German Accelerator
German Accelerator is a government-funded programme, backed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, that helps German startups expand abroad. Its main Market Access programme puts companies in the target market (US hubs in New York and Silicon Valley, plus Asia) for 3 to 6 months with mentors, go-to-market work and co-working space. Shorter Kickstart and Market Discovery programmes also run. It is for German-incorporated SMEs with traction at home; the US track prefers post-revenue or Series A companies.
At a glance
German Accelerator key facts
- Investment
- None
- Equity
- No equity
- Deal terms
- Market Access and Kickstart are free with no equity taken (government-funded); Market Discovery costs €500 per startup for up to three participants. There is no cash investment, and participants pay their own travel and accommodation.
- Duration
- Market Access: about 12 weeks (US) up to 6 months; Market Discovery: 5 to 7 weeks virtual plus 1 to 2 weeks on site
- Format
- Hybrid
- Headquarters
- Munich, Germany
- Cohort locations
- New York, United States; Silicon Valley, United States; Singapore; Tokyo, Japan; Germany
- Stage
- seed, series a, series b
- Sectors
- general, health, climate
- Application cycle
- Multiple cohorts a year by program and region
Verified November 4, 2026 against the sources below. Terms change; confirm on the official site before applying.
Timing
The US Market Access page lists an application deadline of October 31, 2026, now passed, next to outdated cohort dates (January 15 to April 10, 2026), so a 2027 cohort is likely. US Market Access Life Sciences (Boston) closed October 30, 2026, for a November 23, 2026 to April 30, 2027 cohort. No later deadlines are published.
See all upcoming accelerator deadlines
Notable alumni
- Celonis
- Signavio
- Forto
FAQ
Applying to German Accelerator
- How much does German Accelerator invest?
- German Accelerator's standard deal: Market Access and Kickstart are free with no equity taken (government-funded); Market Discovery costs €500 per startup for up to three participants. There is no cash investment, and participants pay their own travel and accommodation.
- How much equity does German Accelerator take?
- German Accelerator takes no equity.
- When is the German Accelerator application deadline?
- Application cycle: Multiple cohorts a year by program and region. The US Market Access page lists an application deadline of October 31, 2026, now passed, next to outdated cohort dates (January 15 to April 10, 2026), so a 2027 cohort is likely. US Market Access Life Sciences (Boston) closed October 30, 2026, for a November 23, 2026 to April 30, 2027 cohort. No later deadlines are published.
- Where is German Accelerator based?
- German Accelerator is headquartered in Munich, Germany. The program runs hybrid. Cohorts run in New York, United States, Silicon Valley, United States, Singapore, Tokyo, Japan, Germany.
Preparing answers? Our accelerator application tips cover what reviewers look for.
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