Illumina Ventures Labs (formerly Illumina Accelerator)
Biotech & Life Sciences · Run by Illumina / Illumina Ventures · Foster City, CA
Every field is checked against a primary source where we can. How we verify.
The facts
All fields verified Jul 22, 2026- Terms model
- Equity for cashInvests cash in your company and takes equity (an ownership stake) in return.
- Investment
- up to $200,000 (optional convertible note) plus $20,000 credit line
- Equity taken
- 7%
- Program length
- 26 weeks
- Format
- In person
- Location
- Foster City, CA
- Cohorts per year
- 2
- Cohort size
- up to 5 per cycle
- Stage focus
- concept through seed (pre-Series A)
- Sub-vertical
- genomics / NGS applications
- Demographic focus
- Not published
- Backers
- Illumina, Illumina Ventures
- Notable alumni
- Not published
Terms notes: Legacy Accelerator terms (7% fully diluted common stake, up to $200k optional convertible notes, $20k secured credit line, sequencing credits and lab space) are from the pre-2023 program FAQ. As of 2026-07-22 the successor Illumina Ventures Labs page publishes no investment amounts, equity terms, cohort structure, or application process; it describes capital, sequencing, mentorship, and genomics labs in the SF Bay Area and Cambridge, UK, for companies from formation to Series A.
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Terms in plain English
Under the legacy Illumina Accelerator (2014 to 2023), published terms were a 7% fully diluted common equity stake, up to $200,000 in optional convertible notes, a $20,000 secured credit line, and sequencing credits, reagents, and lab space. In 2023 the Accelerator joined Illumina Ventures and relaunched as Illumina Ventures Labs, and the successor program does not publish its investment terms. The Labs page describes capital, sequencing, mentorship, and fully equipped genomics labs for companies from new formation through Series A, in the San Francisco Bay Area and Cambridge, UK. Whether the legacy equity and note terms carry over to Labs is unpublished.
Who this is actually for
Genomics and multi-omics founders, from company formation through Series A, who want deep sequencing support, mentorship, and Bay Area genomics lab space. Because current terms are unpublished, expect to discuss specifics directly with Illumina Ventures.
Illumina Ventures Labs (formerly Illumina Accelerator) application deadlines
No application window is on record for this program yet. Check the official website for the next cohort.
Frequently asked questions
- When is the next Illumina Ventures Labs (formerly Illumina Accelerator) application deadline?
- No upcoming application window is published for Illumina Ventures Labs (formerly Illumina Accelerator). We last verified this on Jul 22, 2026.
- How much does Illumina Ventures Labs (formerly Illumina Accelerator) invest?
- Illumina Ventures Labs (formerly Illumina Accelerator) lists an investment of up to $200,000 (optional convertible note) plus $20,000 credit line.
- How much equity does Illumina Ventures Labs (formerly Illumina Accelerator) take?
- Illumina Ventures Labs (formerly Illumina Accelerator) lists equity of 7%.
- Where is Illumina Ventures Labs (formerly Illumina Accelerator) located and is it in person?
- Illumina Ventures Labs (formerly Illumina Accelerator) is based in Foster City, CA and runs an in person program.
- Is Illumina Ventures Labs (formerly Illumina Accelerator) still active?
- As of our last check on Jul 22, 2026, Illumina Ventures Labs (formerly Illumina Accelerator) is active.
Compare this program
Put Illumina Ventures Labs (formerly Illumina Accelerator) side by side with up to two others to weigh cash, equity, and timing.
Compare Illumina Ventures Labs (formerly Illumina Accelerator)Guides that explain these terms
Plain-English mechanics, with worked hypothetical numbers.
- Equity vs non-dilutive accelerators: a decision frameworkHow to weigh an accelerator that buys equity against one that gives non-dilutive money, with a cap-table walkthrough at three exit sizes.
- How accelerator SAFEs work: caps, discounts, and MFN clausesA plain-English walkthrough of the SAFE terms accelerators use, with a worked example of how an MFN clause converts at a later round's terms.
More like Illumina Ventures Labs (formerly Illumina Accelerator)
Sources
Everything above was checked against these, verified Jul 22, 2026.