Accelerators
Fixed-length cohorts that usually invest for equity and end with a demo day.
Accelerators, incubators, pitch competitions and grants
Find the programme worth applying to
Every programme worth applying to, with the numbers that matter and the dates that bite.
Free to use. No sign-up. Every listing links to its sources.
The directory in numbers
- Programmes listed
- 498
- Countries
- 52
- Dated application windows
- 219
- Last verified
- 19 Oct 2026
Browse by programme type
Incubators
Longer, earlier-stage support, often with workspace and no fixed end date.
Pitch competitions
Prize money and investor attention for a few minutes on stage.
Grants and fellowships
Non-dilutive funding and fellowships, with eligibility rules to read closely.
Closing soon
Programmes with applications open now, soonest deadline first.
Starburst Innovation Corridor Defense Accelerator
Starburst's defence accelerator in San Marcos, Texas, for startups building defence and dual-use technology from prototype to early growth. Cohort 2 runs December 2026 to March 2027 and ends with an in-person demo day.
Funding not published · equity not published
Open · closes 19 Oct 2026Cohort 2: applications close 19 October 2026.xTechSearch
The US Army's open-topic prize competition for small businesses whose technology could meet an Army need. Up to 50 semifinalists win US$5,000, up to 20 finalists a further US$20,000, and first place US$200,000.
US$200k prize · equity not published
Open · closes 19 Oct 2026xTechSearch 10: applications opened 10 September 2026 and close 19 October 2026; the programme starts 2 March 2027.Nucleate Activator
A free, equity-free programme run through Nucleate's local chapters that helps scientific trainees form biotech companies around their research. Chapters operate in the US, Europe, Israel, Canada and Australia.
Funding not published · equity-free
Open · closes 20 Oct 20262027 cohort (US chapters): applications close 20 October 2026.DoD SBIR/STTR
The US defence department's SBIR and STTR programmes for US small businesses, run through annual Broad Agency Announcements and Commercial Solutions Openings with topics released monthly.
Funding not published · equity-free
Open · closes 21 Oct 20262026 BAA and CSO, release 6: applications opened 23 September 2026 and close 21 October 2026.Founder Institute
A part-time pre-seed programme run through local chapters in 200+ cities, mostly online. Founders pay an entrance fee that varies by city and pledge 2.5% of future equity through a warrant.
Funding not published · 2.5% equity
Open · closes 21 Oct 2026Fall 2026, Colorado - Silicon Valley (online): applications close 21 October 2026; the programme starts 21 October 2026.Grid110
A Los Angeles nonprofit running free, equity-free programmes for early founders, from six-week virtual idea courses to the in-person Clicks & Mortar retail-readiness accelerator for product brands.
Funding not published · equity-free
Open · closes 21 Oct 2026Clicks & Mortar 2026: applications close 21 October 2026; the programme starts 14 November 2026.4YFN Awards
The startup competition at 4YFN, alongside MWC Barcelona. Twenty shortlisted startups pitch in the semi-finals, five finalists pitch at the awards ceremony, and the winner takes EUR 20,000.
€20k prize · equity not published
Open · closes 26 Oct 20264YFN27 Awards: applications opened 1 September 2026 and close 26 October 2026; the programme starts 1 March 2027 and demo day is 3 March 2027.a-IDEA (ICAR-NAARM Technology Business Incubator)
An agritech incubator hosted by ICAR-NAARM in Hyderabad, running ideation, the Krishiboot incubation programme and the Agri Udaan accelerator, with access to seed funds and grants for agri and allied startups.
Funding not published · equity not published
Open · closes 28 Oct 2026Krishiboot 10.0: applications close 28 October 2026.
No programme we list has applications open right now.
Two questions to settle first
Before you apply, decide what kind of programme you need and what you are willing to give for it.
Accelerator or incubator?
How the two differ in length, money and equity, and which one fits your stage.
Equity or equity-free?
Find the exit value at which an equity deal costs more than an equity-free grant.
How we check
Every listing says where it came from and when we read it
We build each listing from the programme's own pages and record the day we read every source.
Each listing shows the date we last verified it. Dates and terms change between cohorts, so we re-check every programme each month.
When a programme has not published a fact, the listing says "not published" rather than guess.
| Listings | Number |
|---|---|
| Built from the programme's own pages | 490 |
| With dated application windows | 201 |
| Publishing a funding amount | 113 |
| Publishing the equity they take | 142 |
| Saying they take no equity | 123 |
Questions founders ask
What is the difference between an accelerator and an incubator?
An accelerator runs a fixed-length cohort, often about three months, and usually invests in exchange for equity. An incubator tends to support earlier-stage companies for longer, often with workspace and without a fixed end date. Terms vary by programme, so check each listing.
How do you keep application dates current?
We read each programme's own pages, record the day we read them and re-check every listing each month. Every listing shows the date we last verified it.
Do programmes pay to be listed?
No. Listing is free, and we are not affiliated with any programme listed here.
What does "not published" mean on a listing?
The programme has not stated that fact on its own pages, so we leave it blank rather than guess.
Run a programme? List it free
Send us your dates and terms and we will publish them with a link to your own pages.