Business Incubator and Accelerator Directory—USA Workplaces for Budding Founders to Work, Learn and Network
Business Incubator and Accelerator Directory—USA: According to Carl Schramm, there were 1,600 business incubators and
accelerators in the US in 2016. The Business Incubator and Accelerator Directory—USA presently only lists about 10% of that number, so use it freely, but keep looking round where you are! They come in many different styles and each tends to have its own particular focus. If you are looking for an incubator or accelerator, you will need to visit them to discover exactly what they offer. On the right is the shared working space at the Houston Technology Center.
It is difficult to define accurately which organizations are incubators and which are accelerators. Both sponsor the development of new enterprises. Both are highly valuable for the networking opportunities available. Incubators may or may not offer access to capital and frequently offer desk or small office spaces. Accelerators are most often based on competitive entry programs, are for limited periods. Finance is generally part of the deal and capital is generally in exchange for small equity stakes. Both frequently offer (and some insist) on learning programs.
Some business incubators and accelerators are commercial enterprises, others are nonprofit or based on cities and universities (there are over 200 based at business schools), or combinations of them. Another type of accelerator is associated with their sponsoring venture capitalists. Some funders are quasi-accelerators, offering pre-seed money and mentorship on a competitive basis.
There are also a growing number of large companies offering sponsorship and free products/services to eligible startups. Also, some accelerators will work with major companies on spinoff startups.
In addition, there are many co-working spaces, where networking can occur, but not an organized basis as with incubators, that offer formal events and training. Some accelerators and incubators also offer co-working space. There are also a growing number of maker spaces, where tech entrepreneurs can find equipment and networking for small-scale manufacturing.
Chains of maker spaces include Plug and Play Tech Center, which has locations in Arkansas, California, Illinois, Ohio, Kansas and Texas.
Alternatively, you may find what you are looking for in the Coworking Directory—USA, since there is beginning to be a blurring between the two types of spaces. Indeed, some have both incubation and coworking spaces.
This Business Incubator and Accelerator Directory—USA is under constant review. Comments and additions are welcome.
Each entry is marked I for Incubator and/or A for Accelerator. Where they specialize, they are marked: SE for Social Enterprise; T for Technology; W for Women. Where they have even greater specialization that is shown in brackets.
The Business Incubator and Accelerator Directory—USA in incomplete—for sure. Please write to will@venturefounders.com to make additions, updates or improvements. On the other hand, you can always search in your own area. The kinds of things for which search include: business accelerators or incubators, economic development organizations, local business schools, and small business development centers.
Business Incubator and Accelerator Directory—USA
Alabama
Bessemer Business Incubation System I http://www.bessemerincubator.net
BizTech A http://biztech.org
Decateur-Morgan County Entrepreneurial Center I http://www.alabamaincubator.com
Innovation Depot A http://innovationdepot.org
Shoals Entrepreneurial Center I http://www.shoalsec.com
The Entrepreneurial Center I http://www.neaes.org
Tech Parks I (T) https://techparks.arizona.edu/azci
Arkansas
The Ark A (T) http://arkchallenge.org
Bio Ventures I (T—life sciences) http://bioventures.uams.edu
Arizona
AZ TechCelerator I http://www.aztechcelerator.com
BioAccel A (nonprofit/science) http://www.bioaccel.org/index.php
Center for Entrepreneurial Innovation I (T) http://www.ceigateway.com
Seed Spot A (SE) https://seedspot.org
Tech Parks Arizona A (T—university) https://techparks.arizona.edu/azci
Moonshot at NACET A http://nacet.org/startup
California
Acceleprise A (T) http://acceleprise.vc
Alchemist Accelerator A http://alchemistaccelerator.com
Amplify LA A (T) http://amplify.la
AngelPad A (T) https://angelpad.org
Berkeley Ventures A (T) http://www.berkeleyventures.com
Bolt A (T) http://bolt.io
Boost VC I (T—VR, blockchain, AI, bots) http://www.boost.vc
Founders Space A http://www.foundersspace.com
Idealab I (T) http://www.idealab.com
Imagine K12 A (T—education) http://www.imaginek12.com
Launchpad LA A http://launchpad.la
Lemnos Labs A (T) http://lemnos.vc
Matter A (SE—media) http://matter.vc
Mucker Lab A http://www.muckercapital.com/muckerlab/about/
Octane Launch Pad A http://launchpad.octaneoc.org
Orange Fab A https://orangefab.com
Rock Health I/A (T—healthcare) https://rockhealth.com
Tumml A (T/SE—urban innovation) http://www.tumml.org
UpWest Labs A http://upwestlabs.com
YCombinator A (T) http://www.ycombinator.com
Colorado
Innovation Pavilion I http://www.innovationpavilion.com
Innosphere I (T) http://innosphere.org
The Business Incubator Center I http://gjincubator.org
Telluride Venture Accelerator A (SE) http://www.tellurideva.com
Connecticut
reSET Social Enterprise Trust I/A (SE) https://resetco.org
Florida
Beaver Street Enterprise Center I http://bsecenter.net
Business Incubation Program I https://incubator.ucf.edu
FireSpring Fund A http://firespringfund.org
Co:Lab I/A https://colabpensacola.com/
Seminole Technology Business Incubation Center I (T) http://www.seminoleinc.com
Sid Martin Biotechnology Institute I (T—bioscience) http://sidmartinbio.org/beta/
Tampa Bay Wave A http://www.tampabaywave.org
TED Center Business Incubator I http://www.tedcenter.org/programs/BusinessIncubator.html
Venture Hive I/A https://www.venturehive.com
Georgia
Advanced Technology Development Center I (T) http://atdc.org
Augusta-Richmond Small Business Incubator I http://www.arcsbi.com/index.asp
Startup Runway A (SE—women & minorities) http://startuprunway.co
Hawaii
Blue Startups A (T) http://bluestartups.com
Indiana
Flagship Enterprise Center I http://www.flagshipenterprise.org
Illinois
Healthbox A (T—healthcare) http://healthbox.com/
Impact Engine A (T/SE) http://theimpactengine.com
Insight Accelerator Labs A (T—healthcare) http://insightpd.com/accelerator/insight-accelerator-labs/
mHub (T, specifically manufacturing) https://mhubchicago.com
Tech Nexus A (T) http://www.technexus.com
TechStars Chicago A (T) http://exceleratelabs.com
The Incubator I (T—science) https://www.theincubator.com
University Technology Park I http://www.universitytechnologypark.com/incubator/incubator.php
Village Capital A (SE) http://vilcap.com
International
500 Startups A (T) https://500.co
Blackbox A http://blackbox.vc
FinTech Innovation Labs A (T—finance) http://www.fintechinnovationlab.com
Fledge A (SE) http://fledge.co
INV Fintech A (T—financial) http://www.invfintech.com
The Founder Institute A http://fi.co//
TechStars A (T) http://www.techstars.com
Kentucky
Awesome Inc I/A (T) https://www.awesomeinc.org
Aviatra Accelerators I/A (W) http://www.badgirlventures.com/
Vogt Awards A http://www.vogtawards.com
Xlerate Heath A (T—healthcare) http://www.xleratehealth.com
Louisiana
Propeller I/A (SE) http://gopropeller.org
Maryland
Accelerate Baltimore A http://www.acceleratebaltimore.com
Conscious Venture Lab A (SE) http://www.consciousventurelab.com
Massachusetts
Bolt A (T) http://bolt.io
Business Innovation Center I http://businessinnovation.center
Maine
Maine Center for Entrepreneurial Development A http://www.mced.biz
Venture Hall A (T—healthcare) http://venturehall.org/accelerator/
Michigan
Ann Arbor SPARK A http://www.annarborusa.org/start-here/business-accelerator-services
Lansing Proto A (T—product development) http://www.alpha.hpcreatives.net/index.html
Tech Town Detroit I/A http://techtowndetroit.org
Missouri
Capital Innovators A (T) https://www.capitalinnovators.com
Nebraska
N Motion A http://www.nmotion.co
New Jersey
Tiger Labs A https://tigerlabs.co/home
New York
AngelPad A (T) https://angelpad.org
Blueprint Health A (T—healthcare) http://www.blueprinthealth.org
Blue Ridge Labs A (SE) https://labs.robinhood.org
Bolt A (T) http://bolt.io
Dreamit A (T—health/education) http://www.dreamit.com/#meaningful-experience
Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator A https://www.eranyc.com
LaunchPad LI A http://launchpadli.com
Matter A (SE—media) http://matter.vc
New York Digital Health Accelerator A (T—healthcare) http://digitalhealthaccelerator.com
StartFast Venture Accelerator A http://startfast.net
The Accelerator A (SE) https://www.ocnyida.com/about-us/the-accelerator/
Urban Future Lab A (SE/T) http://digitalhealthaccelerator.com
Z80 Incubator Labs I http://www.z80labs.com
North Carolina
Launch Chapel Hill A http://www.launchchapelhill.com
The Startup Factory A http://thestartupfactory.co
Ohio
Appalachian Center for Economic Networks A https://acenetworks.org/
Aviatra Accelerators I/A (W) http://www.badgirlventures.com/
Flashstarts A (T) http://www.flashstarts.com/accelerator/
Great Lakes Innovation and Development Enterprise A http://www.glideit.org/
JumpStart A https://www.jumpstartinc.org/
Launch House I http://launchhouse.com
The Brandery I http://brandery.org
Rev 1 Labs A https://www.rev1ventures.com/entrepreneurs/rev1labs/
Taivara A https://www.taivara.com/
Oregon
PIE I/A http://www.piepdx.com
TenX A http://tenx.org
Pennsylvania
Alphalab A (T—incl minorities) http://alphalab.org
Dreamit A (T—health/education) http://www.dreamit.com/#meaningful-experience
Good Company Ventures A (SE) http://goodcompanyventures.org
Rhode Island
Rev-Up A (revenue-based funding) http://www.betaspring.com
Tennessee
Co.Lab A http://colab.co
Nashville Entrepreneur Center https://www.ec.co
Project Music A (T—music) http://www.projectmusic.co
SMTEC A http://smtec.com
StartCo A http://neverstop.co
Zeroto510 A (T—healthcare) http://zeroto510.com
Texas
Capital Factory I https://capitalfactory.com
Clean Energy Incubator A (T) http://ati.utexas.edu/current-portfolio/clean-energy/
Coastal Bend Innovation Center I/A http://cbbic.tamucc.edu
Collide Village I/A http://www.collidevillage.com
Economic Growth Business Incubator http://egbi.org
Eden Business Incubator https://www.edentexasedc.com/eden-business-incubator
Emergent I (T) http://emergenttechnologies.com
Health Wildcatters A (T—healthcare) https://www.healthwildcatters.com
Innovation Underground I http://ideafinishingschool.com
iStart Valley A (T) http://istartvalley.org
McAllen Creative Incubator I https://mcallenincubator.com/
Pioneers 21 https://pioneers21.org/
Research Valley Innovation Center I (T) http://rvic.org
RevTech A (T—retail tech) http://www.revtechaccelerator.com
SeedSumo A (T—healthcare) https://www.seedsumo.com
SKU A (T—consumer goods) http://sku.is
Tech Wildcatters A (T) https://techwildcatters.com
TechRanchAustin I (T) https://techranchaustin.com
Thinktiv A https://www.thinktiv.com
Unltd USA A (SE) http://www.unltdusa.org
Utah
Boom Startup A http://boomstartup.com
Vermont
Excelerate Essex https://excelessex.com/
Hula https://www.hulalakeside.com
Accel-VT https://www.accelvt.com/
VCET http://vermonttechnologies.com
Virginia
Hatch I http://startwithhatch.com
Utah
Boom Startup A http://boomstartup.com
Washington
Applied Process Engineering Laboratory I http://www.apel.org
Washington DC
Acceleprise A (T) http://acceleprise.vc
Fortify Ventures A http://fortifyventures.com
Seed Spot A (SE) https://seedspot.org
Wisconsin
gener8tor A http://www.gener8tor.com/gener8tor/
PLEASE NOTE: If you make contact with any of these organizations, it would be very kind if you would tell them that you came to know about them through venturefounders.com. Thank you.
