23 Incubator and Accelerator Programs for Startup Entrepreneurs You Should Know
For early stage startup entrepreneurs looking to start off on the right foot, accelerators and incubators offer great ways to start and grow their businesses. The terms “accelerator” and “incubator” are often assumed to represent the same concept. However, there are a few key distinctions you should be aware of.
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Accelerators “accelerate” the growth of an existing company, while incubators “incubate” disruptive ideas with the hope of building out a business model and company. So, accelerators focus on scaling a business, while incubators are often more focused on innovation.
Accelerators and incubators both offer entrepreneurs good opportunities early on. As a founder, you get help to quickly grow your business. And they often improve your chances of attracting a top venture capital (VC) firm to invest in your startup at a later point.
With that said, here are 24 incubator and accelerator programs for startup entrepreneurs you should know about.
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1. MTN Solution Space Venture Innovation Program for African Tech Startups
MTN Group is looking for startups that are either building a sustainable Africa through digital solutions for health, education, agriculture, fintech, energy, and IoT, or enabling businesses through digital solutions for religion, sport, news, and e-commerce.
Value of Award: MTN Industry Partnership, Feedback & Guidance, Entrepreneurship Skills, Advisory Services, Co-Working & Community
2. Co-Creation Hub (CcHUB) Incubation Program for Aspiring Entrepreneurs and Startups
The Incubation Program at CcHUB takes a hands-on approach to helping entrepreneurs execute a working business model and grow a sustainable business. Our goal is to help the entrepreneur(s) properly structure their business, ensure consistent growth, and access funding to build a lasting global entity. The program is open to startup teams from anywhere in the world that are looking to grow their businesses in Africa, particularly Nigeria.
3. Injini Edtech Incubator for African Education Startups
Injini is the first EdTech dedicated incubator program on the African continent. It is the only opportunity for EdTech entrepreneurs based anywhere in Africa to get industry-specific mentoring, support, scale up and funding introductions, and early stage funding. Get a $50K investment and a 5-month incubation program to change education across Africa.
4. Accountability Incubator Program for Young Civil Leaders in Developing Countries
Do you have an idea for building accountability and transparency in your community? Are you developing a new tool for civic engagement or anti-corruption? Apply to join the Accountability Incubator for a chance to receive the support you need to turn your idea into reality! The Accountability Incubator is Accountability Lab’s flagship initiative to provide passionate young leaders with catalytic support to develop and implement low-cost, high-impact solutions for accountability in their communities. Visit Programme Webpage for details
5. Phanes Group Solar Incubator for PV projects in sub-Saharan Africa
The Phanes Group Solar Incubator was initiated to select and support PV project opportunities in sub-Saharan Africa that, for a number of reasons, might not be able to reach beyond the planning phase. Secondly, it represents an opportunity for Phanes Group to utilize its expertise and experience to give back to the communities in the economies it serves.
The winning candidate(s) will enter into a partnership with Phanes Group, holding a long-term stake in the project. Jointly, we will bring the project to a financial close. Phanes Group and its partners will provide extensive mentorship and knowledge transfer throughout the development partnership, kicking off with the incubator phase in Dubai, UAE, while also setting the foundations to deliver bankable projects in the future.
6. Three Dot Dash Global Teen Leader Program for Social Entrepreneurs
Three Dot Dash is a global youth initiative of the We Are Family Foundation (WAFF). It is a social entrepreneur incubator and accelerator designed to amplify the work of young people making an extraordinary impact. Three Dot Dash powers the most influential social entrepreneurs between the ages of 13 and 19, who have found a solution or innovation to address a basic human need.
7. GSBI Accelerator Program for Social Entrepreneurs
The Global Social Benefit Institute (GSBI) at Santa Clara University serves social entrepreneurs around the world who are developing innovative solutions that provide a sustainable path out of poverty. The GSBI Accelerator assists selected participants with business plans and other capacity-building activities in support of investment. Past participants include many in water supply, energy, agriculture, and the environment in developing countries.
8. Chivas Venture Accelerator Program
In 2014, Chivas Regal launched The Venture, a $1 million annual fund and global search to reward those who are using business to create positive change. The Venture is a global search to find and support the most promising startups with the potential to succeed financially and make a positive impact on the lives of others. The most promising startups—one from each country participating in The Venture—will make it to the global final and have a chance to win a share of $1 million in funding.
9. Sony/Warner Techstars Music Accelerator Program for Music Startups
Techstars Music is a startup accelerator run by Techstars and leading companies from the global music business: Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, Harmonix Music Systems, Silva Artist Management, Bill Silva Entertainment, QPrime Management, Concord Music, Royalty Exchange, and RecoChoku. Techstars invests $120k in 10 of the best music-related startups from around the world. It provides office space in LA and access to mentors and investors from the global music business.
10. Global Giving Accelerator for Young Entrepreneurs
The Global Giving Accelerator is a virtual training program and crowd funding campaign that will help you take your fundraising to the next level. Following an optional two-week training curriculum, you’ll be entered into an Accelerator campaign where you’ll raise at least $5,000 total from a minimum of 40 different donors in order to graduate and secure a permanent fundraising spot on the Global Giving platform.
The Global Giving Accelerator is an opportunity for you and your organization to build skills, access tools, and grow your base of supporters to achieve crowd funding success. When you graduate, your organization becomes a permanent member of Global Giving, and you’ll have access to all the tools, training, and one-on-one support available in the Global Giving community.
11. Marriott TestBED Accelerator for Startups in Middle East and Africa
TestBED is a 10-week accelerator program that gives startups an invaluable opportunity to test their products within an operating Marriott Hotel. The accelerator program powered by Marriott Hotels aims to find cutting edge technologies that can transform hotel guests experiences. The program will work with startups that have developed products and services that can enhance the Marriott Hotel’s guest experience.
12. MasterCard Start Path Global Accelerator Program for Innovative Startups
Start Path Global is MasterCard’s worldwide program for innovative later stage startups from across the globe. Eligible startups will be provided support to travel. MasterCard works with an ever growing portfolio of later stage startups with unique solutions across fintech and commerce. Start Path Global is based on what has worked best for MasterCard’s portfolio of startups: more flexibility, more customization, and no distractions from your current business.
13. Wells Fargo Accelerator Programme for FinTech Startups
The Wells Fargo Startup Accelerator is a hands-on program focused on startups that create solutions for financial institutions and enterprise customers. The semiannual boot camp is for innovators who seek to shape the future of financial services. Companies join Wells Fargo’s accelerator to refine their potential breakthrough technologies for financial services and other applications.
14. WISE Accelerator for Education Technology Projects
The WISE Accelerator is a program designed to support the development of innovative projects in the field of education. Selected projects receive the guidance and expertise of qualified mentors and partners, who provide effective strategies and practical support for their further development. Each year, five projects are selected to join the one-year program, during which time they benefit from tailor-made mentorships to address their specific needs. In addition, the WISE Accelerator assists the selected projects to connect with an international network and create opportunities to share knowledge and find support among donors and investors.
15. NextGen in Franchising Global Competition for Entrepreneurs
The NextGen Global Competition engages young entrepreneurs who are seeking careers and business opportunities in the franchising industry. Competition prizes range from a complimentary trip to the IFA’s Annual Convention to a chance to participate and win cash prizes in the FranShark competition and a 90-day accelerator program with industry leaders and CEOs.
16. Barclays Africa, Techstars Accelerator Programme for FinTech Startups
The Barclays Accelerator Powered by Techstars is a three-month intensive startup accelerator focused on innovations in financial services. This partnership between Barclays and Techstars brings two global networks together into one accelerator program that offers entrepreneurs unprecedented access not only to a world-leading bank but also to Techstars’ mentor and investor relationships across 13 locations.
17. MERCK Accelerator Program Germany
Are you ready to take your start-up to the next level? The Accelerator is looking for true innovators and entrepreneurs with a start-up mindset. Candidates applying to the accelerator program should be startups in the fields of digital healthcare, life science, and performance materials who are dedicated to the program and ready to give their all for the entire program period.
18. GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund for Start-ups in Africa and Asia Pacific
The GSMA Ecosystem Accelerator Innovation Fund provides selected start-ups in Africa and Asia Pacific with equity-free funding, technical assistance, and the opportunity to partner with mobile operators in their markets to help scale their products and services into sustainable businesses with positive socio-economic impact.
19. Ashoka Social Investment Accelerator for Social Entrepreneurs in Africa
Are you a social enterprise, and are you looking to raise investments for the first time? Are you based in North, East, or Southern Africa? Join the 6-month Ashoka Social Investment Accelerator by Ashoka Africa, designed to support social entrepreneurs!
The aim of the accelerator is to support social entrepreneurs to refine their business models and become investment-ready. It also aims to support them in finding the right hybrid corporate structure to access both investment and philanthropy efficiently. Note that the outcome at the end of the program is to produce a pitch deck that you will be able to share with potential investors.
20. Global African Agribusiness Accelerator Platform (GAAAP) for Young Zambian Entrepreneurs
The Global African Agribusiness Accelerator Platform seeks to identify and work with Africa-active agribusiness and agriculture enterprise owners aged 40 or below who have been in business for at least 3 years or more and who seek to increase their access to finance, markets, and their business’s overall growth.
21. IDEX Accelerator Global Fellowship for Young Social Intrapreneurs
The IDEX Accelerator and Global Fellowship Program was founded on the idea that by investing in future generations of leaders who are passionate about leading high-impact careers, we can regenerate local economies and build stronger communities around the world. The IDEX Accelerator is a six-month fellowship experience designed for aspiring social intrapreneurs who want to take control of their career path while helping to address society’s most pressing problems.
These young professionals are given the opportunity to work alongside social entrepreneurs across India and gain hands-on experience addressing the needs of a growing enterprise while earning a Professional Certification in Social Enterprise.
22. Google Developers Launchpad Africa for African Tech Startups
Google Developer Launchpad is a global acceleration program that helps startups build and scale great products by matching them with the best of Google—its people, network, and advanced technologies.
Over the next three years, starting in 2018, the Google Launchpad Accelerator Africa program has revealed it will provide African start-ups with over $3 million in equity-free support, working space, and access to expert advisers from Google, Silicon Valley, and Africa. Participants received travel and PR support during each three-month program. Each has received $10,000 in an equity-free cash grant.
23. Digital Health Cape Town (DHCT) Accelerator for Digital Health Startups in South Africa
Digital Health accepts applications from the best start-up digital health companies with a viable business and social impact model in South Africa. Successful applicants will participate in a 10-week online program as well as face-to-face engagements with business coaches and industry mentors to develop their business plans. Note that the top graduating students will be eligible to receive funding and industry assistance to launch and expand their businesses.
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