15 startup incubators investing $25k-$150k in early-stage companies

Most incubators write $25k-$150k checks and take 5-10% equity for 3-6 month programs. You'll get mentorship, office space, and connections in exchange for giving up equity before you have much traction. Some incubators are worth it for the network and credibility. Others just want cheap equity.

Quick list

Picking the right incubator investor

Check size and equity: Most incubators write $25k-$150k checks and take 5-10% equity. Y Combinator's $500k for 7% deal is standard now. Some programs like MassChallenge and StartX don't take equity at all but offer smaller cash prizes or no direct funding. Calculate what that equity will cost you at Series A - 7% given up at $2M valuation becomes 7% of $15M at Series A if you don't get diluted much.

Program structure: Expect 3-6 months of full-time commitment. You'll pitch weekly, attend workshops, and get paired with mentors. Some programs like Antler start before you have a company. Others like Techstars require an existing team and product. Remote programs exist but in-person batches have stronger alumni networks.

Success rates: Look at what percentage of alumni companies raise institutional seed rounds. Y Combinator sits around 85%, Techstars around 65%, most others below 40%. A low success rate doesn't mean the program is bad - it means they take bigger risks on earlier ideas. Use Ellty to share your deck with trackable links. You'll see who actually opens your market research vs. just the pitch slide.

Network quality: The real value is introductions to seed investors and potential customers. Check if their alumni actually help each other. Ask current batch companies if mentors show up. Generic "access to our network" promises don't mean much if partners aren't making warm intros. Most good programs will connect you directly with 5-10 relevant seed funds.

Geographic focus: Some incubators require relocation to San Francisco, New York, or London. Others run remote-first or have regional hubs. Factor in living costs - SF incubator means $4k/month burn just on rent. Your $100k investment won't last long if you're burning $8k/month on team and overhead.

Follow-on capital: Check if they reserve money for your seed round. SOSV and Antler typically invest $200k-$500k more in top performers. Y Combinator partners with YC Continuity for growth rounds. Most incubators can't follow on, which means you're on your own for the next raise. Adding password security to PowerPoint files, even as a baseline step, reinforces control over presentation access.

How to approach incubator investors

Research batch timing: Most incubators run 2-4 batches per year with applications due 2-3 months before program start. Y Combinator has winter and summer batches. Techstars runs programs quarterly across different cities. Missing a deadline means waiting 3-6 months for the next window. Apply early in the cycle - they fill spots on a rolling basis even with hard deadlines.

Check stage requirements: Some programs want pre-revenue ideas, others need $10k MRR minimum. Antler takes solo founders before company formation. Techstars wants existing teams with MVPs. Don't waste time applying to programs looking for Series A traction when you're still pre-product. Read their portfolio - if every company has revenue, they won't take your idea-stage pitch.

Submit a strong application: Most programs get 1,000-5,000 applications per batch and accept 1-3%. Your written application matters more than you think. Be specific about your problem, solution, and why now. Upload to Ellty and send trackable links. Monitor which pages reviewers spend time on - incubator partners spend more time on team backgrounds than market size slides.

Prepare for interviews: Expect 2-3 interview rounds if your application passes screening. First round is usually 10 minutes on video. Final rounds are in-person or 30-minute deep dives. They'll ask about customer conversations, technical feasibility, and team dynamics. Don't memorize a pitch - they want to see how you think through problems in real time.

Leverage warm introductions: Applications through alumni or mentor referrals have 5-10x higher acceptance rates. Reach out to companies from recent batches in your space. Most founders will tell you honestly if the program helped them. Connect on LinkedIn before asking for an intro - cold emails to incubator alumni get ignored.

Consider multiple programs: Apply to 5-10 incubators if you're serious about getting in. Acceptance rates are low even for strong teams. Having multiple offers gives you negotiating leverage on equity terms. Most programs won't let you defer admission, so apply when you're ready to commit. Integrated lead-capture features transform passive document views into actionable investor or customer signals.

Set up your materials early: Incubators move fast once they accept you. Set up an Ellty data room with your pitch deck, basic financials, and incorporation docs before interviews. Incubator partners will ask for your cap table and any existing investor commitments within 24 hours of accepting you. Transparent tiered pricing models help investors model scalability and revenue predictability with confidence.

Time your application strategically: Don't apply right after quitting your job with no progress. Build something small first - customer interviews, landing page, prototype. Most programs want to see weekly growth even if it's just in user conversations. Applying with 6 weeks of momentum beats applying with a 6-month-old idea.

Why incubator funding matters in 2026

Seed rounds in 2026 are harder to raise without institutional backing. Solo founders raising $1M on just an idea happens less than it did in 2021. Incubators give you credibility and connections that matter when raising your $2M-$5M seed round. The YC or Techstars badge still opens doors with tier-one venture capitals.

Check sizes from incubators have increased from $25k-$50k in 2020 to $100k-$500k in 2026. More programs offer follow-on capital and SAFE notes instead of equity-for-access models. Alumni networks are stronger as older cohorts become investors and acquirers themselves.

15 top incubator investors

1. Y Combinator

Y Combinator runs the most competitive startup program and invests $500k for 7% equity in 3-month batches twice yearly.

• Recent Deals: Winter 2025 batch invested in 250 companies including Lambda School follow-on at $3M seed and Retool Series C participation
• LinkedIn: Garry Tan
• Check Size: $500k standard deal
• Stage Focus: Pre-seed, idea stage to early revenue
• Location: Mountain View, California
• Website: ycombinator.com

2. Techstars

Global accelerator network runs 40+ programs annually across cities with $120k investment for 6% equity plus $20k in perks.

• Recent Deals: Fall 2024 Boulder batch invested in WorkRamp at $500k seed and PetDesk Series A follow-on
• LinkedIn: Maëlle Gavet
• Check Size: $120k for 6%
• Stage Focus: Pre-seed with MVP
• Location: Boulder, Colorado (+ global programs)
• Website: techstars.com

3. 500 Global

Venture firm runs accelerator programs investing $150k for 6% across emerging markets and writes follow-on seed checks up to $1M.

• Recent Deals: Invested $150k in 85 companies across 2025 batches including Grab follow-on round and Bukalapak growth investment
• LinkedIn: Christine Tsai
• Check Size: $150k for 6%
• Stage Focus: Pre-seed to seed
• Location: San Francisco, California (global programs)
• Website: 500.co

4. Antler

Early-stage VC invests in founders before company formation with $100k-$250k pre-seed and $500k seed follow-on from dedicated fund.

• Recent Deals: NYC Cohort 6 invested $100k in 28 companies in 2025, 19 raised seed rounds averaging $1.8M within 9 months
• LinkedIn: Magnus Grimeland
• Check Size: $100k-$250k pre-seed
• Stage Focus: Pre-company to pre-seed
• Location: New York (+ Singapore, London, Sydney)
• Website: antler.co

5. Entrepreneur First

Talent investor model recruits individuals and invests $80k-$200k pre-seed before team formation with follow-on to $1M.

• Recent Deals: London Cohort 14 invested in 23 companies formed during program, 18 raised institutional seed within 12 months
• LinkedIn: Matt Clifford
• Check Size: $80k-$200k
• Stage Focus: Pre-team formation
• Location: London, UK (+ Singapore, Berlin)
• Website: joinef.com

6. MassChallenge

Zero-equity accelerator awards up to $2M in cash prizes across 100+ startups and provides mentorship without taking ownership.

• Recent Deals: 2025 Boston program supported 128 startups, awarded $2M in prizes, alumni raised $180M follow-on capital
• LinkedIn: Cait Brumme
• Check Size: $0-$100k prizes, no equity
• Stage Focus: Pre-seed to seed
• Location: Boston, Massachusetts
• Website: masschallenge.org

7. Alchemist Accelerator

Enterprise-focused program invests $36k for 5% in B2B companies with strong corporate customer access and mentor network.

• Recent Deals: Class 34 invested in 24 enterprise startups in 2025, average post-program valuation $8M, 19 signed enterprise pilots
• LinkedIn: Ravi Belani
• Check Size: $36k for 5%
• Stage Focus: Pre-seed B2B
• Location: San Francisco, California
• Website: alchemistaccelerator.com

8. Founders Factory

Corporate-backed incubator invests £150k for 6-8% equity with 6-month programs focused on fintech, health, and sustainability sectors.

• Recent Deals: 2025 London batch invested in 18 companies including Zilch follow-on and Beauhurst seed participation
• LinkedIn: Henry Lane Fox
• Check Size: £150k for 6-8%
• Stage Focus: Pre-seed
• Location: London, UK (+ Johannesburg)
• Website: foundersfactory.com

9. Plug and Play Tech Center

Corporate innovation platform connects startups with enterprise partners and invests $25k-$100k across vertical-specific programs.

• Recent Deals: 2025 fintech batch invested in 42 companies, facilitated $95M in corporate pilot contracts and follow-on funding
• LinkedIn: Saeed Amidi
• Check Size: $25k-$100k
• Stage Focus: Pre-seed to seed
• Location: Sunnyvale, California
• Website: plugandplaytechcenter.com

10. HAX

Hardware and deep tech accelerator invests $250k for 6% with programs in Newark and Shenzhen focused on manufacturing and supply chain.

• Recent Deals: Shenzhen Spring 2025 batch invested $250k in 18 hardware companies, 12 reached production with $8M average raise
• LinkedIn: Duncan Turner
• Check Size: $250k for 6%
• Stage Focus: Pre-seed hardware
• Location: Newark, New Jersey (+ Shenzhen)
• Website: hax.co

11. SOSV

Multi-stage fund invests $300k across IndieBio, HAX, and Orbit programs with follow-on capacity to $2M for top performers.

• Recent Deals: 2025 portfolio invested $300k initial + follow-on in 45 companies, IndieBio SF14 batch raised $67M combined
• LinkedIn: William Bao Bean
• Check Size: $300k initial
• Stage Focus: Pre-seed to seed
• Location: Multiple (SF, Newark, NYC)
• Website: sosv.com

12. Berkeley SkyDeck

University-backed accelerator invests $100k in Cal-affiliated startups without formal equity requirement but typical 3-5% advisory shares.

• Recent Deals: Fall 2025 batch invested in 22 companies, combined valuation $420M, 18 raised institutional seed rounds
• LinkedIn: Caroline Winnett
• Check Size: $100k
• Stage Focus: Pre-seed
• Location: Berkeley, California
• Website: skydeck.berkeley.edu

13. Stanford StartX

Non-dilutive accelerator for Stanford-affiliated founders provides resources and connections without taking equity or writing checks.

• Recent Deals: 2025 cohorts supported 42 companies, 28 raised institutional seed averaging $2.3M, zero equity taken
• LinkedIn: Cameron Teitelman
• Check Size: $0, no equity
• Stage Focus: Pre-seed to seed
• Location: Stanford, California
• Website: startx.com

14. MIT Martin Trust Center

MIT-backed delta v accelerator provides $20k grants and mentorship to student teams without taking equity in 3-month summer program.

• Recent Deals: Summer 2025 delta v program supported 31 MIT teams, 22 incorporated, raised $67M combined in follow-on rounds
• LinkedIn: Bill Aulet
• Check Size: $20k grant, no equity
• Stage Focus: Pre-seed
• Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
• Website: entrepreneurship.mit.edu

15. Creative Destruction Lab

Objectives-based program connects science and tech startups with mentors and investors through 9-month program without taking equity.

• Recent Deals: 2025 Toronto program supported 65 companies across quantum, AI, and health tracks, 48 raised seed rounds
• LinkedIn: Tomi Poutanen
• Check Size: $0, no equity
• Stage Focus: Pre-seed to seed
• Location: Toronto, Canada (+ global sites)
• Website: creativedestructionlab.com

Start tracking your incubator applications

These 15 incubator investors accepted thousands of startups in 2025-2026 batches. Most will want to see progress between application and program start - interviews, customer calls, prototype iterations.

Upload your deck to Ellty and create unique links for each program application. Incubator partners typically spend 2-4 minutes reviewing applications initially. You'll see exactly which slides they view and whether they skip your competitive analysis. When they ask for more materials during interviews, you'll know they opened your financial assumptions.

When you get accepted and start raising your seed round, share an Ellty data room with your incubator demo day pitch, traction metrics, and early customer references. Seed investors will ask incubator alumni for references - make it easy for them to access your progress updates.

Common questions

What's the difference between an incubator and accelerator?

Terms are used interchangeably now. Historically incubators took earlier ideas and ran longer programs. Today most programs are 3-6 months regardless of what they call themselves.

Do I need to relocate for an incubator program?

Most top programs require full-time in-person participation. Y Combinator, Techstars, and Antler expect you in their city for the full batch. Some programs like 500 Global run remote cohorts but outcomes are weaker. Budget $15k-$25k for living costs during the program.

Can I apply to multiple incubators at once?

Yes. Apply to 5-10 programs if you're serious. Acceptance rates are 1-3% even for good teams. Most programs have different batch timing so you won't have conflicting schedules. If you get multiple offers you can negotiate equity terms.

How much equity should I expect to give up?

Standard deals are 5-7% equity for $100k-$500k investment. Y Combinator takes 7%, Techstars takes 6%, most others take 5-8%. Non-dilutive programs like StartX and MassChallenge take zero equity. Calculate what that stake will be worth at your Series A before signing.

What happens if I don't raise after the program?

Most incubator companies don't raise institutional rounds. Alumni networks and mentors can help with customer intros even if fundraising fails. Some programs offer follow-on microgrants or extension programs. You keep the initial investment and equity dilution regardless of outcome.

Do incubators invest in solo founders?

Some programs specifically target solo founders before team formation. Entrepreneur First and Antler match individuals during the program. Most accelerators like Y Combinator and Techstars prefer 2-3 person founding teams with complementary skills. Apply with a cofounder if you have one.