Apply everywhere. Apply to the right one.
Fifty startup accelerators, side by side: what they back, what they actually do for you, whether there’s money in it, when the next round closes, and whether you have to move to get in.
The work of building a company has gone hybrid, but most accelerators haven’t. Some still want you in San Francisco for twelve weeks; others run entirely online; a growing number pay you a stipend and take nothing. We’ve listed the global names, the European and UK programmes worth knowing, and the Irish routes that rarely make the international lists.
Deadlines in the next few weeks
The 50 accelerators
Filter by where you are, how you want to work and whether you’ll give up equity.How to choose without wasting a cycle
Four questions worth answering before you write a single application.What are you really selling: equity or time?
A $500K cheque for 7% and a free programme that takes nothing are not the same deal. Equity programmes usually buy you a network and a Demo Day; equity-free ones (Google, AWS, Plug and Play, MassChallenge, CDL, Kickstart) usually cost you hours a week. Price both.
Can you actually move for twelve weeks?
“Onsite” here means the programme expects founders in a city for most of it. If you have a mortgage, children or a day job, start with the Hybrid and Remote filters. Several Irish programmes ask for only a few core weeks in person.
Do you have a team, or are you looking for one?
Entrepreneurs First, Antler, South Park Commons, Founders by Dogpatch Labs and Carbon13 back individuals before there’s a company. Most others want a team and some traction. Applying to the wrong type is the most common wasted application.
Who’s the buyer you need in the room?
Corporate programmes are worth more for their customers than their cash. If your buyer is an HR director, SHRM Labs puts you in front of them; if it’s a telco, Wayra; if it’s a Swiss bank or insurer, Kickstart.
How we built this list. Programmes were chosen for reach, track record and relevance to people building the future of work, with deliberate coverage of Ireland, the UK and Europe. Terms and dates come from each programme’s own pages and announcements, cross-checked against recent coverage, as of 4 November 2026. “Expected” dates follow the programme’s past pattern and are not confirmed. Nothing here is investment advice, and no programme paid to be included.
Building something? Tell us about it.
Not every startup needs an accelerator. Some need one experienced person for two days a week: someone who has hired the first ten people, shipped the first product, or run the programme you’re about to start. Tell us what you’re building and where you’re stuck, and we’ll put you in touch with advisors who have done it before.
- People & HR
- Engineering & product
- Programme delivery
- Fundraising readiness
- Go-to-market
Tell us about your startup Browse fractional leaders
No fee and no obligation. We may also feature promising projects in the Insider, but only with your permission.
- 01
Send us a short note
What you’re building, what stage you’re at, and the one problem you most need help with. A few lines is plenty.
- 02
A person reads it
We read every message ourselves and come back to you, usually within a week, with questions or a suggestion.
- 03
We make the right introduction
We connect you with advisors or fractional leaders who fit your stage and sector, and point you to any accelerators on this list worth a closer look.
Deadlines move. We’ll tell you when.
One email a week on where work is going, with the accelerator windows worth knowing about. Run a programme we’ve missed or got wrong? Tell us and we’ll update the list.