Accelerators and founder programmes open now

Accelerators, incubators and founder programmes, many free or equity-free, with dates, what you get and who can apply.

5 open now, 1 fully funded. Updated 13 November 2026.

Founder programmes offer mentoring, a cohort, investor access and sometimes funding. Some take equity; many listed here are free and take none. Each listing says what the programme takes and what it gives.

Tell OpenDoors your stage and sector and it will surface the programmes that fit, with the deadlines in one place.

See which of these you qualify for, and why.Get my matches, free

Accelerator · Fully fundedSAIS Livestock Investment Readiness Programme 2027Scaling Agriculture Innovations through Start-ups (SAIS), implemented by GIZ on behalf of BMZ and co-funded by the Gates Foundation

Up to €15,000 technical assistance budget; fully sponsored trips to community events; additional SAIS Scale-up Grant of up to €40,000 and revolving working capital loans of up to €50,000 at 1.5% interest for eligible start-upsAfrica15 Nov

AcceleratorMATTER Groundwork: An Emerging Innovator AcceleratorMATTER

Not statedNorth America22 Nov

Accelerator · UnfundedAI Founder Sprint 2027INSEAD AI Venture Lab

Free programme with no equity taken; mentorship, frameworks and peer support includedOpen worldwide1 Dec

AcceleratorMTH Accelerator 2026 (Bootstrap Seedstrap Program and Investment Readiness Program)MediaTech Hub Potsdam (MTH)

Not statedOpen worldwide28 Feb

Accelerator · Partly fundedSharjah Advanced Industrial AI Accelerator – Global Open CallSPARK (Sharjah)

Cash prize pool US$100,000: 1st US$50,000, 2nd US$30,000, 3rd US$20,000Open worldwide24 May

Common questions

Do accelerators take equity?

Some do, often 5–10%. Many university, foundation and corporate programmes take none. Check the “What you get” line on each listing.