San Francisco, United States
1. Y Combinator4
Stage: Pre-seed–seed | Industry: General technology
VC or not? Yes — investor and accelerator.
YC is the familiar starting point for a reason: funding, a founder community and a structured push towards building something customers want. The extra SAFE matters: the deal is not simply $500K for 7%.
Funding: $500K: $125K for 7%, plus $375K on an uncapped MFN SAFE.
Investment activity / intake: Every accepted company receives the standard investment; batch size varies.
2. a16z Speedrun
Stage: Pre-seed–seed | Industry: AI, consumer, gaming and technology
VC or not? Yes — a16z programme.
If you want product support alongside distribution and fundraising connections, Speedrun belongs on the list. Treat the headline million as two stages of funding, not a million wired on day one.
Funding: Up to $1M: $500K for 10% upfront, plus $500K into the next round within 18 months.
Investment activity / intake: More than 250 companies backed across its first six cohorts; not an annual cheque count.
3. South Park Commons Founder Fellowship
Stage: Pre-idea–pre-seed | Industry: Frontier technology; sector-agnostic
VC or not? Yes — community-backed VC.
SPC is interesting if you know you want to build a serious company but are still deciding which problem deserves your time. The fellowship funds that early exploration. Its SF and New York offices both fit this guide.
Funding: $400K for 7% upfront, plus $600K committed to the next external round.
Investment activity / intake: Current cohort investment count not published on the cited page.
Explore South Park Commons Founder Fellowship
4. South Park Commons Member Residency
Stage: Pre-idea–company formation | Industry: Technology and research
VC or not? VC-affiliated; residency is not an investment.
This is the other way into SPC. You can explore ideas and meet collaborators without taking funding immediately. It is a distinct route from the funded fellowship, not an extra cheque from the same programme.
Funding: No cost and no equity rights for the six-month residency.
Investment activity / intake: No automatic investment; residency membership is not a funding offer.
Explore South Park Commons Member Residency
5. ODF
Stage: Pre-idea–pre-seed | Industry: Venture-scale startups
VC or not? No — founder community.
ODF makes most sense when you are still early enough that the right co-founder or peer group could change everything. It starts with a week in SF, then continues through the community. Its admissions page says existing teams and founders beyond pre-seed are not its target.
Funding: No investment or equity; pay-what-you-can contribution, with $1,000 suggested.
Investment activity / intake: 80–100 builders at onboarding; these are people, not funded companies.
6. Character Labs
Stage: Idea–pre-seed, before product-market fit | Industry: Software and software-enabled services
VC or not? Yes — Character Capital.
For founders who can build but still need to work out what customers actually want, this is a particularly focused option. The five-week sprint programme centres on testing the product, positioning and offer. It is hybrid, with SF gatherings, and requires US incorporation for investment.
Funding: $200K for 5%; no participation fee.
Investment activity / intake: Up to 15 companies per group; each accepted startup receives investment.
7. 1517 Fund — Medici Project
Stage: Project–pre-seed | Industry: Science, technology and creative projects
VC or not? VC-run, but Medici provides grants.
1517 is worth knowing if your path does not look like the usual startup résumé. Medici focuses on students and dropouts building projects outside formal coursework. It is not an SF-only residency: the fund supports eligible teams across North America, and the grant is separate from later VC investment.
Funding: Minimum $1K, non-dilutive project grant.
Investment activity / intake: Hundreds of grants historically; current annual grant count not specified.
Explore 1517 Fund — Medici Project
8. PearX
Stage: Idea–pre-seed | Industry: AI, software, healthcare, robotics and other technology
VC or not? Yes — Pear VC.
PearX is a hands-on, small-batch accelerator with SF workspace, recruiting help and go-to-market support. The broad investment range makes more sense than one flat offer when one team is testing a software idea and another needs to build something capital-intensive.
Funding: $250K–$2M per company, tailored to the business.
Investment activity / intake: Investment in every PearX company; current cohort size not specified here.
9. Neo Residency
Stage: Early company formation | Industry: Technology; technical founders
VC or not? Yes — Neo-backed.
Neo belongs on a technical founder’s research list. Use the current Residency application as your starting point, rather than assuming older Neo Accelerator terms still apply. The former accelerator funding link now redirects to Residency, so they are counted once here.
Funding: Current investment amount and equity terms could not be independently confirmed.
Investment activity / intake: Current intake and investment count not independently confirmed.
10. Conviction Embed
Stage: Pre-seed–early funded teams | Industry: AI-native companies
VC or not? Yes — Conviction.
Embed is designed around the problems of building an AI-native company, rather than generic startup lessons. Solo founders can apply, and the programme can help with co-founder matching. Most activity is flexible, with required SF gatherings.
Funding: $250K on an uncapped, no-discount MFN SAFE, or at the price of a round within the previous 60 days.
Investment activity / intake: Published class size: 10–12 companies.
11. HF0
Stage: Early-stage; repeat founders | Industry: Technology
VC or not? Yes — investor-backed residency.
HF0 explicitly positions itself as a residency for repeat founders. That makes it a different proposition from a programme designed to teach you how to start your first company: the appeal is a small group and concentrated building time.
Funding: Current standard cheque and equity terms not confirmed on the public pages reviewed.
Investment activity / intake: 10 teams at a time, according to HF0’s Facts page.
12. Alchemist Accelerator
Stage: Pre-seed–seed | Industry: Enterprise and B2B
VC or not? Yes — accelerator with optional investment.
If the challenge is selling to businesses, Alchemist is more directly aligned than a consumer-focused programme. Its six-month flagship combines coaching, enterprise traction and fundraising support, with SF workspace and hybrid participation.
Funding: Average net investment proceeds of $30K after the tuition offset; terms vary. Most companies grant 5% equity.
Investment activity / intake: Current batch investment count not specified; investment is optional.
13. SOSV SF — formerly IndieBio
Stage: Pre-seed–seed | Industry: Deep tech, biotech, health and climate
VC or not? Yes — SOSV.
A lab-based startup needs more than a laptop and investor introductions. SOSV SF combines scientific facilities with hands-on venture support. IndieBio changed its name in 2026 to reflect work extending beyond biology into broader deep tech.
Funding: Company-specific investment; no standard cash-only offer confirmed here.
Investment activity / intake: Current location-specific annual investment count not confirmed.
Explore SOSV SF — formerly IndieBio
14. Founders, Inc.
Stage: Pre-idea–pre-seed | Industry: Technology and frontier projects
VC or not? Yes — fund and builder ecosystem.
Founders, Inc. is worth exploring if your ideal environment is being around other people who are actively making things. Treat community access, residency admission and investment as separate questions when you enquire.
Funding: Investment terms are not a universal publicly confirmed offer.
Investment activity / intake: Current residency and cheque counts not confirmed.
New York, United States
15. Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator
Stage: Pre-seed–seed | Industry: General technology
VC or not? Yes — accelerator and investor.
ERA is a straightforward option for founders who want an established New York accelerator and access to local operators, mentors and investors. The published deal is clear enough to compare against other offers.
Funding: $150K for 6% on a post-money SAFE.
Investment activity / intake: 400+ startups supported historically; not a current annual cheque count.
Explore Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator
16. Techstars New York
Stage: Pre-seed–seed | Industry: General technology
VC or not? Yes — accelerator and investor.
Techstars can suit founders looking for a structured, mentorship-driven programme. Use the live accelerator directory to confirm the next New York programme and its location-specific availability; the old NYC page was not accessible during review.
Funding: Techstars’ standard offer is $220K: $20K for 5% through a CEA, plus a $200K uncapped MFN SAFE.
Investment activity / intake: Current New York intake not confirmed.
17. Antler New York
Stage: Pre-idea–pre-seed | Industry: Sector-agnostic technology
VC or not? Yes — inception-stage VC.
Antler can be useful before the company is fully formed, especially when you need a co-founder and an early investor. Residency admission does not automatically mean funding. Its US programme also has an SF office.
Funding: Typical initial commitment of $500K–$1M, subject to investment committee approval.
Investment activity / intake: Admissions reviewed year-round; current NYC investment count not specified.
18. Betaworks Camp
Stage: Pre-seed–seed | Industry: AI and other frontier technology; theme-dependent
VC or not? Yes — Betaworks.
Camp brings together startups working on a particular technology theme. That can make the other founders unusually relevant to what you are building. Check the actual theme before applying: an AI interface company and an infrastructure company may fit different camps.
Funding: Current cohort investment amount not confirmed on the programme page.
Investment activity / intake: Two sessions annually according to the programme page; cheque count varies.
19. XRC Ventures
Stage: Pre-seed–seed | Industry: Retail, commerce and consumer-related technology
VC or not? Yes — specialist VC.
A specialist investor can be more useful than a generalist programme when your next milestone depends on a retailer, brand or distribution partner. Ask which accelerator or investment route is currently available; do not assume older XRC Labs offers still apply.
Funding: Current accelerator cheque and equity terms not confirmed.
Investment activity / intake: Current annual investment count not confirmed.
20. Company Ventures Residency
Stage: Pre-idea–pre-seed | Industry: Technology, including AI
VC or not? VC-run; residency and investment are separate.
Company Ventures pioneered its residency through Grand Central Tech. The attraction is daily proximity to founders and investors, rather than an occasional networking event. Its current programme page distinguishes general residency from its healthcare venture-building route.
Funding: No automatic standard investment confirmed for residency membership.
Investment activity / intake: Current general residency intake and cheque count not specified.
Explore Company Ventures Residency
21. Lair East Labs
Stage: Pre-seed–seed | Industry: Technology with international ambitions
VC or not? Yes — accelerator and investor.
Lair East Labs is an option for founders interested in a New York base and a cross-border network. Ask how the current programme supports your specific market; international reach is only useful when it connects to your customers or fundraising plans.
Funding: Current standard cheque and equity terms not confirmed.
Investment activity / intake: Current cohort investment count not confirmed.
22. URBAN-X
Stage: Early-stage | Industry: Mobility, energy, built environment and urban technology
VC or not? Corporate-backed accelerator with investment history.
URBAN-X focuses on technology that improves city life. It is a relevant name for urban-tech founders, but its older programme description should not be treated as proof that applications are open now.
Funding: MINI’s historical overview describes $100K per company; current terms and intake are unconfirmed.
Investment activity / intake: Historical model: up to 10 companies twice annually; not verified as the current cadence.
23. FinTech Innovation Lab New York
Stage: Working beta–growth | Industry: Fintech, insurtech and enterprise technology for finance
VC or not? No — industry access programme.
If your product is ready to be tested by a financial institution, customer access may matter more than another small investment. This programme also considers enterprise AI, governance, cybersecurity and workflow tools, not just payment products.
Funding: No required investment or equity; no automatic funding cheque.
Investment activity / intake: 11 participants in the announced 2026 class; participants are not programme investments.
Explore FinTech Innovation Lab New York
24. Newlab New York
Stage: Early-stage–commercialisation | Industry: Critical technology, energy, mobility and industry
VC or not? Hybrid — venture platform and infrastructure.
Newlab is worth a look when the hard part is testing technology in the real world. Think facilities, pilots and industrial partners, rather than a standard accelerator cheque. Membership does not imply investment.
Funding: Funding and support depend on the specific project or investment route.
Investment activity / intake: No single programme-wide cheque count confirmed.
25. NYU Tandon Future Labs
Stage: Pre-seed–growth | Industry: AI, digital technology, climate and games
VC or not? No — university incubator network.
Future Labs is a network, so start with the lab closest to your product. A climate company and a game studio need different mentors and commercial relationships. It is counted as one umbrella entry here, not several identical opportunities.
Funding: No universal investment offer; support varies by lab.
Investment activity / intake: Capacity varies by lab; no universal investment count.
Explore NYU Tandon Future Labs
26. Cornell Tech Runway Startup Postdocs
Stage: Research–pre-seed | Industry: Digital and deep technology
VC or not? No — university startup postdoc programme.
Runway is for recent PhDs turning research into a business. Its 12–24-month format acknowledges that some inventions need more time than a typical accelerator can offer. Review the programme’s IP terms as well as its funding package.
Funding: Package valued at $175K in year one and $150K in year two, including salary, research and housing support; not an equivalent cash cheque.
Investment activity / intake: Current intake not specified on the cited overview.
Explore Cornell Tech Runway Startup Postdocs
27. Columbia Startup Lab
Stage: Early-stage | Industry: Sector-agnostic; Columbia-affiliated founders
VC or not? No — university entrepreneurship programme.
If you have the relevant Columbia connection, this is a way to build within a dedicated founder community in SoHo. Check affiliation and founder-commitment requirements before treating it as an open-to-everyone accelerator.
Funding: Workspace and support; no standard investment confirmed.
Investment activity / intake: Current intake is cohort-dependent; no standard funding count.
28. Endless Frontier Labs
Stage: Early-stage–commercialisation | Industry: Deep tech, life sciences and digital technology
VC or not? No — university-affiliated accelerator.
EFL is worth considering when technical progress needs to turn into a commercial plan. The programme connects founders with experienced business and scientific mentors. It is not interchangeable with a cash-for-equity accelerator.
Funding: No standard investment cheque confirmed.
Investment activity / intake: Current investment count not applicable as a standard programme offer.
29. SOSV NY — formerly IndieBio New York
Stage: Pre-seed–seed | Industry: Deep tech, health and climate
VC or not? Yes — SOSV.
The New York counterpart to SOSV SF offers another route for science-led founders. It replaces the outdated IndieBio branding. The city and facilities are distinct, but the two locations belong to the same investment organisation.
Funding: Company-specific investment; current standard cash-only terms not confirmed here.
Investment activity / intake: Current location-specific annual cheque count not confirmed.
Explore SOSV NY — formerly IndieBio New York
30. WEVE Soft-Landing Acceleration
Stage: Product–growth; US market entry | Industry: Sector-agnostic technology
VC or not? No — market-entry accelerator.
WEVE is more about entering the US market than finding your first idea. It is worth investigating if you already have something working elsewhere and need to understand American customers, positioning and partnerships.
Funding: No guaranteed investment; confirm programme fees and current availability.
Investment activity / intake: Current intake not independently confirmed; do not assume participants receive funding.
Explore WEVE Soft-Landing Acceleration
London, United Kingdom
31. Entrepreneurs First
Stage: Pre-idea–pre-seed | Industry: Technology; ambitious individual founders
VC or not? Yes — talent investor.
EF starts with the person, not necessarily a finished pitch deck. It can help you find a co-founder and form a company, with a London-to-SF pathway. That relocation element matters if you want to stay entirely UK-based.
Funding: Equity-free support while ideating; up to $250K investment once a company is formed, subject to selection.
Investment activity / intake: Current London investment count not specified.
32. Seedcamp
Stage: Pre-seed–seed | Industry: European technology
VC or not? Yes — VC fund, not a fixed-term accelerator.
Despite the name, Seedcamp is not a bootcamp you join for a standard batch deal. It is an early-stage investor with a founder network and operating support. Consider it when you are ready to pitch an investment case.
Funding: Investment negotiated company by company.
Investment activity / intake: Current annual cheque count not confirmed.
33. Antler London
Stage: Company formation–pre-seed | Industry: Sector-agnostic technology
VC or not? Yes — inception-stage VC.
Read beyond the headline here: the fee reduces cash available to build, and the note adds future dilution. Individuals can enter the residency, but Antler UK says it does not invest in solo founders.
Funding: £210K initial investment: £125K for 8.5% plus an £85K convertible note; £40K programme fee. Further funding is conditional.
Investment activity / intake: 80–100 residency participants advertised; not all reach investment.
34. Founders Factory
Stage: Pre-seed–seed | Industry: Sector-specific technology, including health and climate
VC or not? Yes — venture studio and accelerator.
Founders Factory is appealing when you want people working alongside you on the business, not just advising from a distance. Check whether you are applying to build a new venture with the studio or accelerate an existing startup: they are different relationships.
Funding: Cash and operational support vary by programme.
Investment activity / intake: Investment volume depends on the programme; no universal count confirmed.
35. Techstars London
Stage: Pre-seed–seed | Industry: General technology
VC or not? Yes — accelerator and investor.
The London programme welcomes international founders across sectors. It offers a structured three-month accelerator and access to the wider Techstars network. The extra SAFE means total dilution is more than the fixed 5%.
Funding: Standard $220K offer: $20K for 5% through a CEA, plus a $200K uncapped MFN SAFE.
Investment activity / intake: Current London cohort investment count not specified.
Techstars investment terms
36. Zinc
Stage: Company formation–early-stage | Industry: Mission-led technology
VC or not? Yes — investor and venture builder.
Zinc is worth exploring when the problem you are solving has a clear social or environmental purpose. Look at the live investment thesis and available venture-building opportunities, rather than assuming an older mission cohort is still recruiting.
Funding: Funding and founder support vary by active opportunity.
Investment activity / intake: Current programme intake and investment count not confirmed.
37. Bethnal Green Ventures
Stage: Prototype–pre-seed | Industry: Tech for good; social and environmental impact
VC or not? Yes — impact VC.
BGV is for businesses where positive impact is part of the product, not a paragraph added to the pitch. Its six-week hybrid programme combines London sessions with remote work. Companies must be, or become, UK-incorporated.
Funding: £60K investment; review the linked full offer for equity terms.
Investment activity / intake: Current cohort investment count not specified.
Explore Bethnal Green Ventures
38. Seraphim Space Accelerator
Stage: Early-stage–growth | Industry: Space technology
VC or not? VC-affiliated accelerator.
Space founders need investors and customers who understand unusually technical products and long commercial timelines. Seraphim offers a sector-specific route; participating in the accelerator should not be confused with securing investment from a related fund.
Funding: No guaranteed standard programme investment confirmed.
Investment activity / intake: Current cohort and investment counts depend on the programme.
Explore Seraphim Space Accelerator
39. Outlier Ventures Base Camp
Stage: Pre-seed–seed | Industry: Web3 and decentralised technology
VC or not? Yes — venture-backed accelerator.
Base Camp programmes are often organised around an ecosystem or partner. Apply because the technical and commercial network fits your product, not simply because you want an accelerator. The operator is London-based; delivery can be remote and international.
Funding: Investment terms depend on the specific Base Camp.
Investment activity / intake: Cohort and investment counts vary by camp.
Explore Outlier Ventures Base Camp
40. Deep Science Ventures
Stage: Pre-idea–seed | Industry: Science-led technology, climate and health
VC or not? Yes — venture creator and investor.
DSV works differently from an accelerator for an existing startup. It helps form companies around scientific and commercial problems. It is especially relevant if you want to become a founder through a venture-building process.
Funding: Founder support and venture funding depend on the opportunity.
Investment activity / intake: Current annual venture-creation and cheque counts not confirmed.
41. Barclays Eagle Labs
Stage: Early-stage–growth | Industry: Technology; programme-specific sectors
VC or not? No — bank-backed support network.
Eagle Labs offers programmes and connections rather than one standard VC deal. Use the London and programme-specific options within its national network, and distinguish support, credits and access to investors from actual funding.
Funding: No universal investment cheque.
Investment activity / intake: No universal investment count; intake varies by programme.
42. NatWest Accelerator — London
Stage: Early-stage–growth | Industry: Sector-agnostic businesses
VC or not? No — bank-backed accelerator.
NatWest is worth investigating if you want practical support with growth and execution without organising your whole business around a VC raise. Choose the London hub or the relevant delivery route within the wider UK network.
Funding: Business support rather than a standard equity investment.
Investment activity / intake: Programme participation is not a funding commitment; capacity varies.
Explore NatWest Accelerator — London
43. Digital Catapult
Stage: Prototype–commercialisation | Industry: AI, advanced digital technology and industrial applications
VC or not? No — innovation organisation.
Digital Catapult is a London-based gateway to several opportunities, not a single accelerator. It can be useful when you need to test technology with industry. Check the delivery location and eligibility of each call, since some projects operate elsewhere.
Funding: Project-specific funding, facilities or support; no standard cheque.
Investment activity / intake: Programme-specific; grants and investments must be distinguished.
44. Geovation Accelerator
Stage: Pre-seed–seed | Industry: Geospatial and property technology
VC or not? No — specialist innovation accelerator.
Geovation makes sense when location or property data is central to the business. Specialist data access and industry connections may be more useful than generic startup advice. Check the actual cash component separately from the value of support.
Funding: Funding and support depend on the current offer; earlier £100K figures were not confirmed.
Investment activity / intake: Current cohort size and funding count not confirmed.
45. Lloyd’s Lab
Stage: Product–growth | Industry: Insurance and risk technology
VC or not? No — insurance-market accelerator.
If your product could help insurers or the wider Lloyd’s market, customer access is the point. It is a specialist place to test relevance, refine a proposition and meet industry participants, rather than a general startup funding programme.
Funding: No standard investment cheque confirmed.
Investment activity / intake: Cohort size varies; admission is not an investment.
46. UCL Hatchery
Stage: Early-stage | Industry: Sector-agnostic; UCL-linked founders
VC or not? No — university incubator.
University affiliation can open doors that do not appear in the usual accelerator lists. If you meet UCL’s requirements, the Hatchery is worth investigating for workspace, advice and a founder community. Confirm current eligibility and intake directly.
Funding: Incubation support; no guaranteed standard cheque.
Investment activity / intake: Current intake and any separate grant awards not confirmed.
47. King’s Startup Accelerator
Stage: Early-stage | Industry: Sector-agnostic; university-linked ventures
VC or not? No — university accelerator.
King’s offers several entrepreneurship routes, including startup, spinout and medtech support. Choose the one that matches your company and affiliation. University IP arrangements for research spinouts are separate from ordinary accelerator participation.
Funding: Support rather than a confirmed standard cash investment.
Investment activity / intake: Route-specific intake; no universal investment count.
Explore King’s Startup Accelerator
48. Imperial Venture Catalyst Challenge
Stage: Idea–early-stage | Industry: Multiple technology and innovation tracks
VC or not? No — university competition and programme.
VCC combines business development with a competition. It is a useful option for eligible Imperial-linked founders, but a prize pool should never be confused with guaranteed funding for every entrant.
Funding: £100K total prize pool, not £100K per company.
Investment activity / intake: 25 startups across five tracks in the 2026 programme; awards are competitive.
Explore Imperial Venture Catalyst Challenge
49. Founder Institute London
Stage: Idea–pre-seed | Industry: Sector-agnostic startups
VC or not? Accelerator; not an automatic VC investment.
Founder Institute is aimed at turning an early idea into a more fundable business. Before joining, read the local programme commitments and agreements carefully. Paying for a programme is a different decision from accepting investment.
Funding: No guaranteed cheque; review the entrance fee and equity-related agreements.
Investment activity / intake: Current London intake and investment count not confirmed.
Explore Founder Institute London
50. FinTech Innovation Lab London
Stage: Seed–Series B; at least a beta product | Industry: Fintech, insurtech and enterprise technology
VC or not? No — industry collaboration programme.
This is worth considering if your next step is working with financial institutions. You do not have to call yourself a fintech company: enterprise technology can qualify when it solves a relevant problem. International applicants need their own work eligibility.
Funding: No financial support and no equity taken by Accenture through the programme.
Investment activity / intake: Cohort size varies; the programme does not write standard investment cheques.
Explore FinTech Innovation Lab London
Why a few familiar names are not in the 50
Berkeley SkyDeck is in Berkeley, StartX is in the Palo Alto area, and Boost VC is associated with San Mateo. They may be relevant if you are considering the wider Bay Area, but they should not be labelled San Francisco programmes. Carbon13’s Cambridge-based venture-building route is likewise not a London programme. Neo’s older accelerator funding link redirects to Neo Residency, so it is not counted twice.
