Top 25 HubSpot for Startups Accelerators Founders Should Consider

Ask any successful entrepreneur, and they’ll tell you that the early stages of a business startup are the most exciting. However, at the same time, it’s also the most stressful and most challenging. From developing a marketable product or service to crafting the perfect pitch to encourage funding from investors and battling with self-doubt, startup founders are always looking for ways on how they can quickly launch and scale their business.

This is where startup accelerator programs can help.

What are startup accelerators?

As their name suggests, startup accelerators are organizations that help startups scale at a faster speed than they would be able to do on their own. They’re sometimes also called startup incubators because they provide startups an environment where they’re surrounded by all the resources they need to develop and launch their product and services quickly.

That said, most accelerator programs require the startup founders to relocate to their headquarters during the accelerator program. By doing this, the startup founders are able to eliminate anything that can distract them from building their budding business.

How to choose the right startup accelerator program

With the number of startups exponentially growing each year, it’s not surprising that there are literally hundreds—if not, thousands—of accelerator programs ready to help promising startups build and scale their businesses. HubSpot for Startups itself has over 800 partner accelerators and venture capital firms, and it’s still growing.

Perhaps the most significant question that any startup founder has when it comes to choosing the right accelerator program that will help you scale your business faster, and provide you with all the resources, support and connections you need.

Here are some things to consider when choosing a startup accelerator program.

Do your research

Don’t just rely on the information that you find about their program on their website. Dig in a little deeper.

What particular startups do they focus on helping?

Are there any niches that they prefer over others?

Would you need to have already a product ready before you even apply?

What do they expect from you in exchange for the mentorship and resources they’ll provide?

All these are essential questions that you need to answer honestly before you make your choice.

Check their alumni

Another thing to consider when choosing a startup accelerator program is to take a look at their alumni list and see how many of them have gone on to become thriving enterprises.

If you can, try to contact some of the founders of these startup companies and get their personal feedback about the accelerator program. Ask them about their experience throughout the program, specifically about the amount of mentorship and support they receive. More important, find out how much of being part of the accelerator program has helped them succeed or not.

Don’t limit yourself to local accelerator programs

As I said, most startup accelerator programs require you to relocate so that you can work in the co-working space they’ll provide you. Because of this, it can be quite tempting to limit yourself just to focus your search for accelerator program near your area. After all, it’s no joke to pack up, put your life on hold, and move to another country to take part in an accelerator program.

While it’s true that you can find an excellent accelerator program near your area, be willing to expand your search and take the plunge to apply to an accelerator program located in another city, state, or country. Remember, this is your dream business we’re talking about here. I’m pretty sure you’ll agree with me that this is but a small sacrifice to pay.

Look at things long-term

Although the accelerator program lasts only a few weeks or months, the partnership you’ll develop with these firms is long-term. This is especially true for those businesses that require to receive a percentage of the stakes or would want a representative to sit on your board of directors.

That said, it’s important that to make sure that you choose an accelerator that will continue to provide you the support you’ll need to keep growing your business and achieve like giving you the opportunity to join other workshops and programs designed for startups to scale further.

Below is a list of 25 of the hundreds of startup accelerator programs you can consider applying to quickly scale your startups. These startups are listed in no particular order, and have been chosen based on their location, diversity of industries they support, domain authority, support they provide to startups, and their alumni roster.

25 accelerator programs partnered with HubSpot for Startups

1. TechStars

TechStars offers an intensive three-month accelerator program where you’re placed in an environment where you’re surrounded by world-class mentors who’ll inspire and challenge you. They are also one of the few startup incubators that are striving to increase the number of minority-owned tech startups through their Techstars Foundation.

In October 2017, Techstars launched a new accelerator program in Austin. This new program aims to support startup founders creating new technologies to help address environmental needs and pressing social issues. They’re currently accepting applications throughout the entire month of December 2017 for a launch in June 2018.

2. Y Combinator

Since 2005, Y Combinator has invested in over 1,000 highly successful startups. Among these include Dropbox, Airbnb, Stripe, Reddit, and Weebly. It holds two programs each year, each running for three months long. Startup founders chosen are required to move and stay within the Bay Area during the entire program.

Y Combinator’s goal is to get founders through the first phase of building their startup to the point that they’ve developed an impressive product that will generate revenue. As part of the program, founders are treated to a special dinner each week where an expert in the startup industry is invited to speak. On the tenth week of the program, Y Combinator hosts a Demo Day where the startup founders in the program get the opportunity to present their products and services to a carefully selected audience, mainly comprised of venture capitalists and other investors.

In exchange for the funding, mentorship, and connections, Y Combinator expects to receive a 7% equity from the startups that take part in their accelerator program.

3. Andreessen Horowitz

 Founded in July 2009, Andreessen Horowitz is a startup acceleration that aims to ambitious entrepreneurs that think big, move fast, and are developing the next “big thing” in tech.

Each of the startup founders selected to take part in their startup accelerator program is given a wealth of expert insights in innovation, market intelligence, business development, marketing, brand building, and so much more. 

On December 14, 2017, Andreessen Horowitz announced that they acquired their second round of funding to invest in startups within the bio-engineering industry, amounting to $450 million. According to Vijay Pande, a partner in the accelerator firm and a former chemistry professor in Stanford University, the decision to focus this next round of funding toward the biotech and bio-engineering industries is because of the rise of machine learning and computing becoming cheaper than it was a few short years ago.

4. Matrix Partners

Formerly known as Hellman Ferri Investment Associates, Matrix Partners is one of the oldest venture capital firms in the United States. It specializes in providing capital to promising seed and early-stage startups based in the US and India. Among its prestigious list of companies they’ve invested in include Apple Inc., SanDisk, and JustFab.

Recently, it provided a Series A funding to Clip App worth $6 million. The startup, which is based in India, was founded in March 2017 and allows users to watch, create, edit, and share videos.

5. 500 Startups

 From the time it was established in 2010, this Silicon Valley-based firm has invested over $390 million venture capital seed funds to over 1,800 tech startups from all parts of the world.

500 Startups’ Series A Program is designed to help startups in the post-seed and pre-Series A stages. Lately, this global venture capital firm has made its mark as one of the startup accelerators that are campaigning the cause of diversifying the global tech industry by supporting startups owned by women and other minority groups. African-American owned startups like Walker & Walker Co. and Mayvenn are among the growing list of minority-owned startups it has supported so far.

6. Startup Chile

 Founded by the Chilean government, Startup Chile is a government-funded startup accelerator that aims to transform Chile as a global hub for the tech industry to help the local economy. Today, it’s the leading Latin American accelerator and has helped over 1,200 tech startups from over 70 countries.

Founders of each of the 100 startups selected to take part in their six-month accelerator program receive $40,000 equity-free funding, a one-year temporary visa, and mentoring and coaching sessions. In return, these startups are expected to host workshops, mentor local entrepreneurs, and to organize hackathons to further promote the country as a center for tech, entrepreneurship, and innovation.

7. Forward Accelerator

 Founded in 2006, this California-based accelerator focuses on providing funding and mentorship to seed-stage startups.

Instead of going through the standard application process done by most accelerator programs, Forward Accelerator screens the startups through a three-day program called the Founders Boot Camp, which they host each month. Those that qualify then progress into their FASTtrack Accelerator program. Here, founders receive coaching as they progress through each stage of the startup lifecycle, master and perfect their pitches, and give them the opportunity to present their products and services their FASTtrack Angel Forum.

8. Global Accelerator Network (GAN)

 As its name suggests, GAN is a conglomerate of over 80 different accelerator programs located in over 120 cities across the globe. Among these is its own investment arm called GAN Ventures.

Getting into any one of the accelerator programs of GAN is highly competitive. Out of the over 70,000 applications that they receive, only 1,100 startups will be selected to take part in their accelerator programs. Of these, GAN Ventures selects 15-20 seed-stage startups that they will personally fund.

9. Startup Bootcamp

 Based in Copenhagen, Startup Bootcamp provides funding and support to early-stage tech startups so that they can quickly scale their businesses.

Just like Forward Accelerator, tech startup founders go through a stringent selection process. After the application period closes, Forward Accelerator shortlists 20 startup founders go through a series of meeting and interviews conducted by the accelerator’s corporate partners, mentors, and investment team. This selection process takes three days. Only 8-12 startup founders will then be selected to receive a part in their intensive three-month program.

During the program, the selected startups are provided 15K euros to cover their living expenses as well as their own office space to use, and over 500K euros in exclusive deals on tech tools and apps for them to use throughout the program.

10. 1871

 Named after the year when the Great Chicago Fire happened, this Chicago-based accelerator is setting the Windy City ablaze by positioning itself as a hub for early-stage startups. Currently, it’s home to over 400 early-stage startups, each having a high-potential for growth and profitability.

In addition to providing startups with access to training, education, and connections, 1871 also hosts the Momentum Awards. This is an annual event where companies and leaders that made a significant contribution to the advancement of the tech ecosystem in the city.

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