The United States is home to a mature ecosystem of startup accelerators that provide early-stage companies with funding and guidance. These programs range from broad, industry-agnostic giants to highly focused programs across the country.
Leading the pack are names like Y Combinator, with over 7,800 investments, and Techstars, which has backed over 6,300 companies. Other major contributors include 500 Global with more than 3,100 investments and MassChallenge, which has supported over 3,200 startups.
Below is our list of the best 300 accelerators and incubators in the US.
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2,189 Accelerators & Incubators
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1,600+ Unicorns
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250 BioTech & Health Investors
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250 AI Investors
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250 Fintech Investors
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Get the Sheet for $50Twice a year, Y Combinator invests in a new batch of startups, providing seed funding and intensive mentorship to help them scale rapidly. Their community and program have become a legendary launchpad for companies like Airbnb, DoorDash, and Stripe.
| Year Founded | 2005 |
| Founders | Trevor Blackwell, Jessica Livingston, Armand Cognetta, Paul Graham, Robert Morris |
| Investment Amount | $500,000 ($125K for 7% + $375K uncapped MFN SAFE) |
| Equity Taken | 7% + SAFE conversion (~2.5% more typical) |
| Nº of Investments | 7818 |
| Nº of Exits | 687 |
| Program Type | On-Site |
| Duration (Weeks) | 11 |
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 |
500 Global backs founders of fast-growing technology companies with early-stage venture capital and a global platform for growth. Their accelerator programs provide the funding and mentorship that have helped launch notable companies like Canva, Grab, and Talkdesk.
| Year Founded | 2010 |
| Founders | Kai Roh, Dave McClure, Christine Tsai |
| Investment Amount | $150,000 (minus $37.5K program fees = $112.5K net) |
| Equity Taken | 6% |
| Nº of Investments | 3177 |
| Nº of Exits | 423 |
| Program Type | On-Site |
| Duration (Weeks) | 16 |
MassChallenge operates a global network of zero-equity accelerators for ambitious, early-stage startups across all industries. They help founders solve massive problems by providing access to a vast community of experts and resources, along with the opportunity to win non-dilutive cash prizes.
| Year Founded | 2009 |
| Founders | Akhil Nigam, Cait Brumme, Vijay Sekhara, Amir Eldad, David Constantine, John Harthorne |
| Investment Amount | CHF 500K+ in cash prizes (competition-based), $0 direct investment |
| Equity Taken | 0% |
| Nº of Investments | 3230 |
| Nº of Exits | 246 |
| Program Type | On-Site |
| Duration (Weeks) | 20 |
Plug and Play operates as a global innovation platform, connecting startups across dozens of industries with its vast network of corporate partners and investors. Their industry-specific programs focus on facilitating pilot projects and strategic partnerships, having supported the growth of major companies like PayPal and Dropbox.
| 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 |
By focusing on global innovators, VentureOut provides a crucial bridge for international startups looking to enter the U.S. market through New York City. They offer comprehensive support for launching, raising capital, and scaling, acting as a vital entry point into the American tech ecosystem.
| Year Founded | 2012 |
| Founders | Brian Frumberg |
| Nº of Investments | 1091 |
| Nº of Exits | 127 |
| Program Type | On-Site |
| Duration (Weeks) | 112 |
As a non-profit strategic investor, In-Q-Tel partners with startups developing cutting-edge technologies to address critical challenges facing U.S. government agencies. They serve as a vital bridge, accelerating the delivery of these innovations to the national security and defense communities.
| Year Founded | 1999 |
| Founders | J.D. Englehart, Troy Pearsall, Norman R. Augustine |
| Nº of Investments | 351 |
| Nº of Exits | 113 |
Google for Startups connects a global community of founders with the best of Google's products, people, and practices. They provide hands-on support and resources to help tech startups build and scale their companies effectively.
| Year Founded | 2011 |
| Founders | — |
| Nº of Investments | 1753 |
| Nº of Exits | 101 |
Through its specialized development programs, SOSV helps build deep tech startups that are solving fundamental problems in human and planetary health. The firm provides crucial pre-seed capital and hands-on support for companies in sectors ranging from life sciences and biotech to climate tech.
| Year Founded | 1995 |
| Founders | Sean O'Sullivan |
| Investment Amount | HAX: $250K-$500K; IndieBio: up to $550K; Chinaccelerator: $180K ($50K program + $130K cash) |
| Equity Taken | HAX/IndieBio: Fixed % via SAFE; Chinaccelerator: 6% common equity + convertible |
| Nº of Investments | 2796 |
| Nº of Exits | 87 |
StartX accelerates the growth of Stanford's top entrepreneurs through a powerful, non-profit community model. By offering extensive resources and mentorship without taking equity, they empower founders to build impactful companies across diverse sectors.
| Year Founded | 2011 |
| Founders | Matt Man, Richard Rabbat, Anuj Khandelwal, Christopher Morace, Arthur Meng, Dan McEleney, Danny Yu, Katie Fo, Steve Petersen, Lily Sarafan, Dan Ha, Jonathan Golden, Juan Vera, Haamid Ali, Charles Blanluet, Karen Katz, Cameron Teitelman |
| Nº of Investments | 339 |
| Nº of Exits | 81 |
290 Additional United States Accelerators and Incubators Worth Applying To
While our top picks get a lot of attention, they're just one part of a much bigger story. Across the country, hundreds of other programs are quietly helping founders get started, collectively investing in nearly 17,000 startups and guiding more than 1,300 to an exit.
Finding the right fit is what matters most, and there are plenty of options to explore. Here’s a look at the other accelerators and incubators helping founders build their companies across the United States.
