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Top 17 Smart Cities Accelerators and Incubators (2026)

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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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Plug 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.

HeadquartersSunnyvale, California, United States
Year Founded2006
FoundersJojo Flores, Ali Safavi, Saeed Amidi, Jackie Hernandez
Investment Amount$50K-$250K (investment arm); Accelerator is FREE
Equity Taken1-5% (investment arm only); 0% for accelerator
Nº of Investments2273
Nº of Exits205
Program TypeOn-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.

HeadquartersBoston, Massachusetts, United States
Year Founded2010
FoundersMichael Lake
Nº of Investments392
Nº of Exits15
Program TypeOnline
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.

HeadquartersLeipzig, Sachsen, Germany
Year Founded2014
FoundersEric Weber
Investment Amount€6,000 direct award + up to €50K acceleration grant
Equity Taken0%
Nº of Investments114
Nº of Exits11
Program TypeOn-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.

HeadquartersStockholm, Stockholms Lan, Sweden
Year Founded2002
FoundersJane Walerud, Bengt Walerud, Caroline Walerud
Investment AmountUp to €1M per investment
Nº of Investments25
Nº of Exits10
Katapult Logo

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.

HeadquartersOslo, Oslo, Norway
Year Founded2017
FoundersTharald Nustad, Anders Lier, Haakon Brunell, Rajeev Kapoor
Nº of Investments116
Nº of Exits5
Program TypeOnline
Duration (Weeks)12
TURN8 Logo

6. TURN8

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.

HeadquartersDubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Year Founded2013
FoundersKamal Hassan, Yousif Almutawa
Nº of Investments45
Nº of Exits2
DLabs Logo

7. DLabs

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.

HeadquartersHyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India
Year Founded2015
Founders
Nº of Investments128
Nº of Exits2
Program TypeOn-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.

HeadquartersBarcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Year Founded2019
Founders
Nº of Investments12
Nº of Exits2
Program TypeOnline

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.

HeadquartersChicago, Illinois, United States
Year Founded2015
FoundersFred Hoch
Nº of Investments11
Nº of Exits2

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.

HeadquartersMontréal, Quebec, Canada
Year Founded2014
Founders
Nº of Investments82
Nº of Exits1
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.

Accelerator/IncubatorCountryYear FoundedNº InvestmentsNº Exits
Plug and Play logo Plug and PlayUnited States200691
Kickstart Innovation logo Kickstart InnovationSwitzerland201521
Arkley Brinc VC logo Arkley Brinc VCPoland201814
Smart Futures Lab logo Smart Futures LabUnited States202212
Nest logo NestHong Kong201018
New Mindfulness logo New MindfulnessUnited States2017
Plug and Play Japan logo Plug and Play JapanUnited States201713

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