How many accelerators/incubators are there around the globe?

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7 Answers

Susan Cohen, Researcher and Instructor

I have verified that, as of January 2015, there are roughly 300 accelerator programs in the US. I have manually verified that each one of these programs are limited-duration programs for cohorts of startups, and not incubators. This was a time consuming process, because some programs that call themselves an accelerator are actually an incubator, and vice versa.

I don't know of a similar list globally, but I am starting to compile one. The challenge with F6 is that the data are crowdsourced, and programs can list themselves as an accelerator even when they do not have set cohorts and are not limited in duration (i.e., when they are incubators). If you have an international list, please connect with me!

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Joh Bhakdi, Former YC founder (WS 2015), creator of i2X accelerator capital framework

Answered 273w ago · Author has 173 answers and 1.3m answer views

412 according to f6s (Accelerators, Contests & Programs for Startups) in NorthAmerica. But they are missing some - most importantly, Y-Combinator. Other sources are Seed-DB, and Global Accelerator Network. Both not comprehensive. It's actually hard to tell and depends on your definition of accelerator programs (for example, vs. incubators, which provide work space and are often old tech transfer programs at universities - there are over 1000 in the US, but most of them do not show an incubation performance as accelerators do, which are tighter 3-6 months programs). Also, we are looking at a growth rate of up to 20% p.a. for the accelerator programs.

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Luni Libes, Founder & Managing Director of Fledge, the conscious company accelerator

Answered 102w ago · Author has 732 answers and 264.6k answer views

No one knows. At least a thousand, perhaps 2,000. More get started every month, and some stop running after a cohort or three. f6s is used by most of us, but I’ve been at events with 50 people running 50 programs where 30 use other platforms or just a Google Form. That plus it matters whether you want to count accelerator brands or programs. Is TechStars 1 accelerator or 22?

Then there is the lack of definition of “accelerator.” Do you count the one-week programs? The six month programs? The co-working spaces and university competitions branding themselves as accelerators? What about the “incubators” that are cohort-based, mentor-rich, and 12 weeks long?

In short, it's an unanswerable question. Or at least a question that has no clear and simple answer.

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Pankaj Singh, Freelancer - Making VC list & Huge Startups list

Updated 8w ago · Author has 341 answers and 35.9k answer views

I’ve recently created a list of startup accelerators. It has 1700 startup accelerators. I am also working on startup incubators list will update answer once it gets ready.

It’s the most comprehensive list of startup accelerators here is what it includes

Accelerator Name
Accelerator Website
Accelerator Overview
Accelerator Location
Accelerator Founded Date
Accelerator Investment Stage
Accelerator Facebook
Accelerator LinkedIn
Accelerator Twitter

Check Startup Accelerators list

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Barb Finer, TechSandBox is a hub for innovation-driven startups and is my 6th in the tech

Answered 141w ago · Author has 68 answers and 32.9k answer views

There is a difference between accelerators (usually short term, intense and small cohort) and an incubator (may have a process or not and home to entrepreneurs) however the NBIA lists over 2000 worldwide that are members... the number grows every day National Business Incubation Association

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