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Top 28 Accelerators and Incubators in Illinois (2026)

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Illinois offers a strong environment for new companies looking for support and funding. The state is home to a variety of programs that help early-stage businesses grow. For example, the Web3 focused Alliance DAO has made over 100 investments. Similarly, Moderne Ventures, which focuses on real estate and finance, has seen nearly 30 exits from its portfolio.

Below is our list of the best 28 accelerators and incubators in Illinois.

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Specializing in technology for the real estate, finance, and insurance sectors, Moderne Ventures backs companies from the early to growth stages. Its industry immersion program provides founders with direct access to a network of over 700 executives and corporations to help drive customer growth.

Year Founded2015
FoundersConstance Freedman
Nº of Investments105
Nº of Exits29
Duration (Weeks)24
Healthbox Logo

Healthbox operates as a strategic advisory firm, partnering with organizations in the healthcare and digital health space to develop their core strategies and programs. Through its distinctive non-dilutive studio model, it provides expert guidance without taking equity, allowing founders to scale while retaining full ownership.

Year Founded2010
FoundersNina Nashif
Investment AmountNon-dilutive Studios (no capital or equity)
Equity Taken0%
Nº of Investments97
Nº of Exits16
Program TypeOn-Site

Financial Solutions Lab operates as a non-profit accelerator, backing fintech startups that are building tools to improve the financial well-being of underserved communities. Through its challenge-based programs, it provides capital and strategic guidance to help companies like Digit and Propel scale solutions for everyday financial challenges.

Year Founded2014
FoundersJennifer Tescher
Nº of Investments52
Nº of Exits13
Program TypeOnline
Duration (Weeks)51

Financial Health Network unites business leaders with a shared mission to improve the financial well-being of their customers. Through its Financial Solutions Lab, the organization supports and scales innovative fintech startups focused on consumer savings, borrowing, and planning.

Year Founded2004
FoundersJennifer Tescher
Nº of Investments19
Nº of Exits10
Program TypeOnline
Duration (Weeks)20

Alliance DAO champions the next generation of Web3 and blockchain startups through its accelerator program and founder community. They equip early-stage teams with the critical network and resources needed to build and scale in the decentralized web.

Year Founded2020
FoundersImran Khan, Qiao Wang, Jacob Franek
Nº of Investments109
Nº of Exits8
REACH Logo

6. REACH

Focused on real estate technology, REACH accelerates startups by providing education, mentorship, and crucial market access. Its unique strength lies in its connection to the National Association of REALTORS®, giving portfolio companies a significant advantage in the industry.

Year Founded2012
FoundersSuzanne Raffa, Bob Goldberg, Constance Freedman, Dale Stinton
Nº of Investments20
Nº of Exits2
Duration (Weeks)30

Specializing in early-stage software and IT companies, Lofty Ventures provides the necessary capital for disruptive startups to get off the ground. They partner with passionate founders to help build and scale their innovative organizations.

Year Founded2014
FoundersChristopher Deutsch
Nº of Investments22
Nº of Exits2

Elmspring Accelerator champions seed-stage tech startups aiming to innovate within the real estate industry. They provide founders with crucial resources and mentorship to build and scale their ventures across commercial and residential property markets.

Year Founded2013
FoundersTom Bretz, Colleen O'Toole, Adam Freeman
Nº of Investments8
Nº of Exits2

INCISENT Labs builds disruptive companies from the ground up, focusing on transforming traditional industries like retail, automotive, and software. As an innovation platform, they provide the foundational resources and strategic support necessary to create new, high-impact ventures.

Year Founded2009
FoundersPat Ryan
Nº of Investments4
Nº of Exits2

EMERGE CoLab brings together startups, enterprises, and public sector partners to develop technology for public safety and productivity. This collaborative ecosystem is designed to accelerate the development and deployment of solutions in robotics, smart cities, and wearables.

Year Founded2015
FoundersFred Hoch
Nº of Investments11
Nº of Exits2

18 Additional Illinois Accelerators and Incubators Worth Applying To

Our top picks are a great place to start, but they're just one part of the story. The other programs in the area have collectively backed more than 150 companies.

Each one offers something different for founders looking for support. Here’s a look at the other accelerators and incubators helping build businesses in Illinois.

Accelerator/IncubatorYear FoundedNº InvestmentsNº Exits
MATTER logo MATTER201481
Relish Works logo Relish Works2017171
Excelerate Labs logo Excelerate Labs201031
New Mobility World logo New Mobility World201611
The Bunker logo The Bunker201411
mHUB logo mHUB201757
IncubEx logo IncubEx2016
Paragon Biosciences logo Paragon Biosciences20105
Gate Labs logo Gate Labs202138
Incubator logo Incubator2016
Kingologic LLC logo Kingologic LLC2017
Mazarine Ventures logo Mazarine Ventures201814
1871 logo 187120121
Moderne Passport logo Moderne Passport20156
OhioXcelerate logo OhioXcelerate1
Code Ventures logo Code Ventures20165
511 Capital logo 511 Capital2012
Insight Accelerator Labs logo Insight Accelerator Labs2012

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