Since 2005, YC has backed 4,500+ companies — including Airbnb, Stripe, Dropbox, Coinbase, and DoorDash — with a $500k standard deal for 7% equity. Every six months, the best 200 teams in the world compete for a spot in the most valuable network in startup history.

The largest accelerator network in the world, with programs in 50+ cities and partnerships with Fortune 500 companies. Techstars invests $120k for 6% equity and plugs you into a mentor network of 10,000+ founders and investors. With 3,500+ portfolio companies and a combined market cap in the hundreds of billions, the Techstars community is one of the most powerful in tech.

Originally launched as 500 Startups in 2010, 500 Global has invested in 2,700+ companies across 77 countries — making it one of the most prolific early-stage investors in the world. They write $150k checks at pre-seed and run intensive 4-month accelerator batches with deep operator mentorship and a global LP network that opens doors in markets most VCs can't reach.

If you're building a B2B product, Alchemist is one of the most targeted programs available. Backed by Cisco, Salesforce, and other enterprise giants, Alchemist has accelerated 500+ enterprise startups through its 6-month program, focused entirely on companies that monetize from businesses — not consumers. Its Demo Day consistently draws top-tier Silicon Valley investors.

Founded by ex-Google product manager Thomas Korte, AngelPad runs two intimate cohorts per year — roughly 15 companies each — in NYC and San Francisco. It invests $120k for ~7% equity and is consistently ranked among the highest-performing accelerators in the world per exit outcome. The selectivity is extreme; getting in is a serious signal to investors.

SOSV is a multi-stage deep tech VC operating three flagship programs: IndieBio (life sciences), HAX (hardware), and Orbit Startups (global). With over $1B AUM and 1,000+ portfolio companies, SOSV takes scientists and hardware builders from prototype to fundable company in 4–6 months, writing $250k checks and providing lab space, supply chain access, and a global investor syndicate.

IndieBio is SOSV's life sciences accelerator and the place where scientists become founders. The program invests $250k for 8% equity and provides wet-lab space in San Francisco and New York, turning raw scientific breakthroughs into fundable biotech companies. Alumni include Perfect Day, Memphis Meats (now UPSIDE Foods), and 225+ companies pushing the frontier of biology.

Plug and Play is the world's largest innovation platform, connecting 35,000+ startups with 500+ corporate partners across 30+ industry verticals. They've backed Dropbox, PayPal, and Honey at the earliest stages. Their vertical-specific programs (Fintech, Insurtech, Health, Supply Chain, and more) give startups not just capital but enterprise pilot partnerships that compress the path to revenue.

Dreamit targets startups that already have revenue or pilots — and are ready to scale fast. Their HealthTech and SecureTech tracks work intensively with 6–8 companies per cohort, offering $100k investment, deep operator mentorship, and warm intros to healthcare systems, government buyers, and enterprise security teams. Over 300 companies funded since founding, including Invite Media (acquired by Google).

ERA is New York City's leading tech accelerator and one of the most active early-stage investors in the country, having invested in 300+ startups since 2011. They offer $100k for 7% equity, 14 weeks of intensive programming, and access to ERA's deep network of NYC investors, operators, and enterprise customers. Strong in fintech, marketplace, and SaaS plays built for urban markets.

The center of gravity for entrepreneurs in Texas. Capital Factory has made 1,000+ investments since 2009 and is the hub of Austin's startup scene — home to SXSW programming, a defense tech accelerator, and one of the most connected mentor networks outside Silicon Valley. If you're building in the South or Southwest, this is the first call you should make.

Antler is the rare program that backs founders before they even have a co-founder or idea. Operating across 30+ cities globally with a strong NYC presence, Antler brings together 50–100 exceptional individuals each cohort, helps them form teams, and invests $100–$125k in the strongest companies that emerge. Over 300 companies funded per year, with a focus on finding outlier individuals.

Mucker bills itself as 'VC for the rest of us' — and means it. Based in LA and investing $250k–$2M in seed-stage companies building outside Silicon Valley, Mucker has backed 100+ companies across the US with hands-on operational support that goes beyond a typical check. If your startup doesn't fit the Bay Area mold, Mucker is worth a serious look.

Backed by the Allen Institute for AI (AI2), this Seattle-based incubator helps world-class researchers and engineers build AI-first companies from scratch — often as co-founders alongside AI2 scientists. It's one of the only programs that can pair you with real AI researchers as co-founders. If you're building foundational AI infrastructure or applied ML products, this is a rare resource.

Founded by Arlan Hamilton in 2015, Backstage Capital invests exclusively in startups led by women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ founders — the groups that receive less than 10% of all VC funding. With 200+ investments and a growing portfolio of breakout companies, Backstage is both a capital source and a powerful community for underrepresented founders who are done being overlooked.

Betaworks is where the internet's most interesting new products get built and funded. Since 2007, this NYC-based product studio and accelerator has invested in 150+ companies — often among the first institutional check. Their Camp programs are themed around emerging shifts (AI, voice, gaming, etc.) and bring together 8–10 teams for intensive 12-week sprints. Tumblr, Giphy, and Dots were all built here.

25madison sits at the intersection of a venture fund and a company builder. Based in NYC, they co-incubate companies from scratch through their Studio arm and invest at pre-seed through Series A via their fund. Strong in software, fintech, and healthcare. Founders who join 25madison get capital plus a full operational team helping build the company alongside them.

2080 Ventures runs top-tier startup acceleration programs for both emerging market founders and corporate clients building internal innovation ecosystems. Based in SF, they've built a strong track record of helping pre-seed and seed-stage companies go from zero to Series A ready through tailored programming, investor intros, and operational playbooks built from real founder experience.

The largest climatetech startup incubator in North America, Greentown Labs provides member startups with lab and prototyping space, a corporate partner network, and access to the most concentrated climate investor community in the country. With locations in Somerville, MA and Houston, TX, they're positioned at the center of both the East Coast clean energy ecosystem and the US energy transition.

Built on the SU campus in Mountain View, Singularity University Ventures backs founders working at the intersection of exponential technology and global impact. The SU network connects startups to a global faculty of scientists, futurists, and technologists who serve as mentors and investors. Best suited for founders working on hard problems in AI, biotech, space, and climate.

Gener8tor has quietly built one of the best accelerator networks in the US — running intensive 12-week programs in Milwaukee, Madison, Minneapolis, and beyond. They invest $100k for 7% equity and have backed 350+ companies. Their platform also runs fellowships, upskilling programs, and corporate partnerships, making them one of the most comprehensive startup development programs in the Midwest.

Adam Draper's Boost VC is the accelerator for founders building the sci-fi future. With $200M AUM and $500k checks at pre-seed, they back the earliest-stage bets in crypto, AI, aerospace, biotech, and VR/AR — often before anyone else will. If your company sounds too ambitious for most investors, Boost VC is specifically designed to say yes first.

Pear VC is one of Silicon Valley's most operator-driven seed programs. Founded by Pejman Nozad and Mar Hershenson — both immigrants who built companies from nothing — Pear runs PearX, a selective accelerator that invests $250k–$2M in pre-seed and seed companies. Their portfolio includes DoorDash, Guardant Health, and Branch, and their team works closely alongside founders from day zero.

Founded in 2012, digitalundivided is the leading nonprofit accelerator for Black and Latina women entrepreneurs. Their BIG Fellowship backs early-stage founders with funding, mentorship, and access to a network of institutional investors who've committed to backing underrepresented talent. With 100+ cohort companies and a proven track record, DID is a critical on-ramp to institutional capital.

Camelback Ventures is one of the most intentional incubators in the country — built specifically to diversify social innovation by giving BIPOC and women social entrepreneurs access to the capital, coaching, and connections they've been systematically excluded from. Their fellowship model combines a stipend, mentorship, and network access to help underrepresented founders build mission-driven companies that last.