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Accelerator Atlas
Possibly dormantWe could not confirm a recent or upcoming cohort. It may have paused or wound down. Verify before applying.VerifiedChecked against the program's own website or official documents.

Builders + Backers Idea Accelerator

Generalist & Demographic · Run by Builders + Backers

Verified Oct 1, 2026Official websiteHow to apply

Every field is checked against a primary source where we can. How we verify.

The facts

All fields verified Oct 1, 2026
Terms model
Non-dilutiveGives money that does not take equity: grants, prizes, or credits. Your ownership is untouched.
Investment
Up to $5,000 non-dilutive Pebble grant per participant, delivered through partner-run cohorts
Equity taken
Not publishedFunding came from the operator's philanthropic Pebble Fund; the operator's earlier pages stated no equity was taken and there were no strings attached. Cohorts were announced by local and regional partners rather than on a central application calendar. As of September 28, 2026, no current operator page states the $5,000 Pebble grant amount or the no-equity terms: the homepage presents Builders Studio, and the National Mobility Program with Capital One (free, six weeks, virtual) says builders showing strong traction are eligible for Pebble Fund awards, with no amount given.
Program length
Not published
Format
Remote
Location
Not published
Cohorts per year
Not published
Cohort size
Not published
Stage focus
idea stage
Sub-vertical
community-based idea-stage accelerator (Pebble experiments)
Demographic focus
rural/heartland community entrepreneurs (via community partners)
Backers
Heartland Forward (program partner)
Notable alumni
Not published

Terms notes: Funding came from the operator's philanthropic Pebble Fund; the operator's earlier pages stated no equity was taken and there were no strings attached. Cohorts were announced by local and regional partners rather than on a central application calendar. As of September 28, 2026, no current operator page states the $5,000 Pebble grant amount or the no-equity terms: the homepage presents Builders Studio, and the National Mobility Program with Capital One (free, six weeks, virtual) says builders showing strong traction are eligible for Pebble Fund awards, with no amount given.

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Terms in plain English

The Idea Accelerator gave participants up to $5,000 in non-dilutive funding through the operator's philanthropic Pebble Fund to run a real-world experiment on their idea, and the operator's earlier pages said participants did not give up equity and that there were no strings attached. The operator described a 45-day Builder Bootcamp inside its Idea Accelerators, while partner pages described an overall 90-day program, and cohorts ran through local and regional partners such as cities and Heartland Forward. The operator's current pages no longer state these terms: its site now centers on Builders Studio, and its Capital One mobility program says only that builders showing strong traction are eligible for Pebble Fund awards.

Who this is actually for

People at the raw idea stage, often outside major startup hubs, including many rural and heartland communities reached through local partner organizations. Partner cohorts state that no pitch deck, business plan, or incorporated business is required.

Builders + Backers Idea 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 Builders + Backers Idea Accelerator application deadline?
No upcoming application window is published for Builders + Backers Idea Accelerator. We last verified this on Oct 1, 2026.
How much does Builders + Backers Idea Accelerator invest?
Builders + Backers Idea Accelerator lists an investment of Up to $5,000 non-dilutive Pebble grant per participant, delivered through partner-run cohorts.
How much equity does Builders + Backers Idea Accelerator take?
Builders + Backers Idea Accelerator does not publish the equity it takes, so we record it as not published.
Where is Builders + Backers Idea Accelerator located and is it in person?
Builders + Backers Idea Accelerator runs a remote program.
Is Builders + Backers Idea Accelerator still active?
Builders + Backers Idea Accelerator is marked possibly inactive: we could not confirm a current cohort during our last check on Oct 1, 2026. Confirm directly with the program before applying.

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Sources

Everything above was checked against these, verified Oct 1, 2026.