The accelerator landscape changed a lot between 2024 and 2026. Y Combinator moved to four batches a year, Techstars rewrote its deal, a16z speedrun grew into one of the most competitive programs in the world, and new low-dilution offers like Neo's put pressure on everyone else. Here are the ten programs we think are worth applying to in 2026, with current terms pulled from each program's own site.
Quick Comparison
| Program | Investment | Format | Cadence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Y Combinator | $500K | San Francisco, 3 months | 4 batches/year |
| a16z speedrun | Up to $1M | San Francisco, 12 weeks | 2 cohorts/year |
| Techstars | $220K | Many cities + remote, 3 months | Per program |
| PearX | $500K–$2M | SF Bay Area, 12 weeks | 2 cohorts/year |
| South Park Commons | $400K + $600K | SF, NYC, or Bangalore, 8 weeks | Per cohort |
| Antler | Varies by region | 30+ cities | Rolling cohorts |
| Entrepreneurs First | Up to $250K | London, Bangalore, SF | Per cohort |
| Neo Residency | $750K uncapped SAFE | San Francisco | Per cohort |
| Alchemist | $60K–$1M | SF + partner locations | Per class |
| 500 Global | Up to $50K + follow-on | San Francisco, 4 months | Per batch |
Terms change often. Always confirm on the program's site before you sign anything. Each section below links to the page we used.
1. Y Combinator
The deal: $500K in total: $125K on a post-money SAFE for 7%, plus $375K on an uncapped SAFE with a most-favored-nation (MFN) clause. YC charges no fees.[1]
Format: A three-month, in-person program in San Francisco, now run four times a year (Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall).[2] The on-time deadline for Winter 2027 was November 2, 2026, but YC still reviews late applications.[2]
Best for: Ambitious technical teams of any industry who want the strongest brand and alumni network in startups. Alumni include OpenAI, Stripe, Airbnb, Coinbase, and DoorDash.[3]
2. a16z speedrun
The deal: Up to $1M: $500K for 10% on a SAFE, plus up to another $500K in your next round if you raise $2M or more within 18 months. It also comes with over $10M in partner credits.[4]
Format: A 12-week in-person residency in San Francisco. SR008 runs from February to April 2027.[5]
Best for: Founders who want Andreessen Horowitz's network and a large first check. It costs more equity than YC (10% vs. 7% on the first tranche), but it's also one of the biggest checks on this list.
3. Techstars
The deal: Techstars rewrote its terms in 2025. It now invests $220K: $20K for 5% common stock plus $200K on an uncapped MFN SAFE. Asia-Pacific programs invest $100K on the SAFE instead, and there's no fee.[6]
Format: Three-month, mentor-driven programs in cities including Boston, Chicago, New York, and London, plus a remote "Anywhere" program and industry-specific programs such as AI Health.[7]Several programs have an application deadline of November 18, 2026.[7]
Best for: First-time founders who want structured mentorship, or startups in a vertical where a specialized program (health, for example) brings the right partners.
4. PearX
The deal: $500K to $2M, with Pear targeting 7% ownership in most companies.[8]
Format: 12 weeks in the SF Bay Area, with two cohorts a year and no more than 25 teams per cohort. Applications are open year round.[8]
Best for: Technical teams who want a bigger check and a small, hands-on cohort.
5. South Park Commons Founder Fellowship
The deal: $400K for 7% on a SAFE, plus a guaranteed $600K in your next external round, for $1M in total.[9]
Format: An 8-week in-person bootcamp in San Francisco, New York, or Bangalore.[9]
Best for: Experienced builders who want a large check and a short, intense program.
6. Antler
The deal: Terms vary by region. Antler's "Disrupt" deal is $400K: $250K for 10% plus $150K on an uncapped MFN SAFE.[10] In the US, Antler describes an initial commitment of $500K to $1M plus $650K in partner credits.[11]
Format: Residencies in cities around the world, where founders often meet their co-founders before Antler invests.
Best for: Solo founders or people who haven't found a co-founder yet.
7. Entrepreneurs First
The deal: In the US, $125K on a post-money SAFE for 8%, plus an optional $125K uncapped MFN SAFE, and a $10K equity-free grant while you're still exploring.[12]
Format: Programs in London, Bangalore, and San Francisco that start before you have a team or an idea.
Best for: Exceptional individuals, often from technical or research backgrounds, who want to find a co-founder and start from zero.
8. Neo Residency
The deal: $750K on an uncapped SAFE. Neo takes no fixed stake upfront. Its ownership depends on your next round's valuation: about 5% at $15M, or about 0.75% at $100M.[13]
Best for: Young, highly technical founders who expect to raise at a high valuation and want to keep dilution low.
9. Alchemist Accelerator
The deal: Checks from $60K to $1M.[14]
Best for: B2B and deep-tech startups. Its alumni include LaunchDarkly and Rigetti.[14]
10. 500 Global
The deal: 500 Global's San Francisco flagship program now offers up to $50K upfront with the potential for up to $1M more. The program page lists a program fee, so read the terms carefully.[15]
Format: A four-month program in San Francisco.[15]
Best for: International founders and teams focused on growth marketing and distribution.
How to choose
Don't only compare check sizes. Compare the effective price (how much equity per dollar), whether the program needs you in person, how big each cohort is, and whether the partners know your market. A smaller, specialized program with the right network can be worth more than a bigger check.
Apply to More Than One
Acceptance rates at the top programs are below 1%, so applying to one accelerator and waiting is a risky strategy. Most founders who get in apply to several programs, and many reapply after a rejection with more traction. Accelerators also run on different calendars. YC alone now has four deadlines a year, while programs like PearX accept applications year round.
XRaze keeps every deadline in one place and helps you tailor each application to what the program looks for, so applying to five accelerators doesn't take five times the work.
Sources
- [1]The YC Deal — Y Combinator
- [2]Apply to Y Combinator — Y Combinator
- [3]Y Combinator homepage — Y Combinator
- [4]The speedrun deal — a16z speedrun
- [5]Applications for a16z speedrun SR008 are now open — Andreessen Horowitz
- [6]Techstars investment terms — Techstars
- [7]Techstars Update: August 2026 — Techstars
- [8]PearX — Pear VC
- [9]F26 Founder Fellowship — South Park Commons
- [10]The Antler Disrupt deal — Antler
- [11]Antler US — Antler
- [12]EF FAQs (US) — Entrepreneurs First
- [13]Ali Partovi's Neo looks to upend the accelerator model with low-dilution terms — TechCrunch
- [14]Alchemist Accelerator — Alchemist
- [15]500 Global Flagship Accelerator — 500 Global