Startup accelerators for startups across Africa, the US and Europe in 2026

Startup Accelerators (2026): Open Programs & Deadlines

Find equity-free grants, world-class accelerators, and active seed funding for startups across Africa, the US and Europe.

How startup accelerators work for startups across Africa, the US and Europe

An accelerator takes a cohort of startups through a fixed program, usually a few months long, with mentorship, investor introductions and sometimes cash, and often ends with a demo day. Some take equity in return and some are equity-free. Most open applications once or twice a year, so check the deadline and eligibility below, then apply on the program's own site.

Grants Accelerators Investors Investor directory →

Accelerators in Africa, the US and Europe

Cohorts offering seed funding in Africa, the US and Europe, mentorship, and access to networks. Some take equity in return; others are equity-free.

OceanHub Africa Acceleration Program Cohort 8

Cohort-based support · Standard Program

Impact Investment Readiness Accelerator 2026 (Catalytic Funding for Women, Youth and PwD)

Cohort-based support · Standard Program

Kinjani Greenhouse 2.0

Cohort-based support · Standard Program

Plug and Play Tourism Startup Program (Saudi Arabia)

Cohort-based support · Standard Program

Shell Intilaaqah Egypt Acceleration Programme

Cohort-based support · Standard Program

Stanbic GreenTech Incubator Programme (Uganda)

Cohort-based support · Standard Program

Greenpreneur Incubation Programme (Cote dIvoire, Cohorts 3-5)

Cohort-based support · Standard Program

Second Chance Validation Residency

Cohort-based support · Standard Program

Infobip Startup Tribe

Cohort-based support · Standard Program

Bridge Seed Global Accelerator Program

Cohort-based support · Standard Program

Innovate47 Food & Agri Accelerator

Cohort-based support · Standard Program

Plug In Ventures Pre-Accelerator

Cohort-based support · Standard Program

DarE Accelerator by Dar Ventures x Plug and Play

Cohort-based support · Standard Program

CirculaRise Accelerator

Cohort-based support · Standard Program

Halcyon Africa Innovation in Agriculture & Food Security Accelerator

Cohort-based support · Standard Program

IIMA Ventures x MUFG – Bharat ClimateTech Initiative

Cohort-based support · Standard Program

Startup Wise Guys Flagship Accelerator

Cohort-based support · Standard Program

Rockstart Accelerator (AgriFood, Energy & Emerging Tech)

Cohort-based support · Standard Program

Entrepreneur First (EF) – London & Europe Programmes

Cohort-based support · Standard Program

ESA BIC Incubation Programme

Cohort-based support · Standard Program

Antler Kenya Residency (Nairobi)

Cohort-based support · Standard Program

The Bridge

Cohort-based support · Standard Program

Entrepreneurs First U.S. Program

Cohort-based support · Standard Program

DarE Program

Cohort-based support · Standard Program

Inscripción StartupMap Africa - mentorDay

Cohort-based support · Standard Program

Village Capital

Cohort-based support · Standard Program

Adaverse Accelerator

Cohort-based support · Standard Program

Grindstone Accelerator

Cohort-based support · Standard Program

GrowthAfrica Accelerator

Cohort-based support · Standard Program

Startup World Cup 2026

Cohort-based support · Standard Program

Startupbootcamp AfriTech — ASIP Accelerator (Cohort 4)

Cohort-based support · Standard Program

GEC+Africa 2026 Regional Pitch Competition

Cohort-based support · Standard Program

UNDP Timbuktoo Pan-African MineTech Startup Incubation Programme 2026

Cohort-based support · Standard Program

StartUp Texas Seed Fund & Accelerator Program

Cohort-based support · Standard Program

The Forum Accelerator

Cohort-based support · Standard Program

Traction Program - MassChallenge

Cohort-based support · Standard Program

Techstars Accelerator Program

Cohort-based support · Standard Program

Founders Factory Accelerator

Cohort-based support · Standard Program

500 Global (formerly 500 Startups) Flagship Accelerator

Cohort-based support · Standard Program

Celo Africa DAO Incubator Program

Cohort-based support · Standard Program

Kuzana 12 week Program

Cohort-based support · Standard Program

Keep exploring funding

Other funding types

Grants Investors

Accelerators by sector

Fintech Accelerators Healthtech Accelerators Logistics Accelerators AI Accelerators Climate Tech Accelerators E-commerce Accelerators Agritech Accelerators Edtech Accelerators SaaS Accelerators Proptech Accelerators Energy Accelerators Mobility Accelerators

Common questions

Startup accelerators for startups across Africa, the US and Europe: common questions

Everything founders ask before they create an account.

It is worth it when the program fills a gap you can't close alone: investor access, mentors who have built in your market, or a deadline that forces progress. It is a poor trade when you already have traction and investor relationships and the program asks for equity in return for little you couldn't get elsewhere. Before you apply, weigh what you give (equity, and months of time away from customers) against what you get (cash, introductions, a demo day), and ask past founders what the program actually did for them.

Some do and some don't. Equity-taking programs usually invest cash in return for a small stake, commonly a single-digit percentage. Equity-free programs, often run by corporates, foundations and development agencies, offer training, mentorship and sometimes grant money without taking shares. Each program sets its own terms, so confirm them on its site before you apply.

An accelerator runs a fixed-length cohort for startups that already have a product or early users, and pushes for fast growth and a fundraise. An incubator supports earlier ideas over a longer, open-ended period, often with workspace and basic business support.

Apply when you have a working product or early users and can show why your team is the one to solve the problem. Most programs open applications once or twice a year, so watch the deadlines on this page. Programs marked rolling accept applications all year.

Create an account and we match programs to your country, sector, and stage automatically — no manual filtering through eligibility rules and deadlines required.

Both. We match you to the funds actually open to you, draft every application answer from your own deck, check the deck against the fund's own criteria, and connect you to the events where those investors show up.

Yes. Creating an account is free and gets you your matched list immediately, plus one full AI-drafted application, with no card required. Paid packages exist for founders who want more drafts, deck reviews, and hands-on support — see the pricing page for details.

Weekly. New grants, accelerators, and investor calls are added and stale or closed listings are removed, so the deadlines and eligibility you see are current, not scraped once and forgotten.

Nothing on our end delays you — you submit directly to the fund. We track the deadline and status on your account so you know what's outstanding, and we surface matched events where that fund's investors are likely to show up.

Ready to see your matched funds? Show me the funds open to me →