CrunchBase currently lists over 400 accelerators worldwide, from Silicon Valley veterans to pioneers in Israel and New Zealand, and we are continuing to add more every day.
Pope Francis made his debut in the venture scene last month with the launch of Scholas.Labs, an ed-tech accelerator focused on on improving the quality of global education. The program is backed by tech giants such as Google, Microsoft and IBM and will support ten projects a year.
Microsoft Ventures, a familiar face in the accelerator space with seven programs worldwide, is building out its presence in India after launching in Bangalore two years ago. Its two latest programs, Accelerator Plus and Scale Up, are designed to help more mature startups lock down follow-on funding and scale their companies. Startups who have graduated from previous Microsoft Accelerator programs are still eligible to apply for these cohorts.
Even the Department of Homeland Security has jumped the accelerator bandwagon this month with the launch of Emerge, a new accelerator in partnership with Tech Wildcatters and TechNexus. The program is geared toward developing wearable tech for first responders, from advanced sensors to integrated gear.
SPRING is a business accelerator built around the “girl effect” — the idea that girls are the most powerful force for change on the planet. Based in Nairobi, Kenya, SPRING is looking for entrepreneurs who are developing innovative technologies to improve access to education, healthcare, financial services and other necessities for girls. The program was created in partnership with the Nike Foundation, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the UK’s Department for International Develop (DFID).
Other newly launched accelerators include:
- Dcode42 – Washington, D.C.
- Energise Accelerator – Perth, Australia
- EPICenter Logistics Innovation – Memphis, Tennessee
- Amcom Upstart – Perth, Australia
- Cyber London – London, England
- Idea Foundry Materials Science Accelerator – Pittsburgh, PA
- Seamless – Grand Rapids, MI
- innovationOchsner (iO) – New Orleans, LA
