Equity-free vs investment accelerators
Some accelerators provide mentorship, workspace, and customer introductions without taking equity, while others invest capital for SAFE/equity terms. Always verify current economics before applying.
Accelerators
Startup Accelerators and Incubators
Compare non-federal accelerators, incubators, venture studios, equity-free founder programs, and investment accelerators for early-stage startups.
Last updated
Hub content and matching listings are refreshed from the live Bootstrap Directory database.
Data sources
Sources include Grants.gov, SAM.gov, SBIR.gov, CareerOneStop, state agencies, universities, and verified organizations.
Refresh cadence
Listings are checked weekly where source data allows, with stale or closed programs removed from public results.
Get alerts for this topic
Create a free account, run this filtered search, and save it to receive matching funding and training updates.
Featured funding opportunities
gBETA Accelerator
gener8tor
ACCELERATORPRIVATEEquity-Free
Amount variesRolling
Verified Aug 12, 2026
Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures — Social Innovation Lab
Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures
ACCELERATORUNIVERSITYEquity-Free
Open to all
Amount variesRolling
Verified Jun 16, 2026
mHUB Accelerator Programs
mHUB
ACCELERATORPRIVATE
Amount variesRolling
Verified Aug 12, 2026
StartX Accelerator
StartX
ACCELERATORPRIVATEEquity-Free
Amount variesRolling
Verified Aug 12, 2026
gener8tor Investment Accelerator
gener8tor
ACCELERATORPRIVATE
$100,000Rolling
Verified Aug 12, 2026
MA: Massachusetts Manufacturing Accelerator Program (MMAP)
Massachusetts Technology Collaborative
ACCELERATORSTATEEquity-Free
$300,000Open
Verified Jun 16, 2026
MassChallenge U.S. Early Stage Accelerator
MassChallenge
ACCELERATORPRIVATEEquity-Free
Amount variesRolling
Listings refreshed weekly
University of Texas at Austin Forty Acres Founders Pre-Accelerator
UT Austin Entrepreneurship
ACCELERATORUNIVERSITYEquity-Free
School-affiliated
Amount variesRolling
Verified Jun 16, 2026
ASU Venture Devils
Arizona State University Entrepreneurship + Innovation
ACCELERATORUNIVERSITYEquity-Free
School-affiliated
Amount variesRolling
Verified Jun 16, 2026
Northeastern University IDEA Venture Accelerator
Northeastern IDEA
ACCELERATORUNIVERSITYEquity-Free
School-affiliated
$10,000Rolling
Verified Jun 16, 2026
Yale Tsai CITY Accelerator
Tsai Center for Innovative Thinking at Yale
ACCELERATORUNIVERSITYEquity-Free
School-affiliated
$15,000Rolling
Verified Jun 16, 2026
Greentown Labs Startup Incubator
Greentown Labs
ACCELERATORPRIVATEEquity-Free
Amount variesRolling
Verified Aug 12, 2026
How to choose
Prioritize programs that match your stage, industry, geography, customer type, and fundraising goals. Corporate-pilot access can be more valuable than nominal cash for B2B companies.
Explore related hubs
SSBCI state credit programs
Loan guarantees, participation programs, collateral support, and state venture programs.
CDFI business loans
Mission-driven lenders, microloans, and community capital.
Invoice factoring
Receivables-based working capital for B2B companies.
Vendor credit
Net terms, corporate cards, and supplier credit options.
Startup perks
Cloud credits, developer tools, and software discounts.
Accelerators
Equity-free and investment accelerators outside federal programs.
Student competitions
University startup and pitch competitions for founders.