Top Startup Accelerators & Incubators in New York City, USA

The New York City tech ecosystem boasts over 13,000 startups and 2,000+ accelerators and incubators. It's a city buzzing with innovators eager to bring their business dreams to life. Many of the accelerators and incubators in New York City have been around for more than ten years and have invested in thousands of startups.

This guide explores the leading startup accelerators and incubators supporting startups and businesses at various stages, from ideation and launch to significant growth. Its goal is to help you find a program that aligns with your vision and suits your needs.

Top 12 Startup Accelerators & Incubators in New York City, USA

1. Human Ventures

Target Audience: Early-stage startup with a team.

Niche: Impact, health, work, innovation.

Human Ventures is a venture firm and startup accelerator based in New York that focuses on building and investing in companies that meet essential human needs. It supports founders from the early stages with funding, office studios, and an entrepreneur-in-residence program. Human Ventures invests in seed and early-stage financing.

2. Forum Ventures

Target Audience: Early-stage B2B SaaS founders.

Niche: B2B SAAS.

Forum Ventures' Accelerator is a B2B SaaS-focused program that invests $50,000-$100,000 for 7.5% equity, providing personalized support to early-stage startups. Founders benefit from hands-on guidance, customer introductions, and extensive fundraising support, aiming to prepare them for significant growth and investment. The accelerator operates remotely, allowing global participation and offering a robust network of over 250 international investors.

3. Starta VC

Target Audience: Early-stage startup with a team.

Niche: Technology.

Starta is an early-stage venture capital firm and seed accelerator based in New York. It focuses on supporting and investing in early-stage startups. Starta provides a robust program with mentorship, funding, and support to international startups aiming to enter the U.S. market. It offers a unique blend of resources aimed at helping startups scale effectively and rapidly.

4. Big Idea Ventures

Target Audience: Early-stage startup with a team.

Niche: Food and Beverage.

Big Idea Ventures is an accelerator and venture capital firm based in New York that invests $200,000 in funding, $125,000 in cash, and $75,000 for the program itself to eligible startups. To participate, startups must be within the food sector, specifically focused on sustainable proteins, fats, ingredients, sweeteners, flavorings, or monocrops. The startup must also already have an initial, market-validated product. The program puts startups through a 5-month comprehensive program that includes mentorship, technical assistance, and networking opportunities to help startups grow locally and internationally. 

5. XRC Ventures

Target Audience: Early-stage startup with a team.

Niche: Retail technology, consumer health, and consumer goods startups.

XRC Ventures is a venture capital firm and accelerator that focuses on the next generation of disruptors in retail technology, consumer health tech, and consumer goods. It offers various funds, including an Accelerator Fund for pre-seed companies, a Brand Capital Fund for Seed to Series A consumer products, and an Opportunity Fund for post-seed to Series A companies.

6. Genius NY

Target Audience: Early-stage startup with a team.

Niche: Aerospace and Air Mobility Startups.

GENIUS NY is a startup accelerator and venture capital based in New York that focuses on uncrewed aerial systems, big data startups, robotics, automation, and advanced air mobility. It invests $3,000,000 annually into seed-stage startups and offers comprehensive support, including business development, industry networking, and investor relations. Participating startups also receive expert legal advice, business and marketing strategy development, free office space, investor relations, and access to industry-leading events.

7. Interplay

Target Audience: Early-stage startups with a team.

Niche: Technology.

Interplay is a New York City-based venture capital firm and startup accelerator that specializes in funding technology-enabled innovation and high-growth startups. They fund and provide resources to innovative companies and promote development through strategic guidance and industry connections.

8. Luminate

Target Audience: Early-stage startups with a team.

Niche: AR, VR, Cybersecurity, and IoT.

Luminate is a leading accelerator in New York dedicated to advancing startups focusing on AR, VR, IoT, Cybersecurity, optics, photonics, and imaging technologies. It provides consequential funding and support to help startups move from prototype to market. Luminate offers extensive mentorship, office space, access to specialized equipment, and a strong network of industry connections to aid startups in scaling their operations effectively.

9. Dreamit Ventures

Target Audience: Growth-ready pre-series A startups.

Niche: Health Tech, Secure Tech, and Urban Tech.

Dreamit Ventures, founded in 2008, is a venture capital firm and startup accelerator that runs three separate accelerator programs in health tech, secure tech, and urban tech. It provides startups with a unique, hands-on approach through specialized customer and investor sprints, helping them rapidly grow their customer base and providing support for fundraising efforts. Dreamit typically invests between $500,000 and $1,500,000 in growth-ready pre-series A startups demonstrating early solid product-market fit.

10. Echoing Green

Target Audience: Early-stage social entrepreneurs.

Niche: Social innovation and leadership.

Echoing Green is a nonprofit organization that supports social entrepreneurs globally through its Fellowship program. It focuses on early-stage social impact startups dedicated to solving the world's biggest challenges. The group's accelerator program, Fellowship, provides leadership development, wellness and wellbeing support, and expert resources. Qualifying startups or participants also receive an 18-month stipend of seed funding totaling $80,000 in recoverable grants.

11. Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator (ERA)

Target Audience: Early-stage startups seeking seed investment.

Niche: Industry agnostic.

Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator is a well-recognized New York City-based startup accelerator that has raised over $2 billion in funding and has over 300 alumni. It runs two four-month programs annually, with one starting in January and the second in June. ERA has no stage requirements and provides early-stage companies with seed investment, mentorship, and access to a vast network of industry professionals. ERA invests $150K for a 6% equity stake and hosts a robust network of over 500 mentors, aiming to propel the growth and success of startups across various sectors.

12. Betaworks

Target Audience: Early-stage startups seeking seed investment.

Niche: Technology, social media, media.

Betaworks, founded in 2007, is a startup studio and accelerator based in New York that invests in, builds, and accelerates companies at the intersection of technology and media. Known for its dynamic approach to startup development, Betaworks operates both an accelerator program and a venture capital arm, supporting a wide range of digital media startups.

AcceleratorApp Closing Thoughts on Startup Accelerators and Incubators in New York City, USA

New York City, famous for its active and diverse ecosystem, is a leading global hub for innovation, particularly in sectors like fintech and media. Hosting prestigious institutions and a vibrant startup scene, the city's numerous accelerators and incubators, such as ERA and Human Ventures, provide crucial support through funding, mentorship, and networking opportunities.

This environment is essential for transforming cutting-edge ideas into successful businesses, positioning New York as a vital center for entrepreneurs aiming to make a significant mark in their industries.

Want to discover more accelerators and incubators from other countries? Check out the list below. 

Top Accelerators and Incubators from:

• Berlin
• Toronto
• London
• Madrid
• São Paulo
• Paris
• Mexico
• Barcelona
• Dubai
• Riyadh
• Egypt
• San Francisco
• Boston
• New York City
• Austin
• Bangalore
• Tel Aviv
• Singapore
• Seoul