12 best early-stage startup accelerators to apply to in 2026

The 12 at a glance

Every row was checked on the programme's own pages on 10 November 2026. We left out cheque sizes and deal terms on purpose: this page is about which programme fits where you are, and the terms change often. Read them on each programme's site before you sign anything.

Foundinity: find your cofounder before you apply

Look down the solo founders column and a pattern shows. Y Combinator says one-person startups are tough. Techstars judges the team first. speedrun and Alchemist prefer teams. Antler's UK residency welcomes solo founders but says it doesn't invest in them. The programmes that take individuals happily, like Entrepreneurs First and Antler, ask you to go full-time and often to move cities so you can find a cofounder inside the cohort.

You can do that part first, while you keep your job. On Foundinity, you state what you need in a cofounder, and answer an assessment about how you work: commitment, working style, ambition, personality, goals, values, alongside your skills and interests. A multi-trait algorithm built on established psychological compatibility models ranks the people you see. Every match shows where the two of you align and where you differ, and a 10-day clock keeps it from stalling. Skills tell you who can do the job. The rest tells you who you can actually build with for years.

Match, work on something small together for a few weeks, and apply as a team with progress to show. It's free to get started; Plus is $5 a week or $15 a month. More on how it works.

How we picked these 12

We looked for programmes an early-stage founder can actually apply to now: running in 2026, open to first-time founders, and clear on their own pages about format, length and who they take. We read the top-ranking accelerator lists for this search first. Most rank programmes by money and brand, list deal terms and say little about whether you need a cofounder or an idea. We sorted ours by that instead.

Some well-known names didn't make it:

• Pioneer: its site says it stopped making new investments in 2024.
• Seedcamp: its site describes a seed investor, with no cohorts or programme dates.
• 500 Global's flagship accelerator, Station F's Founders Program and HF0: we couldn't confirm the current format, eligibility or next intake on their own pages on 10 November 2026, so we left them out rather than guess.

The list is grouped by what you bring. Programmes 1 to 3 form teams from individuals. Programmes 4 to 8 take solo founders but prefer teams. Programmes 9 to 11 fit around a job. Programme 12 wants a team from the start.

If you don't have a cofounder or an idea yet

1. Entrepreneurs First

What it is. A talent investor that selects individuals before they have a company, then helps them pair up and start one. Its FAQ is direct: you don't need a cofounder or an idea to apply.

Stage. Pre-team and pre-idea. EF says its programmes are "most valuable for people in the early stages of their career", and it looks for people who've done exceptional things compared with their peers. Most participants are technical; it takes "a small number of non-technical individuals who demonstrate solid technical understanding".

Format and length. Full-time and in person. The London Program runs 12 weeks in London, then 3 months in San Francisco. The Bangalore Program runs 14 weeks in Bangalore, then 3 months in San Francisco. EF also lists 3-month US fellowships in San Francisco, an 8-week Bridge Residency in San Francisco for young Europeans, and EF Start, a 7-day remote programme.

Solo founders. Everyone applies as an individual. If you already have a cofounder, EF asks you to say so and have them apply too.

Cofounder help. It's the core of the programme: a structured process pairs people into founding teams, usually a CEO and a CTO.

Next intake. Bangalore starts February 2027; apply by 1 December 2026 for the third of four selection rounds. London starts April 2027 (register interest). The US fellowships review applications on a rolling basis. The Bridge Residency has February and April 2027 starts.

2. Antler

What it is. Antler calls itself an inception-stage investor, not an accelerator. It runs residencies where founders meet, test working together and form teams, and it invests in some of the teams that form.

Stage. Before a cofounder, before a settled idea, and before the company is incorporated. Its US page says it looks for "Outlier achievers with edge, velocity, and deep domain strength".

Format and length. Full-time and mostly in person. In the UK, solo founders and incomplete teams join for up to 8 weeks, complete teams for about 6, in cohorts of 80 to 100, and founders usually spend 4 to 6 days a week in the office. In the US, residents work in person for up to 3 months in New York, San Francisco or Austin.

Solo founders. Welcome to join everywhere we checked. The UK page also says "We don't invest in solo founders": the residency's aim is to leave with a team. In the US, at least one founder must be full-time in the residency and already have US work authorisation; Antler doesn't sponsor visas.

Next intake. Rolling in the US, Canada (Toronto) and the Nordics. Fixed starts include Australia on 8 February 2027, Korea and Nigeria on 15 March 2027 and Kenya on 22 March 2027. The UK page still showed a September 2026 start, now passed.

3. Startup Wise Guys Founders Club

What it is. An online pre-accelerator from Startup Wise Guys for people who want to leave a corporate job and start something, alone or with a team.

Stage. "With or without" a team or an idea. It also takes early B2B tech startups without significant revenue. The page says ideal candidates have 7 or more years of experience, ideally in a fast-growing company, plus leadership experience.

Format and length. Three months online, 12 weekly modules. Sessions run once or twice a week from 16:30 to 18:30 CET, with at least 12 hours of assignments a week on top. You can keep your job.

Solo founders. Yes. Matchmaking, networking and team building happen in week 2, and if you don't find someone, you can keep looking across more than one cohort.

Next intake. The page lists the 21st cohort: applications closed on 2 November and kickoff was 12 November (no year printed). The next cohort's dates weren't listed when we checked; applications are reviewed first come, first served.

Accelerators that take solo founders but prefer teams

4. Y Combinator

What it is. The best-known accelerator: a three-month programme in San Francisco that starts with a 3-day in-person retreat. Y Combinator also runs Startup School, a free online programme, and a free cofounder matching platform for people without a cofounder.

Stage. Early. YC recommends applying "as soon as you have a founding team and an idea you are excited about", and says that on average 40% of the companies in each batch are just an idea.

Format and length. Full-time and in person. YC expects founders to work full-time on the company during the batch and afterwards. Students and people working part-time can still apply.

Solo founders. "We regularly accept solo founders," its FAQ says, adding that "one-person startups are tough and you're more likely to succeed with a co-founder".

Next intake. Winter 2027 runs January to March in San Francisco. The on-time deadline was 2 November at 8pm PT; late applications are still considered, but YC can't say when you'll hear back. On-time applicants hear by 11 December. You can also apply now for later Spring, Summer and Fall batches.

5. South Park Commons Founder Fellowship

What it is. A fellowship from South Park Commons, a community of builders, for people who want to start a venture-scale company and are ready for early funding. A six-month Member Residency is the alternative for people not ready to raise.

Stage. No idea needed, but you have to show how you come up with ideas: the approaches, markets and ideas you've already thrown out.

Format and length. An 8-week in-person bootcamp in a small cohort, in San Francisco, New York or Bangalore, followed by a residency with no fixed end.

Solo founders. Welcome, with "a strong bias for applicants who can build and prototype". SPC says it can help you search for a cofounder, and that earlier fellows have found cofounders in its community.

Next intake. The Fall 2026 bootcamp runs late September to late November 2026; its 2 August deadline has passed. The next cohort hadn't been announced when we checked.

6. PearX

What it is. The accelerator run by Pear VC, for pre-seed founders. Pear says it often backs founders "before their ideas are fully formed".

Stage. Pre-seed. Most teams join before raising any money.

Format and length. Twelve weeks, in person; teams must relocate to the San Francisco Bay Area. Each cohort starts with Camp Pear, a 3-day retreat, and holds about 25 teams at most. Group programming averages about 2 hours a week, alongside a weekly meeting with your Pear partner.

Solo founders. "Absolutely, we welcome solo founders." PearX also has a recruiter who helps companies find cofounders for critical roles.

Next intake. Applications are open all year and each is read by a Pear investor. Cohorts run in winter (January to April) and summer (July to October).

7. a16z speedrun

What it is. A 12-week residency at a16z's San Francisco office, built around firesides, office hours and a demo day.

Stage. Very early: ideas, prototypes and early products are all considered, as long as a team is already building. Students still looking for an idea are pointed to its separate alpha fellowship.

Format and length. Twelve weeks. You're expected at the founder retreat, Progress Day and the two demo days. Its FAQ gives two different answers on how much of the rest is in person, so ask before you plan a move.

Solo founders. You can apply alone, but speedrun says it "generally prefer[s] teams with multiple founders who bring complementary skills", and teams usually need a technical cofounder or equivalent technical skill.

Next intake. The SR008 window closed on 1 November 2026; that cohort runs 1 February to 18 April 2027. SR009 starts in late July 2027, and applications that missed SR008 are reviewed for it.

8. Alchemist

What it is. An accelerator for founders selling to businesses, from small companies to the Fortune 500. It looks for "deeply technical researchers, engineers, and domain experts".

Stage. Pre-seed and seed, B2B and B2B2C only, hardware or software.

Format and length. No fixed length: support lasts as long as you're building toward a venture-scale company. Its Chicago and Japan programmes run on a set calendar. You can work from anywhere; US sessions are held in San Francisco or online.

Solo founders. Considered, but at a "higher bar". Alchemist says most of its companies start with two or three committed cofounders.

Next intake. No dates on the site. You apply through its founder form.

Programmes that fit around a job

9. Founder Institute

What it is. A part-time pre-seed programme, now called the Agentic Program, run through local chapters in more than 200 cities and online cohorts.

Stage. From "I have an idea" to early revenue. You need to be over 18, focused on a technology business and ready to incorporate during the programme. Agencies and consultancies generally aren't accepted.

Format and length. Ten sessions plus a Funding Day. Each week has a two-hour live feedback session, and Founder Institute asks for an average of at least 20 hours a week. Most cohorts meet online. You don't need to quit your job.

Solo founders. Yes. Founder Institute says a typical cohort is roughly 60% solo founders, by its own count. It holds cofounder networking events, and if you apply as a team, each cofounder applies and is assessed separately.

Next intake. Deadlines are set by chapter. The FAQ we read listed the Mumbai Spring 2027 cohort with an early deadline of 15 December 2026 and a final deadline of 2 March 2027.

10. Z Fellows

What it is. A one-week programme for technical builders, with ten people in each cohort and sessions with experienced founders.

Stage. "No such thing as too early." It has taken high school students, dropouts, recent graduates and people with full-time jobs, working on side projects or startups.

Format and length. One week, mostly virtual, with the final day in person in San Francisco or New York; Z Fellows says most people come for the whole week. You don't need a company, and you don't need to quit your job or leave school.

Solo founders. Solo applicants and teams are both welcome; a team sends one application.

Next intake. Rolling, with no deadline and several cohorts a year. You can reapply if you're turned down.

11. EWOR

What it is. A fellowship for founders "building transformative tech", with an Ideation Fellowship and a Traction Fellowship.

Stage. From idea to traction. EWOR says ambition matters more than stage.

Format and length. Virtual-first, with weekly mentoring from experienced founders. The homepage doesn't give a length.

Solo founders. The homepage doesn't say. It does welcome founders still "hunting for your technical co-founder" and links to a talent pool you can join.

Next intake. A banner on its site showed an application deadline of 30 November when we checked on 10 November 2026.

A team-first accelerator

12. Techstars

What it is. A network of three-month accelerators, some run by city (London, New York, Boston, Boulder, Chicago, Tokyo) and some by industry, such as healthcare, space, energy and finance, plus Techstars Anywhere.

Stage. "Nothing is too early," its help centre says; it has accepted companies with "no more than an idea, and a dream".

Format and length. About 90 days. Techstars expects senior management to be "present and engaged for the majority" of the programme, and you must be lawfully in the programme's country for the whole of it. It helps with immigration only after you're accepted.

Solo founders. Its pages don't say. Its help centre describes the selection order as team, team, team, then market, progress and idea, and suggests rounding out your team with business and technical skills before you apply.

Next intake. The London programme page lists Spring 2027: final application deadline 18 November 2026, start 8 March 2027, demo day 3 June 2027. Other programmes have their own pages and dates.

Why most accelerators prefer teams

The programmes say it themselves. Y Combinator's FAQ says you're "more likely to succeed with a co-founder". Techstars puts the team first, second and third in its selection order. speedrun prefers "teams with multiple founders". Alchemist sets a higher bar for solo founders. Antler takes individuals but invests in teams.

The reasoning is practical. In three months, a team can build and sell at the same time; one person has to choose. A pair has also already made one hard decision together, which was choosing each other, and a programme can see how they work before it commits.

None of this means you can't get in alone. YC accepts solo founders regularly, and PearX and Founder Institute say so plainly. But for most programmes on this list, a strong cofounder you've already worked with makes the application stronger.

How to choose an early-stage accelerator

Answer these in order, and most of the list rules itself out.

1. Do you have a cofounder? If not, and you want one, start with programmes 1 to 3, or find one first and apply anywhere. 2. Do you have an idea? Entrepreneurs First, Antler, Startup Wise Guys and South Park Commons don't need one. Y Combinator, speedrun and Alchemist want a team already building. 3. Can you go full-time now? Entrepreneurs First, Antler, Y Combinator, PearX, speedrun and Techstars all expect it. Founder Institute, Z Fellows, the Founders Club and EWOR fit around a job. 4. Can you move, and can you work there legally? Antler's US residency needs existing work authorisation. Techstars needs you lawfully in the country for the whole programme. PearX asks teams to relocate to the Bay Area. Entrepreneurs First asks you to move to a hub city. 5. Are you building for businesses? Alchemist only takes enterprise companies; most others are generalist. 6. When is the next deadline? Several close in the next few weeks (see below). If you've missed one, check whether late or rolling applications are read.

Deadlines and start dates coming up

What to do before you apply

If you're applying alone. Read the programme's own solo-founder line before you write anything. Show what you've built without help, because almost every programme here asks whether you can build. If the programme prefers teams, say what kind of cofounder you're looking for and how.

If you're looking for a cofounder first. Give yourself a few months: finding the right person usually takes longer than people expect (our article on how long it takes to find a cofounder goes through why). Use the first calls to test the things that end partnerships, such as commitment and how each of you handles disagreement; our questions to ask a potential cofounder are a good start. Then build something small together before a deadline forces the decision.

If you're applying as a team. Some programmes assess each founder separately: Founder Institute has each cofounder apply on their own, and Entrepreneurs First asks your cofounder to apply too. Make sure you both tell the same story about who does what.

Which should you apply to?

If you have no cofounder and can go full-time, Entrepreneurs First (early in your career) or Antler (if you bring deep domain experience) are built for you. If you want to keep your job while you look, use Foundinity to find your cofounder, and take Founder Institute or Z Fellows alongside it. If you already have a team and something built, Y Combinator, PearX and speedrun are the main full-time choices in San Francisco, and Techstars runs programmes in many cities. If you sell to businesses, look at Alchemist.

For a closer look at the two team-forming programmes, see Antler vs Foundinity and Entrepreneur First vs Foundinity.

FAQ

What is the best accelerator for early-stage startups?

It depends on what you bring. With a team and an idea, Y Combinator is the best-known choice. Without a cofounder, Entrepreneurs First and Antler are built to form teams. If you need to keep your job, Founder Institute runs part-time.

Which accelerators accept pre-idea founders?

Entrepreneurs First and Antler take people with no idea. South Park Commons doesn't need one either, as long as you can show how you generate ideas. Startup Wise Guys' Founders Club takes people with or without an idea.

Can solo founders get into accelerators?

Yes. Y Combinator says it regularly accepts solo founders, PearX says "Absolutely", and Founder Institute says about 60% of a typical cohort is solo. Techstars, speedrun and Alchemist prefer teams, and Antler's UK residency doesn't invest in solo founders.

Do I need a cofounder to apply to Y Combinator?

No. YC's FAQ says it regularly accepts solo founders, though it also says you're more likely to succeed with one.

Which accelerators help you find a cofounder?

Entrepreneurs First and Antler are built around it. Startup Wise Guys runs matchmaking in week 2 of its Founders Club, PearX has a recruiter for critical roles, Founder Institute holds cofounder networking events, and South Park Commons helps fellows search. Foundinity is the option that doesn't require joining a programme.

Can I do an accelerator while working full-time?

Founder Institute, Z Fellows, Startup Wise Guys' Founders Club and EWOR fit around a job. Y Combinator, Entrepreneurs First, Antler, PearX, speedrun and Techstars expect you full-time.

Are there remote startup accelerators?

Founder Institute's cohorts mostly meet online, the Founders Club is fully online, EWOR is virtual-first, and Z Fellows is mostly virtual. Alchemist lets you work from anywhere.

How long is a startup accelerator?

Most run about three months: Y Combinator, PearX, speedrun and Techstars all do. Antler's UK residency runs up to 8 weeks, South Park Commons' bootcamp 8 weeks and Z Fellows one week.

What's the difference between an accelerator and a residency?

An accelerator usually takes an existing team for a fixed programme that ends in a demo day. A residency like Antler's or Entrepreneurs First's takes individuals, and the first part of the programme is forming a team.

When are the next startup accelerator deadlines?

Techstars' Spring 2027 programmes close on 18 November 2026, EWOR's banner showed 30 November, and Entrepreneurs First Bangalore's next round closes on 1 December 2026. Y Combinator still reads late Winter 2027 applications. PearX and Z Fellows accept applications all year.

Do accelerators accept non-technical founders?

Some do, but many lean technical. Entrepreneurs First takes "a small number" of non-technical people, speedrun teams usually need a technical cofounder, and Alchemist looks for technical founders. If you're non-technical, finding a technical cofounder before you apply widens your choice.

Which accelerators are in Europe?

Entrepreneurs First runs its London Program in London, Antler has residencies in the UK, the Nordics and elsewhere, Techstars runs a London programme, and the Founders Club runs online on Central European time.

Which accelerators are in India?

Entrepreneurs First runs a Bangalore Program, South Park Commons' fellowship has a Bangalore option, and Founder Institute has chapters in Indian cities, including Mumbai.

Should I find a cofounder before applying to an accelerator?

For most programmes on this list, yes. It strengthens the application, and you avoid choosing a partner against a programme's clock. Our guide on how to find a cofounder covers where to look.

Sources

• Y Combinator apply page and FAQ (ycombinator.com/apply, ycombinator.com/faq), checked 10 November 2026.
• Entrepreneurs First application hub and FAQ (apply.joinef.com, joinef.com/faqs), checked 10 November 2026.
• Antler cohort start dates, UK and US pages (antler.co/cohort-start-dates, antler.co/location/uk, antler.co/location/us), checked 10 November 2026.
• Startup Wise Guys, The Founders Club (startupwiseguys.com/all-programs/the-founders-club), checked 10 November 2026.
• South Park Commons, Fall 2026 Founder Fellowship announcement (southparkcommons.com/news/f26-founder-fellowship), checked 10 November 2026.
• Pear VC, PearX page and FAQ (pear.vc/pearx), checked 10 November 2026.
• a16z speedrun FAQ (speedrun.a16z.com/faq), checked 10 November 2026.
• Alchemist homepage and FAQ (alchemist.vc, alchemist.vc/faq), checked 10 November 2026.
• Founder Institute homepage and FAQ (fi.co, fi.co/faq), checked 10 November 2026.
• Z Fellows homepage (zfellows.com), checked 10 November 2026.
• EWOR homepage (ewor.com), checked 10 November 2026.
• Techstars accelerators page, London programme page and help centre articles on selection, stage, full-time work and visas (techstars.com/accelerators, techstars.com/accelerators/london, help.techstars.com), checked 10 November 2026.
• Pioneer homepage (pioneer.app) and Seedcamp homepage (seedcamp.com), checked 10 November 2026, for the programmes left out.
• Foundinity plans and how it works: foundinity.com, checked 10 November 2026.