Startupbootcamp is among the best accelerator programs that's popular in 20 countries, including Latin America, Africa, Europe, Australia, and Asia. Launched in 2010, the accelerator has helped over 1600 startups with a total portfolio valuation of 5.6 billion euros. SBC graduates generally experience a 2.5 leap in valuation after participating in the program, raising about 1.5 million euros on average within a year.
There are more than 20 industry-focused programs to enter, including those devoted to FinTech & Cybersecurity, Renewable Energy & Net-Zero, Sports & EventTech, and others. Yet the competition is intense, as the average acceptance rate is only 1% (with just 10 startups accepted for each round).
What they give: specialized guidance, access to an extensive network of industry experts, mentors, and partners, exclusive deals and perks from partners, the chance to secure funding on Demo Day at the end of the program
Program duration: 3 months on average
Terms: the accelerator provides startups that get accepted with 15k euros for 6 to 8% equity based on the specific program
How to apply: startups fill out a application, if it passes the initial review, the team gets invited to a Selection Day to pitch the startup
AngelPad
AngelPad was established in 2010, based in San Francisco and New York, and is ranked among the top startup accelerators in the US. It focuses on seed-stage startups and those with tech products (anything from AI, mobile, and healthcare to advertising, marketplaces, SaaS startups, and beyond).
This accelerator has already funded 150 companies, and, altogether, AngelPad's alumni received 2.2 billion USD in funding (with 14+ million USD on average for each). Around 15 teams get accepted twice a year, yet the acceptance rate for the cohorts is below 1%, meaning that it's very difficult to get accepted from the average pool of about 2000 applicants.
What they give: dedicated mentorship and guidance on vital business areas (like finding product market fit, defining the target market, company validation, and beyond), access to over 300k USD in cloud credits from partners, preparation for fundraising
Program duration: 3 months
Terms: AngelPad invests 120k USD in every company for 2% equity plus 5% in common stock (which adds up to about 7% of the equity)
How to apply: startups submit an application with information about the startup and its team of founders, followed by an in-person interview
Alchemist Accelerator
The Alchemist Accelerator was launched in 2012 and is one of the best startup accelerators oriented at early-stage startups and deeply technical teams working with enterprises and larger companies (as opposed to selling to individual consumers directly). The accelerator has worked with more than 500 startups.
The programs have only about 25 participants in each cohort, and the major areas in focus are Industrial IoT, Climate Tech, Digital Health, Diversity, FinTech and Cybersecurity. The hubs are in Memphis, San Francisco, and Munich.
What they give: guidance from enterprise mentors, product development help, assistance with partnerships, regional industry conferences, Demo Day, access to exclusive partner deals with a value of 400k USD
Program duration: 6 months
Terms: the accelerator offers around 25k USD in funding for 5% equity, on average
How to apply: applications are accepted on the official website (there are application deadlines for entering the program), if it passes, there is an interview
SOSV
SOSV is a global venture capital firm and accelerator launched in 1995. The company supports both pre-seed startups and those at later stages. Over the years, 7 of their startups have become unicorns, and, in aggregate, SOSV portfolio companies have raised over 2 billion USD. The accelerator is based in the USA, China, and other locations.
SOSV runs two programs for startups, HAX (revolves around hard tech, including healthcare and sensors) and IndieBio (focuses on the human and planetary health industry, helping scientist entrepreneurs). Both programs are in-person and remote.
Top SOSV alumni: Temasek, Khosla Ventures, Sequoia, Artesian, Prime Movers Lab
What they give: mentorship with startup experts, scientists, and engineers, assistance in finding lead investors, SOSV investment opportunities during and after the program
Program duration: 3 to 6 months
Terms: SOSV invests from 150k USD up to 500k USD starting from the pre-seed round, post-debt equity varies and could be around 11%
How to apply: after selecting the HAX or IndieBio program, startups submit an application on the official application portal, applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, if accepted, the startup is invited to a series of screening calls
Google for Startups Accelerator
The Google for Startups Accelerator accepts growth-stage startups to their equity-free programs, which include 10 to 15 startups in each cohort and are both remote and in-person. The most popular programs include Sustainability, AI First, Circular Economy, Cloud, Climate Change, and others. The programs are run all around the world, including North America, Latin America, Europe and Israel, Asia, and Africa.
Top Google For Startups Accelerator alumni: GetSteps, Hutch, Impressivo, Localyze
What they give: mentorship and training with Google and industry experts, tackling technical challenges, sprint projects, group learning sessions, deep dives and workshops on various business areas, access to the founder's network, credits for Google Cloud products
Program duration: 3 months
Terms: no equity is required to participate
How to apply: mostly seed or series A startups that are deeply technical get accepted, startups submit applications for review to get selected for participation