Exploring Top 25 Alternatives to Y Combinator
Exploring Top 25 Alternatives to Y Combinator
Y Combinator, a renowned startup accelerator and investment firm, has revolutionized the startup landscape since its inauguration in 2005. Backing over 3,500 startups with a combined valuation nearing $1T, it continues to catapult entrepreneurial ventures into successful companies. Largely because of its success, a plethora of organizations aspiring to replicate its model have surfaced, offering financial resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities to fledgling businesses. These organizations, known as startup accelerators, have transformed the ecosystem, allowing more entrepreneurs access to funding and guidance. This article explores the top 25 alternatives to Y Combinator, each with its own unique approach to nurturing startups.
Top 25 Y Combinator alternatives
1. Expa
- Website: expa.com
- Headquarters: San Francisco, California, United States
- Founded: 2013
- Headcount: 11-50
Expa is a company that invests in early-stage startups and provides support and funding to help them scale. With offices in multiple cities, Expa offers a physical space for entrepreneurs to collaborate and share knowledge. Their community of builders includes founders and leaders of successful companies like Uber and Twitter.
2. AngelPad
- Website: angelpad.com
- Headquarters: San Francisco, California, United States
- Founded: 2010
- Headcount: 1-10
- Latest funding type: Undisclosed
AngelPad is a startup accelerator program that invests in companies across tech verticals, tackling big problems in big markets with a focus on building very big companies. They are the first investor in companies and offer mentorship and support to help startups succeed.
3. Seedcamp
- Website: seedcamp.com
- Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom
- Founded: 2007
- Headcount: 11-50
- Latest funding type: Series Unknown
Seedcamp is a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage startups. With a portfolio of over 460 companies, including 9 European unicorns, Seedcamp supports and funds innovative businesses that disrupt various industries. Their team provides the necessary infrastructure and expertise to help startups succeed, with a track record of raising over $7 billion in follow-on funding. Seedcamp is known for its founder-friendly mindset and strong network, making it an ideal partner for ambitious entrepreneurs.
4. Startmate
- Website: startmate.com
- Headquarters: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Founded: 2011
- Headcount: 11-50
Startmate is a startup accelerator and community that supports and invests in ambitious founders, operators, and investors in Australia and New Zealand. They offer various fellowship programs, mentorship, and access to a network of successful entrepreneurs. Startmate focuses on sectors such as climate tech, agtech, and media. Their goal is to solve the world's greatest challenges by bringing together the best talent and supporting startups with potential.
5. Founders Factory
- Website: foundersfactory.com
- Headquarters: London, London, United Kingdom
- Founded: 2015
- Headcount: 51-200
- Latest funding type: Series Unknown
Founders Factory is an accelerator that provides mentorship and support to startups. They have helped companies launch game-changing partnerships and break corporate barriers. With a focus on various sectors, they empower engineers, deliver personalized meals, and offer digital mortgage management. Their platform offers insights, advice, and resources to founders. They have raised significant funding and have a track record of successful startups.
6. Sosv
- Website: sosv.com
- Headquarters: Princeton, New Jersey, United States
- Founded: 1994
- Headcount: 51-200
SOSV is a company that invests in startups and provides them with support and resources to help them grow. They focus on various industries and have a portfolio of companies in sectors such as healthcare, climate technology, and food. Through their funds and programs, SOSV helps entrepreneurs turn their ideas into successful businesses.
7. Accelerace
- Website: accelerace.io
- Headquarters: 2100 Copenhagen, Hovedstaden, Denmark
- Founded: 2008
- Headcount: 11-50
- Latest funding type: Series Unknown
Accelerace is a startup accelerator and investor that provides funding and support to promising startups in the Nordics. They invest in innovative companies that offer solutions in various industries, such as mental health, legal tech, and policy compliance. By leveraging technologies like AI and automation, they aim to help startups grow and succeed while avoiding common mistakes that can hinder their progress.
8. Acceleprise
- Website: acceleprise.vc
- Headquarters: San Francisco, California, United States
- Founded: 2014
- Headcount: 1-10
Acceleprise.vc is a venture capital company that invests in early-stage startups in the SaaS industry. They provide funding, mentorship, and networking opportunities to help these startups succeed.
9. Rockstart
- Website: rockstart.com
- Headquarters: Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
- Founded: 2011
- Headcount: 11-50
- Latest funding type: Series Unknown
Rockstart is a global network empowering founders to drive positive change on a global scale. With offices in Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and Bogotá, our team of commercially seasoned entrepreneurs guides early-stage founders in optimizing their time and resources for maximum output. We facilitate co-creation and innovation by matching founders with relevant experts and mentors. From the energy transition to small food producers and retailers trading, we support founders from start to series B investment.
10. Wayra
- Website: wayra.com
- Headquarters: Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Founded: 2011
- Headcount: 51-200
- Latest funding type: Seed
Wayra is a startup accelerator and investment firm that provides scale-up services, access to real clients, and resources from Telefónica. They support 100% digital startups with funding of up to €250k, focusing on mass markets and industries such as 5G, e-health, e-learning, smart home, entertainment, mobility, and the future of work.
11. BoomStartup Accelerator
- Website: boomstartup.com
- Headquarters: Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
- Founded: 2010
- Headcount: 1-10
- Latest funding type: Acquired
BoomStartup is an open accelerator program providing community, expert advice, and funding to guide businesses to success through partnerships, mentoring, and funding programs.
12. Techstars
- Website: techstars.com
- Headquarters: Boulder, Colorado, United States
- Founded: 2006
- Headcount: 201-500
- Latest funding type: Pre Seed
Techstars is an accelerator program that supports early-stage startups in various industries. They provide capital, mentoring, and access to resources for entrepreneurs to help them grow their businesses. Techstars has a diverse portfolio of companies in sectors such as healthcare, fintech, web3, and cleantech.
13. FounderFuel
- Website: founderfuel.com
- Headquarters: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Founded: 2011
- Headcount: 11-50
- Latest funding type: Convertible Note
FounderFuel is a startup accelerator program in Canada that helps early stage tech companies go to market and raise seed capital.
14. Start-Up Chile
- Website: startupchile.org
- Headquarters: Santiago, Región Metropolitana De Santiago, Chile
- Founded: 2010
- Headcount: 11-50
StartupChile.org is a public accelerator program that supports and funds startups in Chile. They provide resources and opportunities for early-stage companies to grow and succeed in the global market.
15. Startuplab
- Website: startuplab.no
- Headquarters: Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Founded: 2012
- Headcount: 11-50
Startuplab is a network of founders, mentors, investors, industry experts, and corporate partners that supports ambitious technology startups in Norway.
16. MassChallenge
- Website: masschallenge.org
- Headquarters: Boston, Massachusetts, United States
- Founded: 2009
- Headcount: 51-200
- Latest funding type: Grant
MassChallenge is a global network for innovators working to solve massive challenges. We offer a variety of programs, accelerators, and partnerships throughout the year to those who share our vision of transformative innovation.
17. Campus Fund
- Website: yourcampusfund.com
- Headquarters: Bengaluru, Delhi, India
- Founded: 2020
- Headcount: 11-50
Campus Fund is an investment fund that supports student entrepreneurs in their early stages. They provide resources and mentorship to help students build their own startups. Their goal is to empower the next generation of bold and fearless student entrepreneurs.
18. Oregon Venture Fund
- Website: oregonventurefund.com
- Headquarters: Portland, Oregon, United States
- Founded: 2007
- Headcount: 1-10
- Latest funding type: Private Equity
Oregon Venture Fund is an investment firm that focuses on early-stage startups in Oregon. They provide funding, mentorship, and network resources to help startups grow and succeed.
19. kovan studio
- Website: kovan.studio
- Founded: 2015
- Headcount: 11-50
Kovan Studio is a startup incubator that helps turn cool ideas into successful businesses through development and execution.
20. Argo Venture Studio
- Website: argo-venture-studio.com
- Headquarters: Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Founded: 1996
- Headcount: 11-50
Argo Venture Studio provides support to early-stage technology companies with a focus on AI-based solutions. Their team of experienced entrepreneurs and investors offer a range of services to help startups accelerate growth, including seed funding, mentorship, and access to resources and networks.
21. leAD Sports & Health Tech Partners
- Website: leadsports.com
- Headquarters: Berlin, Florida, Germany
- Founded: 2016
- Headcount: 11-50
LeadSports.com is a global sports and health tech investment platform that offers support and resources for sports and health startups. They provide programs and mentorship to help startups raise funds and expand their businesses. Join their program and gain access to a diverse roster of innovative startups.
22. Kauffman Fellows
- Website: kauffmanfellows.org
- Headquarters: Palo Alto, California, United States
- Founded: 1995
- Headcount: 1-10
- Latest funding type: Undisclosed
Kauffman Fellows is an executive education program in venture capital and innovation leadership. Led by top investors and educators, it offers a rigorous 2-year fellowship, industry events, summits, and a venture capital fund.
23. Launch
- Website: launch.co
- Headquarters: San Francisco, California, United States
- Founded: 2010
- Headcount: 11-50
LAUNCH.co is a company that supports founders and inspires innovation by backing builders. They offer a range of services including free events, podcasts, books, research products, and investments in promising startups. They have invested in over 300 startups, including Uber, Thumbtack, Calm, Datastax, Wealthfront, Robinhood, Desktop Metal, and Density.
24. PreSeed Ventures
- Website: preseedventures.dk
- Headquarters: Kongens Lyngby, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
- Founded: 2000
- Headcount: 11-50
PreSeed Ventures is a company focused on investing in and supporting early-stage startups in Denmark. They provide funding and mentorship to help entrepreneurs turn their ideas into successful businesses.
25. Impacta VC
- Website: impacta.vc
- Headquarters: Santiago, Region Metropolitana, Chile
- Founded: 2020
- Headcount: 11-50
Impacta is an investment firm that specializes in supporting startups in Latin America. They offer mentorship, coaching, and advisory services to help entrepreneurs succeed in their ventures. With a focus on impact, they strive to create a better world by connecting founders with a network of experienced mentors. Through their partnerships and funding programs, they aim to guide and accompany startups on their growth journey.
Want to find more Y Combinator alternatives?
If you want to find more companies like Y Combinator that provide invaluable resources, mentorship, and funding opportunities you can do so with Inven. This list was built with Inven and there are hundreds of companies like these globally.
With Inven you'll also get to know the company's:
- Ownership: Which of these are private equity backed? Which are family-owned?
- Contact data: Who are the owners and CEO's? What are their emails and phone numbers?
- Financials: How do these companies perform financially? What are their revenues and profit margins?
...and a lot more!
