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AngelPad

AngelPad Accelerator Program

Ranked #1 U.S. accelerator by MIT/Rice University's Seed Accelerator Rankings Project. A highly selective seed-stage accelerator in San Francisco and New York, accepting ~15 teams twice per year from ~2,000+ applicants. The 10-week intensive program covers product-market fit, target market definition, first validation, and investor meeting preparation. Has launched 150+ companies with $1.8B total funding raised. Portfolio includes Postmates, Buffer, Periscope Data, DroneDeploy, and 3 unicorns.

APEX Government Contracting Program

Supports entrepreneurs and startups developing dual-use technologies through mentorship, resources, and collaboration with the Department of Defense, universities, and federal labs to refine innovations and scale businesses. Offers extensive support for navigating SBIR/STTR programs and securing government contracts.

Astral Ventures

Astral Ventures Accelerator

Provides free technology strategy consultations to help East Bay small businesses modernize operations, improve digital presence, and compete with larger retailers through tailored solutions and ongoing support.

Berkeley SkyDeck Accelerator

Berkeley SkyDeck Cohort Program

6-month accelerator at UC Berkeley offering $200K investment from Berkeley SkyDeck Fund to 20–25 teams per cohort, with access to 900+ advisors and a Demo Day with 850+ investors.

Ciocca Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship – Santa Clara University

Bronco Ventures Accelerator (BVA)

Empowers entrepreneurs with tools, mentorship, and community to grow for-profit businesses, offering a focused curriculum, workshops, networking, and investment opportunities, culminating in a Demo Day pitch event for investors. No equity or tuition required.

ChicoSTART

ChicoSTART Next Gen Incubator

A semester-based incubator program for founders aged 18+ to accelerate innovative ideas into reality. Through a semester course curriculum, students explore all steps to creating a startup: technical assistance, physical co-working space, subject matter expert and advisor sessions, and access to entrepreneurial resources. Also includes Youth Innovators Lab for ages 16–18. Past cohort graduates include smart business card companies and zero-waste product startups.

Expert Dojo

Expert Dojo Growth Program

A non-equity community program for startups ready to scale that do not need investment from Expert Dojo. Includes monthly high-level training videos from experts, monthly AMA sessions with Dojo experts, exclusive perks and discounts, growth tracking, and complimentary tickets to Expert Dojo events. Top performers may transition into the Investment Program and receive referrals to outside VCs and investors.

Expert Dojo

Expert Dojo Investment Accelerator Program

Expert Dojo's core accelerator and venture investment program for pre-seed and seed startups. Invests $50K–$100K (SAFE notes) for 3.5%–7% equity. Provides Monday Accountability Sessions, Monthly Mastermind sessions (4/month), weekly expert training videos, warm introductions to VCs and investors, and Quarterly Demo Days. Over 260+ startups invested since 2018. Ranked among most active pre-seed investors in U.S. after Techstars and Y Combinator. Portfolio companies have raised an average of $3.7M. Focus on minority- and female-founded tech companies.

The Founder Institute

Founder Institute

Global 4-month part-time pre-seed accelerator with chapters in 200+ cities, helping early-stage founders validate ideas and launch tech companies with no equity taken.

Founder Institute – Los Angeles

Founder Institute – Los Angeles

4-month part-time pre-seed accelerator with no equity taken, supporting early-stage tech entrepreneurs through weekly sessions, office hours, and a global mentor network.