If you want to get your startup off the ground, you’d certainly benefit from a startup incubator. But what is a startup incubator? Much like an incubator for unusually small babies that provides a safe space for care, a startup incubator is a firm that can equip your startup with all the necessary tools for a successful launch. Now, you might wonder what they do exactly.
They provide you with office space, mentorship opportunities, business courses, and most importantly networking events to build strong connections. You may have to attend mandatory meetings under the supervision of your incubator throughout the program.
Nowadays, there are over 7,000 incubators in the world, each of them specializing in a particular business industry. Now, we will help you find the best incubators for your startup at Prelaunch.com, the world’s #1 market validation platform. We’ll discuss what they do to help startups in more depth. Also, you’ll find out about the top 10 startup incubators that I have selected to share with you here in this article. Without further ado, let’s dive right in!
What Are Incubators for Startups?
We just briefly discussed what a business incubator generally does, but if you want to learn about their services in-depth, then don’t skip this section and keep on reading. If your startup is at an early stage, you will without a doubt benefit from startup incubators.
Startup incubators will provide you with physical space and business support services such as advice on legal and financial matters, they can help you to get access to funding, you will undergo training, and lastly, build a strong network which is key to success in these harsh and competitive times.
Physical Space
If you want to launch a startup, it goes without saying that having an office space is a must. Startup incubators are ready to provide you with shared offices, workspaces, and laboratories so you and your team can work in a collaborative environment.
Business Support Services
Incubators will provide you with business support services, such as mentorship, legal advice, marketing assistance, and administrative support. These services will build a strong foundation for your startup and will help you navigate complexities and focus more on core business activities, especially if your startup is at a beginning stage.
Access to Funding
Most startups face challenges when it comes to funding. Startup incubators can help you reach angel investors and venture capitalists who would love to fund your promising startup. Sometimes they may even offer seed funding themselves. So if you want to get your startup off the ground with success, you can certainly benefit from incubator programs for startups.
Training
Your staff and employees might need some training in the emerging stages of your startup. Startup incubators offer training programs, workshops, and seminars that can equip the members of your startup with the necessary tools that you will definitely need to launch a successful startup.
Strong Network
Business is all about connections. To have a successful startup means to build a strong network. And that’s why startup incubators are here to save the day. They will help you to connect with industry experts, potential clients, entrepreneurs, and so forth. You will build connections through networking events, conferences, and collaboration opportunities.
A strong network is the best thing startup incubators can offer your startup in the early stages.
10 Best Startup Incubators Worldwide
Here are our handpicked startup incubators that will provide you with the best mentorship, networking opportunities, training, and support. Let’s dive right in and discuss the USA-based TechStars first.
TechStars
Overview: Based in Boulder, Colorado, Techstars provides an excellent three-month training program for startups by providing you with the best mentors and a strong network. Techstars will assist you in reaching angel investors with ease. Also, they invest up to $120,000 in each startup and purchase the right to 6% of the company’s Fully Diluted Capital Stock. In case you need further fundraising opportunities, workshops, and curated resources, TechStars has your back and will help you kickstart your entrepreneurial journey with success.
Notable Startups: As one of the top incubators, over 3736 startups and companies have utilized the services provided by TechStar, among them is Uber Technologies Inc. which provides ride-hailing services, food delivery, and freight transport. Digital Ocean is also a notable graduate of this incubator program. It’s a multinational technology company and cloud provider. Techstars has helped startups make significant breakthroughs in the market.
Programs and Support: This tech startup incubator provides three courses to help your business succeed after the three-month program. In TechStar’s entrepreneur’s toolkit, you will learn to understand your customers, position your product, brand your business and so much more.
One of the great services this startup incubator offers is the Startup Digest program. They will collect and send you the networking events via email to expand your network for a more successful launch. Learn more about their three-month program by clicking here.
Global Reach: The accelerator’s cumulative cap is $105B. As one of the best incubators for startups, TechStar’s global reach includes accelerator programs in big cities such as Boston, New York, Los Angeles, London, Tel Aviv, and Adelaide.
Venture Catalysts
Overview: Founded in 2016 in Mumbai, India, VentureCatalysts is one of the best startup incubators worldwide. They bundle together all the elements that help startups become more successful. They are ready to provide you with continuous capital, corporate connections, gap-based mentoring, global market access, and a resourceful network to help you succeed in these increasingly volatile economic times.
Notable Startups: VentureCatalysts has funded 176 companies to date and the combined valuation of all their portfolio companies exceeds $3 billion. Some of their notable startups are 7 Classes — a preschool in Mumbai, India; Ambee — the most accurate climate & environmental intelligence platform in the world, and Beardo — a personal care and grooming brand.
Programs and Support: India is a growing field for startups, and Venture Catalysts are the best startup incubators in the region. With an investment ranging anywhere from $200,000 to $2 million, the company neither interferes with startups’ business nor teaches entrepreneurship. They allow startups to navigate their way through the market while acting as allies in their endeavors.
Global Reach: VentureCatalysts’ primary focus and operations are in India. They have played a significant role in the Indian startup ecosystem.
Y Combinator
Overview: Founded in 2005 in Silicon Valley, Y Combinator is one of the top incubators for startups. With a focus on tech, the program has funded 4,000 startups and helped them to launch. YC invests $500,000 in every company/startup on standard terms.
Notable Startups: Having funded over 4,000 startups. In YC’s portfolio, Airbnb is the most notable company that completed the incubator program. It is a San Francisco-based company operating an online marketplace for short and long-term homestays. Another graduate of the program is Stripe – powering financial processing for businesses, and Twitch — an American video live streaming service. These are the giants that YC has produced.
Programs and Support: With an intense three-month program, YC will help your startup to take off. One great thing about YC is that your startup can turn to them at all stages — whether you haven’t even started working yet or you have launched your startup for years. During the batch, you start into four groups which will set office hours for having discussions. Much of what happens at YC happens during office hours. YC will also help you with your product’s launch by helping entrepreneurs like you figure out how to present it to users and the press.
Global Reach: The company started in Boston and Mountain View, expanding to San Francisco.
Y Combinator accepts startups from everywhere in the world, attracting investors and industry professionals globally. Every six months over 10,000 companies apply to participate in the program, but the acceptance rate is only 1.5%-2%.
Ignite
Overview: Ignite started in Newcastle upon Tyne, England in 2011. It is Europe’s first $1.3m startup incubator, offering $126,000 to ten startups every year. So if you think you have an original startup idea, you may definitely want to apply to this great business incubator. Working with the University of Cambridge, ignite will help you get your startup off the ground with success.
Notable Startups: Supporting over 560 startup founders, some of the notable ones that have graduated from ignite programs are VirtualSpaces — an online environment where you can immerse into “virtual spaces” through your avatar. Cookifi is another great graduate of ignite which provides you with personalized kitchenware gifts and present ideas; and finally, Upswing which helps students on their way to attain their university degrees.
Programs and Support: This startup incubator offers two programs: a five-month Pre-accelerator program for early-stage startups and a two-month Accelerator program for startups at the seed stage. Harry up to apply to their programs! The deadline is close.
Global Reach: Ignite has run programs across the UK and Ireland in cities such as London, Manchester, Dublin, Belfast, Edinburgh, Cambridge, Sheffield, Bristol, Derry, Newcastle, Gateshead and Sunderland. They have also supported accelerators across the globe in countries such as India, the United Arab Emirates, Denmark, Italy, and the US.
Chinaccelerator
Overview: Founded in 2015 in China, Chinaccelerator is Asia’s biggest startup incubator. It is mentorship-driven and helps internet startups from around the world to launch their startups.
Notable Startups: The program invests in 150 companies and startups each year. Some of the notable startups from Chinaccelertor are RaVaBe — a digital content publishing tool; YuzzBuzz — a full-service digital marketing agency serving the Boca Raton and South Florida area, and Customindz which creates an all-in-one construction AI platform with a special computer vision engine to detect equipment, worker safety, and quality issues using videos and images.
Programs and Support: Like most startup incubators, Chinaacelerator offers a 3+3 program where startups interact with mentors daily. The incubator hosts a demo day with over 150 investors before entering the fundraising phase. This business incubator also has four main programs for corporates: executive insight, pilot accelerator, excubation, and vertical accelerator, making it easy to collect and analyze data for construction projects.
Global Reach: There are 300 Chinaaccelerator mentors worldwide who facilitate the programs. While Chinaccelerator works closely with the local startup ecosystem, it is open to startups from all over the world.
Hatchery
Overview: Founded in 2012 in Canada, The Hatchery is one of the best startup incubators in the world. Offered by the University of Toronto, The Hatchery will help you build strong connections through networking events, team building, and various on-campus activities.
Notable Startups: The Hatchery helped over 100 startups launch with success, among them is Call Fusion which aims to develop an automated AI salesperson for call centers and businesses engaged in telemarketing. 1Kit’s goal is to create specific tools designed to address the unique challenges faced by students and researchers in online education and research, aiming to improve focus, productivity, and motivation for more effective learning and work.
Also, Epiloid Biotechnologies’ objective is to make better medicines for brain conditions by using special human cell-based models, replacing the current methods that often lead to drug failures and translation problems.
Programs and Support: Idea Markets, Speaker Series, Coffee Days, Cofounders Day, Hatchery Circle, Accelerator Weekend – everything you need to get from startup incubators. And The Hatchery will give you all that. The events will nurture a strong culture of entrepreneurship on campus.
From there, teams apply to one of the Hatchery’s four programs: Hatchery NEST, Hatchery LaunchLab, Hatchery Social, and Start@UTIAS+Hatchery.
Global Reach: This incubator program for startups is located in Toronto, Canada, and is mainly engaged with the local startup ecosystem.
AWS Activate
Overview: Being home to 280,000 startups globally, Amazon Web Services (AWS) startups was launched in 2013 and has provided $6 billion to startups globally. You can start right away with $100,000 AWS credits.
Notable Startups: One of the notable startups that graduated from AWS startups is Grammarly — an AI writing assistant that reviews grammar, punctuation, clarity, and engagement of your text. Another great startup that succeeded in the market is Deliveroo which is a British food-delivering company. Doordash is also among the beneficiaries of AWS startups. It’s a San Francisco-based company that operates an online food ordering and food delivery platform.
Programs and Support: AWS Global Startups is an invite-only program, supporting mid-stage startups that have raised institutional funding and achieved product-market fit. AWS Activate is a program designed to provide startups with credits, technical support, training, and other resources to help them get started. AWS Activate Founders is a specialized program within AWS Activate that has not yet raised institutional funding yet.
By using the services of this program, you can build a strong network, get AWS credits, and all the technical support that you need. Last but not least, AWS EdStart is a program for educational technology startups and is designed to support startups globally.
Global Reach: AWS Startups is ready to assist you in launching your promising startup no matter where you are based at the moment. AWS operates data centers in multiple locations worldwide. The program engages with the global community through events, meetups, webinars, and conferences.
500 Startups
Overview: Founded in 2011 in Mountain View, California, 500 Startups is among the best startup incubators worldwide. With over 2700 startups funded, 500 Startups invests $150,000 in every company that joins the incubator program in return for a 6% stake.
Notable Startups: Some of the notable giants that graduated from the program offered by 500 Startups are Udemy — an online learning/teaching platform, student-favorite Canva which is an online graphic design platform, and finally Talkdesk — a company that helps small businesses deliver a better customer service experience.
Programs and Support: If your startup is in the tech industry, then you’ll certainly benefit from this tech incubator. Throughout the program, your startup will receive intensive training and mentorship. It’s a fixed-term, cohort-based program providing seed funding and educational support.
Global Reach: 500 Startups is a venture capital firm with $2.4B. They are ready to invest in your promising startup, no matter where you’re currently based. The program offered by 500 Startups will equip you with all the necessary knowledge and skills that will prepare you to launch your startup and receive international recognition.
MassChallenge
Overview: Founded in 2010, MassChallenge is one of the best startup incubators worldwide and has invested in 3050 startups, specializing in Healthcare, Renewable Energy, and AgTech. Beyond financial backing, MassChallenge distinguishes itself by providing invaluable mentorship and resources, making it a go-to destination for entrepreneurs worldwide seeking to make a significant impact in their respective industries.
Notable Startups: Some of their notable portfolio companies are Ginkgo Bioworks, Ginger, and Bitso. Ginkgo is an American biotech company that aims to grow better products; Ginger was founded in 2011 by a team of data scientists at the MIT Media Lab. They sought to build the world’s first mental health technology platform which is supposed to identify the patterns of anxiety through your cellphone. Lastly, Bitso, which completed MassChallenge’s incubator program in 2016, centralizes cryptocurrencies for secure trading and transactions.
Programs and Support: The three-month MassChallenge program consists of three days a week of curriculum sessions with live speakers, workshops, themed roundtables, and other networking events. The program focuses on three key elements that will help you get your startup off the ground with success: goal setting, access to curated mentors, and support from a peer network.
Global Reach: MassChallenge has established a presence in multiple countries, offering startups the opportunity to participate in its incubator programs, gain access to mentorship, and connect with a network of industry experts and investors. MassChallenge also extended global reach with a record number of applicants.
SOSV
Overview: SOSV was founded in 1994 in New Jersey and is the world’s leading tech incubator. It brought over 2300 startups in the industries of Biotech, Healthcare, and Software to life. For promising startups like yours, SOSV is ready to invest $150,000 – $250,000 in exchange for equity based on the amount.
Notable Startups: SOSV invests in startups that specialize in deep tech, including climate and health, as well as enterprise and consumer in emerging markets. So if your startup is in any of these fields, you have a high chance of undergoing their training programs.
Opentrons, Formlabs, and BitMEX have all completed SOSV’s incubator program.
Programs and Support: SOSV offers several programs for startups at all stages. Whether your startup is just emerging or it’s ready to launch, SOSV has got your back. HAX is a great pre-seed program focused on hard tech startups. Indie Bio is an excellent program for startups in human and planetary health.
Global Reach: With more than $1.5B, SOSV is one of the most active venture investors in the world. SOSV has a widespread global presence, with offices and accelerator programs in key locations like San Francisco, New York, Shenzhen, and Dublin.
Conclusion
Thinking about diving into the startup world? Opting for the resources offered by startup incubators brings you closer to the launch of your venture. These hubs don’t just provide physical space; they’re your go-to for legal advice, training, comprehensive business support services, and, most importantly, a strong network.
In these competitive times, those startups that turn to incubators stand out with a higher chance of success. I hope I could equip you with the information you came here to find. Ready to make the move? Now might be the perfect time to consider applying for an incubator program. Your entrepreneurial journey is about to take off.
