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Accelerators for AI Startups (2027): 17 Programmes Compared on Cash, Equity, Length and Next Intake

Accelerators for AI Startups: 17 Programmes Checked on Money, Equity, Length and Next Intake

Every accelerator now says it backs AI founders, and most lists of "top AI accelerators" copy each other's numbers from years ago. What you need before you apply is simpler: how much cash the programme puts in, how much of your company it takes, how long it runs, where you have to be, and whether the next intake is open. We checked 17 accelerators and accelerator-style programmes for AI startups on their own websites on 29 October 2026, from Y Combinator and a16z speedrun to equity-free programmes run by Google, NVIDIA and Canadian non-profits. Programmes from the 2025 version of this list that closed, changed their model or could not be verified are in a separate section.
Quick answer: for the most cash, apply to a16z speedrun (up to $1M; SR008 closes November 1), Y Combinator ($500K; Winter 2027 deadline November 2) or Antler in the US ($500K to $1M). For an AI-only programme, look at AI House in Seattle (formerly AI2 Incubator, up to $600K, rolling), Conviction Embed ($250K) and Techstars AI Health Baltimore ($220K, deadline November 18). If you want to keep 100% of your company, choose an equity-free programme: NEXT AI in Canada (deadline December 9, 2026), Creative Destruction Lab, the Google for Startups Accelerator or NVIDIA Inception, which is a free membership programme rather than a classic accelerator.
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Accelerators for AI Startups Compared

ProgrammeCash and equityLength and formatAI focusNext intake (official)
Y Combinator$500K: $125K for 7% + $375K uncapped MFN SAFE3-month batch, in person in San FranciscoAll sectors, many AI companiesWinter 2027: apply by November 2
a16z speedrunUp to $1M: $500K for 10% on a SAFE + up to $500K in next round12-week residency in San FranciscoAlmost every sector, incl. AI and roboticsSR008: apply by November 1; runs February 1 to April 16, 2027
Conviction Embed$250K uncapped MFN SAFE + AWS and Azure creditsProgramme with in-person retreat in San FranciscoAI-native startups onlyApply early to the 7th cohort
Techstars$220K: 5% common + $200K uncapped MFN SAFE; no fee3 months, city and sector programmesAI Health Baltimore is AI-onlyAI Health Baltimore: final deadline November 18, 2026
AI House (formerly AI2 Incubator)Up to $600K SAFE, $10M cap; 7% common for incubationIncubation, at least one month in SeattleApplied AI onlyRolling
Entrepreneurs FirstEquity-free grant, then up to $250KCo-founder matching, then 12 weeks in San FranciscoTech, many AI teamsRolling
AntlerUS: $500K to $1M initial commitment + $650K creditsIn-person residencyMulti-sector, many AI teamsUS rolling; Tokyo November 2, 2026
ERA$150K for 6% post-money SAFE4 months in New YorkTech, technical foundersWinter and Summer 2027 open
HAX (SOSV)$250K first cheque, up to $550K pre-seedEngineering support, NewarkHard tech and physical AINot published
Google for Startups AcceleratorEquity-free; product credits, no cash10 weeks to 3 months, hybridAI and ML preferred; AI-first tracksAll closed; register interest
NEXT AIEquity-free, no fundingMarch to August or September 2027AI is core; Canadian companiesApply by December 9, 2026
Creative Destruction LabNo fee, no equitySessions every two months, 17 locationsAI stream among 232026/27 applications open
Station F F/aiNot publishedParis, plus hybrid teams in EU AI hubsAI-native, technical teamsNo applications: recommendation only
hessian.AI RISINGFive teams win €10,000 eachFour months, DarmstadtStartups building their own AI models2026 round under way
NVIDIA InceptionFree, no equity; credits and discountsOnline membership, not a cohortAI startups on NVIDIA techNo deadlines
Microsoft for StartupsUp to $150,000 in creditsOnline programmeAI models and toolsSign up any time
Plug and PlayNot publishedProgrammes by industry and cityEnterprise and AI verticalPer programme
Sources: each programme's official website, checked 29 October 2026. "Not published" means the programme's own site does not state it. Terms change between cohorts, so read the official page before you apply.

The 17 Accelerators for AI Startups in 2027

The programmes are grouped by what they give you: cash-for-equity accelerators first, then AI-only programmes, then equity-free programmes and the big tech platforms. Each entry links the programme's own page.

Accelerators that invest cash

1. Y Combinator (San Francisco)

Y Combinator invests in every sector, AI included, and its founders get access to more than $12M in credits and deals from partners such as OpenAI, Anthropic, AWS, Google Cloud and Azure. Its standard deal is $500,000 per company: $125,000 on a post-money SAFE for a fixed 7%, and $375,000 on an uncapped SAFE with a most favoured nation (MFN) clause. The batch runs in person in San Francisco. Next intake: the Winter 2027 batch runs from January to March; apply by November 2 at 8pm PT to get a decision by December 11. YC still considers later applications. Best for: technical teams who can move to San Francisco for three months.

2. a16z speedrun (San Francisco)

a16z speedrun is Andreessen Horowitz's 12-week residency in San Francisco. It invests in almost every sector, from AI and robotics to fintech and B2B. Its standard deal is up to $1M: $500K for 10% upfront on a SAFE, plus up to another $500K in your next qualifying round ($2M or more) within 18 months, with no board seat. Founders also get more than $10M in partner credits. Next intake: SR008 applications close on Sunday, November 1 at 11:59pm PT, and SR008 runs from February 1 to April 16, 2027; later applications are considered for the following residency. Best for: pre-seed and seed teams who want the largest first cheque.

3. Techstars (incl. Techstars AI Health Baltimore)

Techstars invests $220,000 in every company in its three-month accelerators: $20,000 on a convertible equity agreement for 5% common stock, plus $200,000 on an uncapped MFN SAFE. There is no fee to join. Its programmes are organised by city and sector, and the one built for AI is Techstars AI Health Baltimore, which invests $220,000 per company in AI-driven health startups, with Johns Hopkins, CareFirst, MedStar and the University of Maryland as anchor collaborators. Next intake: final deadline November 18, 2026; the programme starts March 8, 2027, with demo day on June 3, 2027. Best for: AI health startups that need hospital and payer pilots.

4. Entrepreneurs First (London, Bangalore, San Francisco)

Entrepreneurs First (EF) is for individuals who do not yet have a co-founder or a company. You join a cohort in London, Bangalore or San Francisco, get an equity-free grant to cover living costs while you look for a co-founder, and receive up to $250,000 of investment once you form a company and pass EF's investment committee, followed by a 12-week LAUNCH programme in San Francisco. EF lists over $600K in credits from Azure, OpenAI, Anthropic and others, and up to $5M in follow-on funding. Next intake: applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Best for: AI researchers and engineers who want to find a co-founder first.

5. Antler (global residency)

Antler calls itself a global early-stage VC and runs founder residencies in many cities; its homepage features AI companies such as Lovable and Wrtn. In the US (New York, San Francisco and Austin) its initial commitment is typically $500K to $1M plus $650K in partner credits, and it reviews applications year-round; amounts differ in other regions. Next intake: its cohort calendar lists Tokyo on November 2, 2026, Australia on February 8, 2027 and Nigeria on March 15, 2027, with rolling intake in the US, Canada and the Nordics. Best for: founders who want a first cheque and help finding a co-founder outside Silicon Valley.

6. ERA, Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator (New York)

ERA is a New York accelerator that invests $150K for 6% on a post-money SAFE. It runs two four-month programmes a year, starting in January and June, in person in New York with some remote-friendly programming, and it prefers teams with a technical co-founder. Recent alumni news includes AI companies such as Discernis. Next intake: the Winter 2027 and Summer 2027 programmes are open for applications. Best for: B2B AI startups that want to sell to New York customers.
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7. HAX by SOSV (Newark, New Jersey)

HAX is the hard-tech programme of SOSV, a pre-seed deep-tech investor. It backs founders in energy, compute, health tech and manufacturing, using technologies from plasma to physical AI, and gives them engineering space and expertise at its Newark headquarters. Its first investment is $250,000 on a post-money SAFE, and it supports founders with up to $550K of pre-seed capital. Next intake: not published; apply online. Best for: robotics and physical AI startups that build hardware.

Programmes built only for AI startups

8. AI House, formerly AI2 Incubator (Seattle)

AI House is the new name of the AI2 Incubator, which rebranded in June 2026. It incubates applied AI companies from day one and works with about 15 companies a year. It invests up to $600,000 on a SAFE at a $10 million cap, usually starting at $100,000 for a solo founder or $200,000 for a team, and takes 7% common stock for incubation; founders also get up to $1.5 million in cloud credits. You do not have to move to Seattle, but every incubated founder spends at least one month working there. Its separate Capital arm invests $100,000 to $1 million in AI startups it does not incubate. Next intake: rolling applications. Best for: solo or early applied AI founders who want a hands-on co-builder.

9. Conviction Embed (San Francisco)

Conviction Embed is the programme of Conviction, a venture firm built for AI-native companies. Embed invests $250K on an uncapped, no-discount MFN SAFE and adds $350K in AWS credits and $350K in Azure credits, plus other compute and inference credits. Its alumni include Cognition, Pika Labs and Physical Intelligence, and it accepts solo founders and teams that have not incorporated yet. Next intake: it invites early applications for its 7th cohort, with a mandatory in-person retreat in San Francisco. Best for: very early AI-native teams.

10. Station F F/ai (Paris)

F/ai is Station F's AI programme for technical, AI-native teams, aiming at €1 million in revenue within six months. Its second batch started in September 2026, includes a week in San Francisco, and now also takes hybrid teams based in other European AI hubs. The catch: F/ai does not accept applications. Startups are selected only through recommendations from founders, partners and investors, and Station F does not publish its terms. Best for: European AI startups with investors who can recommend them.

11. hessian.AI Accelerator RISING (Darmstadt, Germany)

AI Startup Rising is the startup platform of hessian.AI, the Hessian Center for Artificial Intelligence, with an IGNITION incubator and the Accelerator RISING. The 2026 RISING round is a four-month programme for startups in Germany that develop their own AI models, from October 2026 to January 2027, with access to hessian.AI's computing infrastructure in Darmstadt; five teams receive €10,000 each. Next intake: applications closed on 13 September 2026 and the next round has not been announced. Best for: German AI teams from research.
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Equity-free programmes

12. NEXT AI (Toronto, Montreal and online)

NEXT AI, run by the non-profit NEXT Canada, is for Canadian companies where AI is core to the business, owned mostly by Canadian citizens or permanent residents. It takes no equity and gives no funding; instead it offers AI and business mentoring, free office space in Toronto and Montreal, and perks from in-kind partners such as NVIDIA and AWS. Teams need at least one technical founder. Next intake: applications opened October 15, 2026 and close December 9, 2026; the programme runs from March to August 2027 in Toronto and from March to September 2027 in Montreal or virtually. Best for: Canadian AI teams.

13. Creative Destruction Lab (17 locations)

Creative Destruction Lab (CDL), founded at the Rotman School of Management, is a non-profit, objectives-based mentoring programme for pre-seed to seed deep tech startups. It charges no fee and takes no equity. Mentors set three measurable objectives with you at sessions held every two months from the fall, and its sweet spot is startups that plan to raise a seed round of about $500K to $5M within 12 months. Artificial Intelligence is one of its 23 streams, and it runs in 17 locations, from Toronto and Paris to Seattle and Melbourne. Next intake: applications are open for the 2026/27 programme year. Best for: deep tech AI startups that want investor feedback without giving up equity.

14. Google for Startups Accelerator

Google for Startups Accelerator runs regional, equity-free programmes for cohorts of 10 to 15 startups, ideally between seed and Series A, with mentoring from Google teams, early access to Google AI products, product credits and free Cloud TPU access for eligible teams. Google says it prefers deeply technical startups using machine learning and AI. The US and Canada programmes run for ten weeks; recent editions focused on AI for energy (North America, and Europe and Israel) and on AI-first startups in India, the last two running for three months. Next intake: all of these show applications closed; the Canada page says 2027 dates will be announced, and you can register your interest. Best for: AI startups with traction that need technical help, not cash.

Big tech programmes (not classic accelerators)

15. NVIDIA Inception

NVIDIA Inception is not an accelerator in the classic sense: it has no cohorts, no deadlines, no cash and no demo day. It is a free membership programme for AI startups, with no application fees, membership fees or equity, and it gives training through the NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute, preferred pricing on NVIDIA hardware and software, partner cloud credits, and introductions to investors through Inception Capital Connect for eligible members. To join, your company must be incorporated, less than 10 years old, have a working website and a clear use for NVIDIA technology; consultancies and public companies do not qualify. Best for: every AI startup that trains or runs models on GPUs, alongside a real accelerator.

16. Microsoft for Startups (formerly Founders Hub)

Microsoft for Startups is a credits and resources programme, not an accelerator: no cohort, no cash, no demo day. Its page now offers access to AI models, developer tools and up to $150,000 in credits for eligible Azure services; the old "Founders Hub" name no longer appears. Its invite-only Pegasus Program adds introductions to Microsoft's enterprise customers for qualified startups. Best for: AI startups building on Azure and Microsoft's model catalogue.

17. Plug and Play

Plug and Play runs accelerator programmes with corporate partners in more than 25 vertical industries, including Enterprise and AI and Mobility and Physical AI, from offices such as Silicon Valley, Tokyo, New York, Stuttgart and Riyadh. Its own site does not publish deal terms, programme length or dates, so check each programme's page before you apply. Best for: B2B AI startups that want pilots with large corporations.
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Accelerators From the 2025 List That Closed or Changed

The 2025 version of this article listed 25 programmes, most of them sourced from third-party blogs. Here is what happened to the ones we could trace:
  • AWS Generative AI Accelerator: AWS announced its third cohort on October 7, 2025: 40 startups, up to $1 million in AWS credits each, eight weeks. Its programme page now leads to a "not found" page and AWS has announced no new cohort, so we left it out. AWS still offers up to $200,000 in Activate credits.
  • Alchemist Accelerator: now an early-stage venture firm called Alchemist. It invests $60,000 to $1 million at pre-seed and seed in enterprise startups, AI included, and you pitch through its founder form; only its Chicago and Japan partners still run fixed-calendar programmes.
  • AI Grant: the site still says applications for Batch 4 are closed, and no newer batch has been announced.
  • Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub: now simply Microsoft for Startups (see above).
  • AI2 Incubator: renamed AI House in June 2026 (see above).
  • 500 Startups: now 500 Global; its founder page lists regional programmes but no AI-specific accelerator.
  • Founders Factory: runs sector programmes with corporate partners, such as health, fintech and mining tech, but no AI-specific accelerator.
  • Capital Factory: now presents itself as an early-stage investor in Texas deep tech, not an accelerator programme.
  • Startupbootcamp: the newest news on its homepage is from April 2025, so we could not confirm a current intake.
  • Left out because we found no official programme page: AI Climate Accelerator Program, Batch, Launchpad, Data-Driven Accelerator, AI Offsite, Startup SAS, Catalyst, TechCode, InnoSphere and "The AI Ecosystem Accelerator" (University College Dublin runs one for Irish companies; see our AI incubators and accelerators in Europe). Make in India is a government campaign, not an accelerator.
  • Removed numbers: figures the programmes' own sites do not confirm, such as Antler's "up to $120,000", 500 Startups' "$150,000", Startupbootcamp's "up to €15,000" and YC's old "$125,000 for 7%" (the deal is now $500,000).

Which AI Accelerator Should You Choose?

  • You want the biggest cheque and can move to San Francisco: a16z speedrun (up to $1M) or Y Combinator ($500K).
  • You have no co-founder yet: Entrepreneurs First or Antler; Conviction Embed also accepts solo founders.
  • You want an AI-only programme: AI House in Seattle, Conviction Embed, or Techstars AI Health Baltimore for health AI.
  • You do not want to give up equity: NEXT AI (Canadian companies), Creative Destruction Lab, the Google for Startups Accelerator or NVIDIA Inception.
  • You build robots or physical AI: HAX, and the AI and compute streams at Creative Destruction Lab.
  • You are in Europe: Station F F/ai (by recommendation), hessian.AI in Germany, Antler and EF in London; see our AI startup cities in Europe, the guide to startup incubators in Europe and our list of accelerators for AI startups in Europe.
  • You are in North America: YC, speedrun, ERA, Techstars and NEXT AI; see our accelerators for AI startups in North America and startup cities in North America.
  • You are in Asia or South America: Antler runs residencies in Tokyo and Asia, and Google runs an AI-first accelerator in India; see our startup incubators in Asia, accelerators for AI startups in Asia and in South America.
  • You sell to large companies: Plug and Play, the Microsoft for Startups Pegasus Program (by invitation) or ERA in New York.
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How AI Founders Use Accelerators, and What to Do Around Them

An accelerator is one source of money and contacts, not the only one. Before you apply, prove that customers want your product: run our 30-day validation sprint or validate your startup idea with our content-driven service, because every programme here asks about traction. Read the terms like an investor would: a SAFE with an MFN clause or a fixed 7% is real dilution, so compare offers with our guide to term sheet negotiation and avoid the common pre-seed fundraising mistakes. After demo day you will need investors: start with our lists of VCs for AI startups, angel investors for AI startups and early-stage VC firms. Choosing a base matters too: compare the best countries for AI startups. Non-dilutive money can stretch your runway before or after an accelerator: see our guide to artificial intelligence grants in Europe and grants for early-stage startups. Pitch competitions are a cheaper way to test your pitch: see the startup competitions in Europe and in North America, and the top startup events on AI.

FAQ About Accelerators for AI Startups

What is the best accelerator for AI startups in 2027?

It depends on what you need. For the most cash, a16z speedrun (up to $1M) and Y Combinator ($500K). For an AI-only programme, AI House, Conviction Embed or Techstars AI Health Baltimore. To keep all your equity, NEXT AI, Creative Destruction Lab or the Google for Startups Accelerator.

How much does Y Combinator invest in 2027?

$500,000 per company: $125,000 on a post-money SAFE for a fixed 7%, plus $375,000 on an uncapped SAFE with a most favoured nation clause. The Winter 2027 batch deadline is November 2.

Which AI accelerators are equity-free?

NEXT AI in Canada, Creative Destruction Lab and the Google for Startups Accelerator take no equity, and NVIDIA Inception is free with no equity. None of them gives cash; they give mentoring, credits and investor access.

Is NVIDIA Inception an accelerator?

Not in the classic sense. It has no cohorts, deadlines, cash or demo day. It is a free membership programme with training, preferred pricing on NVIDIA products, partner cloud credits and introductions to investors for eligible members.

What happened to Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub?

Microsoft now calls it Microsoft for Startups. It offers access to AI models, developer tools and up to $150,000 in credits; it is a credits programme, not an accelerator.

Is the AWS Generative AI Accelerator still running?

AWS ran its third cohort in 2025 with 40 startups and up to $1 million in credits each. Its programme page no longer loads and AWS has not announced a new cohort, so check AWS's startup site before planning around it.

What happened to AI2 Incubator?

It rebranded to AI House in June 2026. It still incubates applied AI startups in Seattle, invests up to $600,000 on a SAFE at a $10 million cap and takes applications on a rolling basis.

Can I join an AI accelerator without a co-founder?

Yes. Entrepreneurs First and Antler help you find a co-founder, AI House works with solo founders, and Conviction Embed accepts solo founders who are looking for a co-founder.

Which accelerators are open for applications now?

As checked on 29 October 2026: a16z speedrun (until November 1), Y Combinator Winter 2027 (on time by November 2), Techstars AI Health Baltimore (until November 18), NEXT AI (until December 9), ERA Winter and Summer 2027, Creative Destruction Lab 2026/27, and AI House and Entrepreneurs First on a rolling basis.

How can I get my AI startup in front of accelerators and investors?

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About the Author

Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
2026-10-29 22:55 Top 25