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Techstars vs Plug and Play
What Techstars and Plug and Play each invest, the equity they take, who they suit and when applications close, from each programme's own pages.
Techstars vs Plug and Play
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%).
Plug and Play
- Funding
- not published
- Instrument
- No investment
- Equity taken
- None (equity-free) No equity requirement for the accelerator programmes
- Programme fee
- not published
- Duration
- not published
- Cohort size
- not published
- Cohorts
- not published
- Delivery
- Hybrid
- Stages
- Seed, post-seed
- Sectors
- AI, Fintech, Insurtech, Health tech
- Open to founders from
- Anywhere
- Perks
-
- Private one-to-one pitch meetings with corporate partners
- Access to Plug and Play co-working spaces
- More than 800 events a year
Three-month programmes run by industry vertical and focused on business development with corporate partners. The Fall 2026 Silicon Valley batches had 140 startups from 20 countries and territories across 13 programmes, including Fintech, Insurtech, Health & Longevity and Enterprise & AI.
Where they differ
| Term | Techstars | Plug and Play |
|---|---|---|
| Funding | US$220,000 | not published |
| Equity taken | 5% | None (equity-free) |
| Instrument | SAFE | No investment |
| Programme fee | not published | not published |
| Duration | not published | not published |
| Cohorts | not published | not published |
| Delivery | Hybrid | Hybrid |
| Stages | Pre-seed, seed | Seed, post-seed |
| Sectors | Sector-agnostic | AI, Fintech, Insurtech, Health tech |
| Based in | United States | 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
Plug and Play fits founders
- At the seed or post-seed stage
- Who can join some sessions in person in California
- Working in AI, fintech, insurtech or health tech
- Who want to keep all their equity
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.
Plug and Play
Dates not published. In 2026 the spring Silicon Valley batches ended at a summit in May and the fall batches present at the Silicon Valley November Summit on 3 to 5 November 2026.
Techstars vs Plug and Play: questions founders ask
Which invests more, Techstars or Plug and Play?
Techstars publishes a standard offer of US$220,000; Plug and Play does not publish one.
Which takes less equity, Techstars or Plug and Play?
Plug and Play publishes the smaller stake: Techstars 5%, Plug and Play none (equity-free). Each listing's equity note says what else converts later.
Which closes first, Techstars or Plug and Play?
Techstars closes on 18 November 2026; Plug and Play has no published deadline ahead.
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