Accelerators focused on smart cities are helping startups develop new technologies for urban environments. These programs connect founders with resources to improve areas like transportation, energy, and public infrastructure.
Global programs like Plug and Play have backed over 2,200 companies, resulting in more than 200 exits. Others, such as AcceliCITY, have funded almost 400 startups dedicated to improving city life.
Below is our list of the best 17 Smart Cities accelerators and incubators.
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2,189 Accelerators & Incubators
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Get the Sheet for $50Plug and Play connects startups with a global network of corporations and investors through dozens of industry-specific accelerator programs. Its free, no-equity model has helped launch major companies like PayPal and Dropbox by providing them with invaluable corporate access.
| Headquarters | Sunnyvale, California, United States |
| Year Founded | 2006 |
| Founders | Jojo Flores, Ali Safavi, Saeed Amidi, Jackie Hernandez |
| Investment Amount | $50K-$250K (investment arm); Accelerator is FREE |
| Equity Taken | 1-5% (investment arm only); 0% for accelerator |
| Nº of Investments | 2273 |
| Nº of Exits | 205 |
| Program Type | On-Site |
AcceliCITY champions startups that are building the next generation of smart city solutions, focusing on sustainability and urban resilience. Recognized as a top global Govtech accelerator, they connect innovative companies with the resources needed to tackle complex city-wide challenges.
| Headquarters | Boston, Massachusetts, United States |
| Year Founded | 2010 |
| Founders | Michael Lake |
| Nº of Investments | 392 |
| Nº of Exits | 15 |
| Program Type | Online |
| Duration (Weeks) | 9 |
In partnership with the HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management, they help launch and grow startups focused on the energy, smart city, and eHealth industries. The six-month hybrid program provides founders with funding, mentorship, and access to corporate partners, all without taking any equity.
| Headquarters | Leipzig, Sachsen, Germany |
| Year Founded | 2014 |
| Founders | Eric Weber |
| Investment Amount | €6,000 direct award + up to €50K acceleration grant |
| Equity Taken | 0% |
| Nº of Investments | 114 |
| Nº of Exits | 11 |
| Program Type | On-Site |
| Duration (Weeks) | 26 |
Walerud Ventures backs pre-seed and seed stage companies building planet-positive deep tech solutions. Their team provides hands-on support by joining startups as investors, advisors, and part-time employees.
| Headquarters | Stockholm, Stockholms Lan, Sweden |
| Year Founded | 2002 |
| Founders | Jane Walerud, Bengt Walerud, Caroline Walerud |
| Investment Amount | Up to €1M per investment |
| Nº of Investments | 25 |
| Nº of Exits | 10 |
Katapult accelerates the growth of impact-driven startups by investing in companies focused on climate, ocean, and agri-tech solutions. They provide capital and a structured online program to help these ventures scale and address some of the world's most pressing environmental issues.
| Headquarters | Oslo, Oslo, Norway |
| Year Founded | 2017 |
| Founders | Tharald Nustad, Anders Lier, Haakon Brunell, Rajeev Kapoor |
| Nº of Investments | 116 |
| Nº of Exits | 5 |
| Program Type | Online |
| Duration (Weeks) | 12 |
Pairing a growth accelerator with a follow-on investment fund, TURN8 invests in global technology startups across sectors like FinTech, HealthTech, and AI. They provide early-stage companies with seed funding and mentorship to help them scale their businesses internationally.
| Headquarters | Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates |
| Year Founded | 2013 |
| Founders | Kamal Hassan, Yousif Almutawa |
| Nº of Investments | 45 |
| Nº of Exits | 2 |
As the incubation and acceleration arm of the Indian School of Business, DLabs champions a design-led approach to building startups. They support early-stage ventures across diverse sectors like FinTech, Healthcare, and Clean Energy by providing access to deep academic resources and a robust network.
| Headquarters | Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India |
| Year Founded | 2015 |
| Founders | — |
| Nº of Investments | 128 |
| Nº of Exits | 2 |
| Program Type | On-Site |
| Duration (Weeks) | 52 |
Backed by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, EIT Urban Mobility accelerates startups that are building more sustainable and livable cities. The program connects innovators with cities, universities, and industry leaders to fast-track solutions for urban transportation challenges.
| Headquarters | Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain |
| Year Founded | 2019 |
| Founders | — |
| Nº of Investments | 12 |
| Nº of Exits | 2 |
| Program Type | Online |
EMERGE CoLab connects startups with government agencies and industry partners to tackle significant public safety challenges. They specialize in fostering dual-use technologies in areas like robotics and smart cities, providing a unique pathway for ventures to engage with a complex ecosystem.
| Headquarters | Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Year Founded | 2015 |
| Founders | Fred Hoch |
| Nº of Investments | 11 |
| Nº of Exits | 2 |
Dedicated to the clean technology ecosystem, Cycle Momentum offers acceleration and open innovation programs to help startups scale. They support founders developing solutions in sectors ranging from renewable energy and electric vehicles to smart cities and advanced materials.
| Headquarters | Montréal, Quebec, Canada |
| Year Founded | 2014 |
| Founders | — |
| Nº of Investments | 82 |
| Nº of Exits | 1 |
| Duration (Weeks) | 20 |
7 Additional Smart Cities Accelerators and Incubators Worth Applying To
Beyond our top picks, there are many other great programs helping build smarter cities. Combined, the accelerators below have backed nearly 70 startups across the world.
They offer a range of support for founders working on urban technology. Here’s a look at more programs helping build the cities of tomorrow.