Durham has a growing startup scene with support for a wide range of industries. The city's accelerators focus on everything from enterprise software to life sciences and accounting.
For example, The Startup Factory has made over 30 investments and seen 5 exits. GRO Incubator has supported nearly 40 companies through its program.
Below is our list of the best 5 accelerators and incubators in Durham.
Failory's Top 5 Picks
Tool
Fundraising OS
Everything you need to raise funding for your startup, including 3,500+ investors, 7 tools, 18 templates and 3 learning resources.
Buy It For $97 $297 →Sheet
2,189 Accelerators & Incubators
Information about the industries, countries, and cities they generally invest in.
Get the Sheet for $50Sheet
1,600+ Unicorns
Information about their valuation, HQ's location, founded year, name of founders, funding amount and number of employees.
Get the Sheet for $50Sheet
250 BioTech & Health Investors
List of startup investors in the BioTech, Health, and Medicine industries, along with their Twitter, LinkedIn, and email addresses.
Get the Sheet for $50Sheet
250 AI Investors
List of 250 startup investors in the AI and Machine Learning industries, along with their Twitter, LinkedIn, and email addresses.
Get the Sheet for $50Sheet
250 Fintech Investors
List of 250 startup investors in the FinTech and Finance industries, along with their Twitter, LinkedIn, and email addresses.
Get the Sheet for $50The Startup Factory fueled early-stage technology companies with seed funding and an intensive mentorship program. They specialized in B2B and enterprise software, applying lean startup principles to help founders build and launch their businesses in the Southeast.
| Year Founded | — |
| Founders | Dave Neal |
| Nº of Investments | 34 |
| Nº of Exits | 5 |
They help early-stage companies bring innovative technology to the accounting and finance profession. Backed by the world's largest accounting member association, the program provides participants with seed funding and direct access to mentorship from industry leaders.
| Year Founded | 2017 |
| Founders | — |
| Nº of Investments | 4 |
| Nº of Exits | 1 |
| Program Type | Online |
| Duration (Weeks) | 24 |
Southeast TechInventures builds new companies around scientific breakthroughs sourced from universities and federal labs. They focus on creating and managing deep tech startups in sectors like biotech and materials science, providing the crucial bridge from research to market.
| Year Founded | 2003 |
| Founders | Karen LeVert |
| Nº of Investments | — |
| Nº of Exits | — |
Specializing in the life sciences, consumer products, and retail industries, Clarkston Consulting guides companies in adopting new technology to foster growth. They offer strategic and operational consulting to help clients navigate complex transformations and stay ahead of market disruption.
| Year Founded | 1991 |
| Founders | Tom Finegan, James Stefan, Neil Nelson |
| Nº of Investments | 2 |
| Nº of Exits | — |
Run by the Council for Entrepreneurial Development, GRO Incubator equips early-stage founders with the essentials for building a strong company foundation. Its 12-week program uses weekly classes and dedicated mentorship to guide entrepreneurs through market validation and business model development.
| Year Founded | 2020 |
| Founders | — |
| Nº of Investments | 39 |
| Nº of Exits | — |