Top 27 Accelerators and Incubators in Colorado (2026)
Colorado's startup scene is supported by a network of accelerators and incubators. These programs provide essential funding and mentorship for early-stage companies.
Techstars, a major presence in the state, has a track record of over 6,300 investments and more than 550 exits. Other accelerators like Third Derivative focus on specific industries such as climate tech, funding over 220 companies.
Below is our list of the best 27 accelerators and incubators in Colorado.
Failory's Top 10 Picks
1. Techstars
Techstars provides early-stage startups with pre-seed investment and intensive mentorship through its vast global network. They help founders across a wide array of industries build their companies from the ground up by providing critical resources and connections.
| Year Founded | 2006 |
| Founders | Jakub Kulisa, Nikita Gupta, Jared Polis, Brad Feld, Asetila Koestinger Von Sonnenland, David Brown, Mike Romano, David Cohen |
| Investment Amount | $220,000 ($200K uncapped MFN SAFE + $20K for 5% equity) |
| Equity Taken | 5% + SAFE conversion |
| Nº of Investments | 6394 |
| Nº of Exits | 570 |
| Program Type | On-Site |
| Duration (Weeks) | 13 |
Boomtown Accelerators designs bespoke programs that guide early-stage startups in sectors like health tech, ad tech, and IoT from concept to a scalable business. Participating companies receive seed funding and mentorship, with the program's customized approach ensuring each startup gets the specific support it needs to succeed.
| Year Founded | 2013 |
| Founders | Jack Donenfeld, Erin Stadler, Toby Krout, Stephen Groth, Jose Vieitez, Jason Searfoss |
| Investment Amount | $35K-$50K seed + $20K cash + $1.7M+ in perks/discounts |
| Equity Taken | ~6% |
| Nº of Investments | 174 |
| Nº of Exits | 11 |
| Program Type | Online |
| Duration (Weeks) | 12 |
Third Derivative finds, funds, and scales the world’s most promising climate tech solutions. Through its 16-month accelerator program, they connect startups with a global ecosystem of investors, corporate partners, and experts to accelerate decarbonization.
| Year Founded | 2020 |
| Founders | Josh Agenbroad, Bryan Hassin, Elaine Hsieh, Jason Prince, Jon Creyts |
| Nº of Investments | 226 |
| Nº of Exits | 7 |
4. MergeLane
MergeLane champions female leadership by investing in high-potential startups and venture capital funds that have at least one woman in a leadership role. They provide crucial capital and a strong network to accelerate the growth of these ventures and foster a more inclusive startup ecosystem.
| Year Founded | 2014 |
| Founders | Sue Heilbronner |
| Nº of Investments | 54 |
| Nº of Exits | 5 |
| Duration (Weeks) | 12 |
5. Startup Next
Startup Next was a Techstars pre-accelerator program that prepared early-stage startups for accelerators and seed investors. Powered by Google for Entrepreneurs, it provided founders with the mentorship needed to successfully take their next fundraising steps.
| Year Founded | 2012 |
| Founders | — |
| Nº of Investments | 13 |
| Nº of Exits | 5 |
| Program Type | On-Site |
| Duration (Weeks) | 5 |
Fueling the cannabis industry's growth, CanopyBoulder invests in and mentors early-stage companies that provide ancillary products and services. Their program helps founders navigate the complex legal cannabis market, connecting them with a network of experts and resources to build a successful business.
| Year Founded | 2014 |
| Founders | Troy Dayton, Patrick Rea, Micah Tapman, Mark A. Nottoli |
| Nº of Investments | 79 |
| Nº of Exits | 3 |
| Program Type | On-Site |
| Duration (Weeks) | 15 |
Telluride Venture Accelerator provides seed funding and mentorship to startups in industries like outdoor recreation, tourism, health, and education. The mentor-driven program helps founders build businesses that are a natural fit for the unique Telluride community by offering co-working space and valuable networking opportunities.
| Year Founded | 2012 |
| Founders | Jesse Johnson, Paul Major |
| Nº of Investments | 21 |
| Nº of Exits | 3 |
| Program Type | On-Site |
Specializing in climate and energy solutions, VoLo Earth Ventures backs early-stage startups with the potential to create a more sustainable future. They provide critical pre-seed, seed, and Series A funding to help founders scale their environmental technologies and make a global impact.
| Year Founded | 2020 |
| Founders | Christopher Tullar, Kareem Dabbagh, Robert Harding, Eric Riesenberg, Joseph Goodman |
| Nº of Investments | 36 |
| Nº of Exits | 2 |
By providing grants to Colorado's research universities and federal labs, the Advanced Industries Accelerator Program helps commercialize new technologies. This state-backed initiative strengthens key sectors by funding the transition from early-stage proof-of-concept to viable market-ready products.
| Year Founded | 2013 |
| Founders | — |
| Nº of Investments | 57 |
| Nº of Exits | 2 |
Innosphere Ventures helps science and technology startups commercialize their products through a specialized program and a seed-stage venture fund. This dual approach supports companies in deep tech fields like bioscience and cleantech, providing both the guidance and capital needed to scale.
| Year Founded | 1998 |
| Founders | — |
| Nº of Investments | 9 |
| Nº of Exits | 1 |
17 Additional Colorado Accelerators and Incubators Worth Applying To
Our top picks are a great starting point, but the support for founders in Colorado runs much deeper. Combined, the programs below have backed more than 175 companies and helped 5 of them reach an exit.
These programs offer a wide range of support for early-stage companies. Here’s a look at the other accelerators and incubators helping founders build their businesses in Colorado.
| Accelerator/Incubator | Year Founded | Nº Investments | Nº Exits |
|---|---|---|---|
 Artha Venture Fund | 2017 | 26 | — |
 Nair Ventures | 2017 | 2 | — |
 Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship | 2004 | 89 | — |
 Bestvantage Investments | — | 14 | — |
 JITO Incubation and Innovation Foundation (JIIF) | 2017 | 24 | — |
 Amplifi | 2015 | 19 | — |
 Alsisar Impact | 2017 | 31 | — |
