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Techstars vs gener8tor Investment Accelerator
What Techstars and gener8tor Investment Accelerator each invest, the equity they take, who they suit and when applications close, from each programme's own pages.
Techstars vs gener8tor Investment Accelerator
Techstars
- Funding
- US$220,000 US$220k: $20k on a post-money convertible equity agreement for 5% in common stock plus $200k on an uncapped MFN SAFE
- Instrument
- SAFE
- Equity taken
- 5% 5% in common stock from the convertible equity agreement, plus whatever the $200k uncapped MFN SAFE converts into at the next priced round
- Programme fee
- not published
- Duration
- not published
- Cohort size
- not published
- Cohorts
- not published
- Delivery
- Hybrid
- Stages
- Pre-seed, seed
- Sectors
- Sector-agnostic
- Open to founders from
- not published
- Perks
- not published
Programmes last three months. The New York City programme meets in person for its first two weeks, one week in the middle and demo day. The offer is regional: Techstars Tokyo invests US$120k ($100k uncapped MFN SAFE or J-KISS plus $20k for 5%).
gener8tor Investment Accelerator
- Funding
- US$100,000 US$100k per company; the Wisconsin and Oklahoma City programme pages state US$100k for 7.5% on a SAFE, and gener8tor says its investment terms are always the same and non-negotiable
- Instrument
- SAFE
- Equity taken
- 7.5% 7.5% is stated on the Wisconsin and Oklahoma City programme pages; the Las Vegas programme page says its terms will be announced
- Programme fee
- not published
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Cohort size
- not published
- Cohorts
- not published
- Delivery
- In person
- Stages
- not published
- Sectors
- Sector-agnostic
- Open to founders from
- not published
- Perks
-
- More than US$1M in vendor deals and perks
- Weekly Lunch & Learns and mentor meetings plus twice-weekly 1:1 meetings
- Introductions to mentors, corporate partners, angel investors and venture capitalists
- Showcase reception where companies pitch to investors and the community
gener8tor is headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, and runs cohorts by location. Cohort size varies: five to six companies on the main accelerator page, six in Wisconsin, eight in Oklahoma City and five in Las Vegas. Oklahoma City requires in-person participation, Wisconsin strongly recommends it, and Las Vegas is hybrid.
Techstars: full listing · gener8tor Investment Accelerator: full listing
Where they differ
| Term | Techstars | gener8tor Investment Accelerator |
|---|---|---|
| Funding | US$220,000 | US$100,000 |
| Equity taken | 5% | 7.5% |
| Instrument | SAFE | SAFE |
| Programme fee | not published | not published |
| Duration | not published | 12 weeks |
| Cohorts | not published | not published |
| Delivery | Hybrid | In person |
| Stages | Pre-seed, seed | not published |
| Sectors | Sector-agnostic | Sector-agnostic |
| Based in | United States | Madison, United States |
| Next deadline | 18 November 2026 | not published |
Which fits whom
Techstars fits founders
- At the pre-seed or seed stage
- Who can join some sessions in person in the United States
- In any sector
- Willing to give up 5% equity; the standard offer is US$220,000
gener8tor Investment Accelerator fits founders
- At any stage: the programme does not name one
- Who can be in Madison for the programme
- In any sector
- Willing to give up 7.5% equity; the standard offer is US$100,000
Application dates
Techstars
New York City, Boston, London and Anywhere 2027: applications opened 24 August 2026 and close 18 November 2026; the programme starts 8 March 2027 and demo day is 3 June 2027.
gener8tor Investment Accelerator
Dates not published. Each location runs its own cohort. The apply page lists deadlines as rolling and dates as still to be announced, and several location pages say they are not accepting applications now.
Techstars vs gener8tor Investment Accelerator: questions founders ask
Which invests more, Techstars or gener8tor Investment Accelerator?
Techstars publishes the larger standard offer: Techstars US$220,000, gener8tor Investment Accelerator US$100,000.
Which takes less equity, Techstars or gener8tor Investment Accelerator?
Techstars publishes the smaller stake: Techstars 5%, gener8tor Investment Accelerator 7.5%. Each listing's equity note says what else converts later.
Which closes first, Techstars or gener8tor Investment Accelerator?
Techstars closes on 18 November 2026; gener8tor Investment Accelerator has no published deadline ahead.
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