Every startup knows that the road to success is a rocky one. All of the world’s biggest and most influential brands were once fledgling ideas swirling around in the minds of ambitious people who shirked the scrutinies of their society and dreamed bigger. Undoubtedly, embarking on a personal and risky business venture requires a great deal of courage and a solid plan — luckily, these things can be acquired with the right amount of guidance.
For many startups, accelerators and incubators are a great way to meet goals and establish a strong network. While both accelerators and incubators offer a collaborative environment, they are not exactly the same. Accelerators help existing startups grow within their industries, while incubators work with early-stage startups to build their companies. In a city overflowing entrepreneurs, San Francisco provides countless opportunities for companies to grow and reach their goals. At these 15 accelerators and incubators throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, startups at all stages have access to top-notch support and growth from the area’s surrounding tech community.
Top Startup Incubators & Accelerators in San Francisco
- Acceleprise
- AngelPad
- Founder Institute
- Matter
- Maxitech
- RocketSpace
- Society3
Location: SoMa
Focus: Software, Fintech, Cannabis, Care Management, AI, Immigration
What they do: Acceleprise is a SaaS-focused accelerator dedicated to building the next generation of great SaaS companies. The accelerator specializes in early-stage companies that are solving targeted pain points with an easy-to-use application. Acceleprise offers a four-month program focused on providing companies with access to mentors and educational programming to accelerate the execution of best practices.
Who they work with: Agreemint, ENVision mobile, GroLens, StoriiCare, TestRigor AI, Drishyam AI, PassRight and Piio.
Location: Financial District
Focus: Delivery Services, Drone Data Software, Monetization Solutions, Content Data Platforms, Painting Services, Ridesharing Services, Astronomy
What they do: Co-founded by former Google Product Team member, Thomas Korte, AngelPad is a seed-stage accelerator program that works with companies from a wide range of tech verticals, including SaaS, AI, mobile, core technology and B2B. Every six months, the accelerator selects 15 teams for an intensive three-month program, during which time each startup receives one-on-one mentorship, as well as access to a close-knit community and investors.
Who they work with: DroneDeploy, Postmates, Mopud, SimpleReach, Paintzen, Zum, Periscope Data and Astronomer.
Location: Berkeley, Greater San Francisco Bay Area
Focus: Software + Data Companies, AI, Tech Platforms, Robotics
What they do: Berkeley SkyDeck is designed to accelerate startups founded by individuals affiliated with UC Berkeley, or any of the University of California campuses. The accelerator is designed to prepare startups to raise their first round of investment, providing practical, experience-based programs. Startups can take part in either the Cohort Program or Global Innovation Partner Program, the latter of which provides access to informative workshops, networking events, advising office hours with industry experts and a showcase event.
Who they work with: Concha Labs, DeepScribe, DevSpace, DocuVision, Empowerly, Route Reports and Squishy Robotics.
Location: Palo Alto, Greater San Francisco Bay Area
Focus: Mobile Platforms, Real Estate, Software, Footwear, Pet ID Services, Online Education Platforms, Social Content Marketing Platforms
What they do: Founder Institute is the world’s largest pre-seed startup accelerator, which is designed to provide entrepreneurs with the structure, feedback and support needed to thrive. The accelerator helps startups get traction and funding by establishing a network of startup experts, and by providing a structured and challenging business-building process. The Founder Institute enables companies to raise funding, get into seed accelerators, generate traction, build a product, transition from employee to entrepreneur, recruit a team and more.
Who they work with: Appota, RealtyMogul, Spikes Security, Feetz, Pathgather, PetHub, Udemy and ReadyPulse.
Location: Palo Alto, Greater San Francisco Bay Area
Focus: AI, Robotics, Mobile Apps, Augmented Reality, Cannabis
What they do: InnoSpring Silicon Valley is an incubator focused on catalyzing innovation and building ecosystems. As the first US-China incubator, they are designed to elevate traditional industries to new levels, while enabling large enterprises to operate more profitably and efficiently by collaborating with startups with cutting-edge technologies. With a focus on smart systems and life sciences, InnoSpring Silicon Valley offers a wide range of services, including planning, investing, investor sourcing and mentoring.
Who they work with: Drive.ai, Savioke, TrustGo, Meta and Meadow.
Location: SoMa
Focus: Media
What they do: Matter is a startup accelerator that supports and invests in early-stage media entrepreneurs building ventures. Their five-month startup accelerator program includes an intensive design thinking and entrepreneurship bootcamp, as well as venture design reviews, mentoring sessions, guest speaker workshops and a final demo day. With a close-knit community of industry-leading mentors, organizations and investors, Matter is constructed around the desire to help early-stage journalism entrepreneurs and leaders build a more empathetic, informed and inclusive society.
Who they work with: Early-stage media entrepreneurs.
Location: China Basin
Focus: Fintech
What they do: Maxitech is a Fintech accelerator backed by the European financial institution, Isbank, connecting enterprises with groundbreaking services and products that drive digital transformation, enhance efficiency and accelerate growth. The accelerator offers a variety of services to drive digital transformation, including corporate innovation, startup partnerships and professional services. Maxitech Labs uses lean product development methodologies to research and build products for clients from a wide range of industries. Maxitech is also developing a financial management app called Lunafi to help freelancers manage budgets, track expenses and save money.
Who they work with: Fintech companies.
Location: Sunnyvale, Greater San Francisco Bay Area
Focus: File Hosting Services, Online Payments Systems, Lending Companies, Online Dating Services, Video Services, AI, Social Bookmarking Services
What they do: Plug and Play is a platform dedicated to accelerating startups, matchmaking them with corporate clients. Working with clients from a wide range of industries, including fintech, insurtech, Internet of Things (IoT), brand and retail, mobility and health, the accelerator offers startups a variety of services, helping them build traction, grow internationally and connect with world-class mentors.
Who they work with: Dropbox, PayPal, Lending Club, Zoosk, Matcha, CreditSesame, Api.ai, AddThis and Baarzo.
Location: Rincon Hill
Focus: Flavors + Fragrances Services, Produce Services, Aviation, Financial Services, Oil + Gas, Consumer Services, IT, Logistical Services
What they do: RocketSpace is an industry technology collaboration accelerator focused on bringing startups and corporate leaders together to transform industries on a global scale. Their collaborative model is designed for late-stage startups that are looking to validate and grow their business with industry-leading corporations. RocketSpace provides companies with mentorship, brand and product exposure, access to industry leaders for investment opportunities, pilot testing and more.
Who they work with: Givaudan, AgroFresh, Lufthansa, Rabobank, BP, Griffith Foods, Ingram Micro and FIEGE Logistics.
Location: Market Square
Focus: Electronics, Language-Learning Platforms, Security Services, Aviation, Automotive, Tech, Food + Beverage Services
What they do: Runway Innovation Hub is an accelerator that provides workspaces, connections, events and corporate innovation services to startups and enterprises, both domestically and internationally. When working with startups, the accelerator offers all-inclusive workspace memberships, providing access to their work environment, connections and events to succeed in scaling a business. For corporate clients, Runway helps them navigate amongst trends and opportunities and identify and engage with high-potential startups to achieve long-term success.
Who they work with: Panasonic, Duolingo, ADT, Emirates, Porsche, IBM, Nestle, Lenovo, Fujitsu and LG.
Location: South San Francisco
Focus: Biotechnology + Pharmaceuticals
What they do: ShangPharma Innovation Incubator helps biotechnology and pharmaceutical startups navigate the path from discovery to clinical validation. The incubator provides companies with state-of-the-art laboratory space, equipment and access to the expertise and services of their resident preferred vendor, ChemPartner. Early-stage companies are given the opportunity to be apart of an ecosystem designed to bring new therapeutics breakthroughs to light, while achieving the scientific and business milestones that enable the next step of growth.
Who they work with: Biotechnology and pharmaceutical startups.
Location: The East Cut
Focus: AI, Workforce Platforms, Software, Art, Solar Energy, Financial Services, Healthcare
What they do: Society3, also known as San Francisco Accelerator, was created to provide innovation-related advisory and consulting, technology development and marketing development. For growth stage companies, typically at or after seed funding, the company offers a four-month, high-growth accelerator program. Society3 also offers a three-week entrepreneurs bootcamp for early stage companies, providing preparation for the growth stage accelerator, covering topics like market validation, business models and product development.
Who they work with: F ECTIVE, Guuru, Artiazza, Connexa, Sonect, Yamo, Docademic, Termify and StageLink.
Location: SoMa
Focus: Orthotics, Cloud-based Services, Global Advisory Firms, Mobile Apps, Prescription Services
What they do: Tarmac SF is an accelerator designed for international startup founders seeking to do business in the U.S. To join, startups pay a fixed fee for three months, during which time they are provided with a variety of business services and support, access to coworking spaces, workshops, mentoring and networking opportunities. As only one of INCO Network’s 21 accelerators around the world, Tarmac SF grants startups the opportunity to engage on a global scale as they strategize how to launch their business in the U.S., find new partners or simply become acquainted with Silicon Valley’s startup scene.
Who they work with: Maison Munz, Oliber, Good4work, ConsultVox, Routeique, Teneo, Woolah and Nurx.
Location: SoMa
Focus: Food Delivery Services, Beauty Services, Messaging Apps, AI, Financial Services, Healthcare
What they do: The Alchemist Accelerator is an initiative dedicated to accelerating the development of seed-stage ventures that monetize from enterprises and not consumers. The six-month program is open to companies from a range of industries, including Internet of Things (IoT), digital health, fintech and software. The Alchemist seeds around 75 ventures each year and has an additional base in Munich, Germany, allowing clients access to global markets and expertise.
Who they work with: Bludot Technologies, Blushup, Bridgefy, Celly.AI, Chowmill, Crelytics, Cresance and Evera Labs.
Location: Jackson Square
Focus: Solar Power, Media, Mobile Apps, Tech, Customizable Note Creation Spaces
What they do: The Rainmakers is an incubator that helps companies create innovation internally and externally, allowing them to keep on the cutting edge of technology. The incubator offers a variety of programs, such as the base program, which enables organizations to create a physical base in the Bay Area, as well as an instant CFO program, which is optimized for international entrepreneurs who want hassle-free representation and predictable, simple costs when setting up their American business. The Rainmakers also provides a wide range of advisory services, helping clients with IP rights and ownership and expanding businesses internationally.
Who they work with: Freetricity PLC, BoostMedia, Fanatix, Microsoft, Kustom Note, WaySearch and Tango.
