Y Combinator Accelerator Program

Three-month accelerator program providing $500,000 in funding ($125k for 7% equity + $375k uncapped SAFE), intensive mentorship, and access to a global founder network. The most prestigious accelerator for early-stage startups across all sectors.

Eligibility

Early-stage startups (any sector), typically pre-seed to seed stage. Strong founder team and clear market opportunity.

Startup
Early stage
Strong team
Tech-enabled preferred

Application requirements

1Online application
2Founder video
3Demo if available
4In-person interview

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NSF SBIR/STTR Phase I & II (America's Seed Fund) — National Science Foundation

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NSF SBIR/STTR Phase I & II (America's Seed Fund)

Non-dilutive R&D grants of up to $275k (Phase I) and $1M+ (Phase II) for U.S. small businesses commercializing high-impact deep-tech innovations. Covers software, hardware, AI, climate, biotech, and more. No equity taken.

$275,000–$1,750,000Rolling

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MassChallenge

MassChallenge Accelerator (Equity-Free)

Four-month accelerator program with no equity taken. Provides mentorship, curriculum, expert services, and access to over $3M in cash prizes for top U.S. startups. Programs run in Boston, Houston, Providence, Dallas, and other U.S. cities.

$1,000,0003d left

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Climate Finance Lab

Climate Finance Innovation Lab

Annual program supporting innovative climate finance instruments. Selected projects receive grant support, expert advisory, and connections to investors. Targets scalable solutions for climate adaptation and mitigation.

$50,000–$150,000Sep 30, 2026

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US Internal Revenue Service

US Research & Development Tax Credit

Federal tax credit equal to ~6-14% of qualified R&D expenses (wages, supplies, contract research). Eligible startups can apply up to $500,000 against payroll taxes. Highly underutilized by founders.

$5,000–$500,000Rolling