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.
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.MIT $100K Entrepreneurship Competition
A student-run competition at MIT in three stages from December to May: Pitch, Accelerate and Launch. The Launch winner takes a US$100,000 grand prize.
US$100k prize · equity-free
Open · closes 28 Oct 2026Pitch 2026: applications opened 14 October 2026 and close 28 October 2026; the programme starts 2 December 2026.Tech Osaka Award Pitch Contest
The startup pitch contest at Tech Osaka Summit for seed to early-stage startups in bio and life sciences, healthcare, green tech and digital. Finalists pitch in English in Osaka and the grand prize is JPY 2 million.
¥2m prize · equity not published
Open · closes 28 Oct 2026Tech Osaka Award 2027: applications opened 9 September 2026 and close 28 October 2026; the programme starts 27 January 2027.GENESIS (Gen-Next Support for Innovative Startups)
MeitY's five-year, ₹490 crore scheme for technology startups in Tier-II and Tier-III cities, run through implementing incubators, with funding for ideation, pilots, investment rounds and deep tech.
Funding not published · equity not published
Open · closes 29 Oct 2026Pilot 2.0 call via Venture Center, Pune: applications close 29 October 2026.Activate Fellowship
A two-year, equity-free fellowship for first-time hard tech founders in the US. Each fellow gets a US$100k living stipend a year, and each project gets US$100k in R&D support.
US$100k grant · equity-free
Open · closes 30 Oct 2026U.S. Fellowship Cohort 2027: applications close 30 October 2026.Chain Reaction Innovations
A two-year fellowship at Argonne National Laboratory for technical founders building energy and science startups. Four to six fellows a year get a US$115,000 yearly stipend, non-dilutive R&D funding and lab access.
US$115k grant · equity-free
Open · closes 30 Oct 2026Cohort 2027: applications opened 15 September 2026 and close 30 October 2026.Innovation Crossroads
A two-year fellowship at Oak Ridge National Laboratory for founders of early-stage energy and advanced manufacturing startups. Fellows get a US$115,000 yearly living stipend, lab access and R&D funding, and mentors.
US$115k grant · equity not published
Open · closes 30 Oct 2026Cohort 2027: applications opened 15 September 2026 and close 30 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.