Startup accelerators in California
16 verified startup accelerators on Accelerator Atlas are based in California. They span HealthTech & MedTech, Climate & Energy, and Biotech & Life Sciences. Programs here include Activate Fellowship (incl. Cyclotron Road), Cedars-Sinai Accelerator+, and Cleantech Open. Each listing shows its source and the date we last checked it.
Showing 16 of 16 programs
| Check size | Equity | Terms | Format | Next window | Signal | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Activate Fellowship (incl. Cyclotron Road)hard tech: energy, carbon capture, materials, sustainable infrastructure (16 verticals) | more than $300,000 over two years (living stipend, R&D, and expenses); $100,000 research funding per project | Not publishedTwo-year fellowship funding founders full-time; no equity and no fees (confirmed on FAQ). Fellowship page states 'More than $300K over two years to provide an annual living stipend, R&D, and other common living expenses'; FAQ separately states $100,000 in research funding per project. Exact annual stipend amount still not published. Communities: Berkeley, Boston, New York, Houston, Anywhere; relocation required except for Anywhere. Cohort 2027 applications open September 15, 2026; close date not yet posted. | Non-dilutive | CA | Hybrid | None confirmed | Jul 22, 2026 | Verified |
| Cedars-Sinai Accelerator+digital health / health tech | Not publishedProgram evolved from the original 12-week Cedars-Sinai (Techstars-partnered) accelerator into a 12-month 'venture-building platform' (Accelerator+). Current investment amount and equity terms are not disclosed on csaccelerator.com, so left null. Original program historically invested $100k, but that term does not verifiably apply to Accelerator+. Old cedars-sinai.org/accelerator.html URL now 404s. | Not publishedProgram evolved from the original 12-week Cedars-Sinai (Techstars-partnered) accelerator into a 12-month 'venture-building platform' (Accelerator+). Current investment amount and equity terms are not disclosed on csaccelerator.com, so left null. Original program historically invested $100k, but that term does not verifiably apply to Accelerator+. Old cedars-sinai.org/accelerator.html URL now 404s. | Not publishedProgram evolved from the original 12-week Cedars-Sinai (Techstars-partnered) accelerator into a 12-month 'venture-building platform' (Accelerator+). Current investment amount and equity terms are not disclosed on csaccelerator.com, so left null. Original program historically invested $100k, but that term does not verifiably apply to Accelerator+. Old cedars-sinai.org/accelerator.html URL now 404s. | CA | In person | None confirmed | Jul 22, 2026 | Verified |
| Cleantech Opencleantech (all sectors), national multi-region accelerator | Not publishedFee now primary-verified on the 2026 accelerator page: participation fee $2,600 early bird / $2,950 regular for up to two members, $1,875 for student-led companies; application fee $30 early bird / $80 regular. No equity taken. Up to $150,000 in total cash prizes and/or investment plus up to $50,000 in-kind; national grand prize delivered as a SAFE (0% discount, no interest, no valuation cap or board seat). 2026 applications ran Feb 1 - Apr 6, 2026 (closed); program May 31 - Aug 25, 2026, National Finals Oct 20-22, 2026 in Boston. | Not publishedFee now primary-verified on the 2026 accelerator page: participation fee $2,600 early bird / $2,950 regular for up to two members, $1,875 for student-led companies; application fee $30 early bird / $80 regular. No equity taken. Up to $150,000 in total cash prizes and/or investment plus up to $50,000 in-kind; national grand prize delivered as a SAFE (0% discount, no interest, no valuation cap or board seat). 2026 applications ran Feb 1 - Apr 6, 2026 (closed); program May 31 - Aug 25, 2026, National Finals Oct 20-22, 2026 in Boston. | Fee-based | CA | Hybrid | None confirmed | Jul 22, 2026 | Verified |
| Founders First CDC (Passport, Zebra Leadership, FastPath Accelerator)revenue-focused accelerators for diverse-led service businesses | $1,000 + program access (Tadlock Veteran, Kitty Fund Mom, and Pride business grants; $20,000 total per fund, 20 recipients each) | Not publishedNo equity taken. Grants are $1,000+ micro-grants, 20 recipients per $20,000 fund, plus free program access (Passport Community or Zebra Leadership). Premium program tier pricing not disclosed. 2026 grant cycles closed; 2027 dates published. | Non-dilutive | CA | Remote | Apr 13, 2027 | Jul 22, 2026 | Verified |
| Illumina Ventures Labs (formerly Illumina Accelerator)genomics / NGS applications | up to $200,000 (optional convertible note) plus $20,000 credit line | 7% | Equity for cash | CA | In person | None confirmed | Jul 22, 2026 | Verified |
| IndieBio (rebranded SOSV SF / SOSV NY, 2026)biotech / deep tech life sciences | up to $550,000 | Not publishedSOSV 'First Check in Deep Tech': up to $550k pre-seed SAFE with up-to-6-month lab/co-working residency. Equity percentage not disclosed on fetched SOSV pages, so null. In early 2026 IndieBio rebranded to SOSV SF and SOSV NY (second US site at 7 Penn Plaza, New York, NY); scope broadened beyond bio to deep tech, but therapeutics/diagnostics remain core. DEADLINE/STATUS NOTE: Applications appear rolling via SOSV site; no dated 2026 deadline published on fetched pages. | Equity for cash | CA | In person | None confirmed | Jul 22, 2026 | Verified |
| KidsX Acceleratorpediatric digital health | Not publishedTerms not disclosed on fetched pages; KidsX has historically been an equity-free, pilot-focused accelerator run by a consortium of 30+ children's hospitals, but current equity/fee terms could not be verified, so left null. 10-week virtual/asynchronous program. DEADLINE/STATUS NOTE: No 2026 application deadline published on fetched pages; 2025 accelerator page last updated Feb 2025 and other KidsX programs (CancerX Accelerator, Sprints, pitch competition) active. | Not publishedTerms not disclosed on fetched pages; KidsX has historically been an equity-free, pilot-focused accelerator run by a consortium of 30+ children's hospitals, but current equity/fee terms could not be verified, so left null. 10-week virtual/asynchronous program. DEADLINE/STATUS NOTE: No 2026 application deadline published on fetched pages; 2025 accelerator page last updated Feb 2025 and other KidsX programs (CancerX Accelerator, Sprints, pitch competition) active. | Not publishedTerms not disclosed on fetched pages; KidsX has historically been an equity-free, pilot-focused accelerator run by a consortium of 30+ children's hospitals, but current equity/fee terms could not be verified, so left null. 10-week virtual/asynchronous program. DEADLINE/STATUS NOTE: No 2026 application deadline published on fetched pages; 2025 accelerator page last updated Feb 2025 and other KidsX programs (CancerX Accelerator, Sprints, pitch competition) active. | CA | Remote | None confirmed | Jul 22, 2026 | Verified |
| LACI Incubation Programclean energy, zero-emissions transportation, circular economy | Not publishedTerms model remains null: fee/equity structure for incubation is still not published anywhere on laincubator.org or the application portal as of 2026-07-22. Portal describes a first-four-months intensive curriculum phase followed by custom-roadmap execution; startups get office and lab space plus access to the LACI Debt Fund and Impact Fund. LACI works with 35-50 companies annually; a separate 18-month Market Access Program exists for commercial-growth-stage startups. No application deadlines posted. | Not publishedTerms model remains null: fee/equity structure for incubation is still not published anywhere on laincubator.org or the application portal as of 2026-07-22. Portal describes a first-four-months intensive curriculum phase followed by custom-roadmap execution; startups get office and lab space plus access to the LACI Debt Fund and Impact Fund. LACI works with 35-50 companies annually; a separate 18-month Market Access Program exists for commercial-growth-stage startups. No application deadlines posted. | Not publishedTerms model remains null: fee/equity structure for incubation is still not published anywhere on laincubator.org or the application portal as of 2026-07-22. Portal describes a first-four-months intensive curriculum phase followed by custom-roadmap execution; startups get office and lab space plus access to the LACI Debt Fund and Impact Fund. LACI works with 35-50 companies annually; a separate 18-month Market Access Program exists for commercial-growth-stage startups. No application deadlines posted. | CA | In person | None confirmed | Jul 22, 2026 | Verified |
| LexisNexis Legal Tech Acceleratorlegal technology | Not publishedMentorship-driven program (weekly sessions with LexisNexis executives, Stanford/Bay Area network); no equity or fees mentioned on the program page, no cash investment (nulls). Own page's most recent content references the 2020 virtual cohort; fifth cohort (~2021) is the last reported, so flagged possibly_inactive. DEADLINE: No cohort or application window announced since ~2021; page appears outdated. next_deadline null. Program length from a participant's 'six weeks' statement. | Not publishedMentorship-driven program (weekly sessions with LexisNexis executives, Stanford/Bay Area network); no equity or fees mentioned on the program page, no cash investment (nulls). Own page's most recent content references the 2020 virtual cohort; fifth cohort (~2021) is the last reported, so flagged possibly_inactive. DEADLINE: No cohort or application window announced since ~2021; page appears outdated. next_deadline null. Program length from a participant's 'six weeks' statement. | Equity-free | CA | Hybrid | None confirmed | Jul 22, 2026 | VerifiedPossibly dormantWe could not confirm a recent or upcoming cohort. It may have paused or wound down. Verify before applying. |
| MedTech Innovatormedical devices, diagnostics, digital health | up to $500,000 | Not publishedEquity-free nonprofit accelerator; early-stage (pre-Series B) companies compete for up to $500,000 in non-dilutive awards. No equity taken and no fees. equity_pct null because no equity is taken. Includes complimentary AdvaMed Accel membership and conference registrations. DEADLINE/STATUS NOTE: 2026 cohort application deadline was Dec 16, 2025 (extended), now passed; 2027 applications expected to open in fall 2026 per program site. Program runs Jun-Oct 2026 (~22 weeks, approximate). | Non-dilutive | CA | Hybrid | None confirmed | Jul 22, 2026 | Verified |
| Plug and Play AgTech & Foodagtech and food corporate-innovation batches | Not publishedOperator press releases on PRNewswire dated September 29, 2025 and March 26, 2026 confirm three month Silicon Valley batches across verticals including Agtech and Food and Beverage, with startups able to secure pilots, proofs of concept, and potential investment, all without equity requirements. Current Fresno programming could not be confirmed from readable operator sources. | Not publishedOperator press releases on PRNewswire dated September 29, 2025 and March 26, 2026 confirm three month Silicon Valley batches across verticals including Agtech and Food and Beverage, with startups able to secure pilots, proofs of concept, and potential investment, all without equity requirements. Current Fresno programming could not be confirmed from readable operator sources. | Equity-free | CA | Hybrid | None confirmed | Jul 22, 2026 | Verified |
| Plug and Play Fintechfintech and insurtech corporate-innovation batches | Not publishedSilicon Valley batches run about three months. The operator's March 26, 2026 batch announcement lists Fintech among the 2026 Silicon Valley batches and states startups can secure pilots, proofs of concept, and potential investment all without equity requirements. Fees and investment amounts are not published. | Not publishedSilicon Valley batches run about three months. The operator's March 26, 2026 batch announcement lists Fintech among the 2026 Silicon Valley batches and states startups can secure pilots, proofs of concept, and potential investment all without equity requirements. Fees and investment amounts are not published. | Equity-free | CA | Hybrid | None confirmed | Jul 22, 2026 | Verified |
| Plug and Play Health | Not publishedEquity-free, three-month corporate-innovation batches; per Plug and Play's March 26, 2026 press release, startups join 'without equity requirements' and may separately receive investment from Plug and Play Ventures. No standard cash investment attached to batch participation, hence investment_amount null. Health batch confirmed among first Silicon Valley batches of 2026 (113 startups across programs). DEADLINE/STATUS NOTE: Plug and Play health program pages are JavaScript-rendered and could not be fetched; batch details verified via dated March 2026 press release. Applications effectively rolling per batch cycle; no dated deadline found. | Not publishedEquity-free, three-month corporate-innovation batches; per Plug and Play's March 26, 2026 press release, startups join 'without equity requirements' and may separately receive investment from Plug and Play Ventures. No standard cash investment attached to batch participation, hence investment_amount null. Health batch confirmed among first Silicon Valley batches of 2026 (113 startups across programs). DEADLINE/STATUS NOTE: Plug and Play health program pages are JavaScript-rendered and could not be fetched; batch details verified via dated March 2026 press release. Applications effectively rolling per batch cycle; no dated deadline found. | Equity-free | CA | Hybrid | None confirmed | Jul 22, 2026 | Verified |
| Starburst Aerospace Acceleratoraerospace and defense | Not publishedRuns 20+ partner accelerator programs worldwide (US programs include ICDA in San Marcos TX, Starburst National Landing Launchpad in Virginia, the NASA Space Health Accelerator, SEISMIC MSI Defense Tech Accelerator, and SCALE in Los Angeles with UCLA) alongside a venture investment arm and consulting business. Terms vary by program and are mostly unpublished, so amounts and equity are null; the SCALE FAQ is the exception, stating the program is completely free with no cash or equity charge (federally funded, 13 weeks, two cohorts per year planned, pre-seed and seed, TRL 3+, Southern California presence required). SCALE's apply page still shows Spring 2023 Cohort 5 as the last cohort with applications closed. No 2026 US application deadlines were published as of 2026-07-22. | Not publishedRuns 20+ partner accelerator programs worldwide (US programs include ICDA in San Marcos TX, Starburst National Landing Launchpad in Virginia, the NASA Space Health Accelerator, SEISMIC MSI Defense Tech Accelerator, and SCALE in Los Angeles with UCLA) alongside a venture investment arm and consulting business. Terms vary by program and are mostly unpublished, so amounts and equity are null; the SCALE FAQ is the exception, stating the program is completely free with no cash or equity charge (federally funded, 13 weeks, two cohorts per year planned, pre-seed and seed, TRL 3+, Southern California presence required). SCALE's apply page still shows Spring 2023 Cohort 5 as the last cohort with applications closed. No 2026 US application deadlines were published as of 2026-07-22. | Mixed | CA | Hybrid | None confirmed | Jul 22, 2026 | Verified |
| StartOut Growth LabLGBTQ+-founded high-growth startups | Not published'We take zero equity' and no fees; no direct cash investment (mentorship, investor intros, $1M+ in perks/credits), so amounts null by design. 18-month program (recorded as 78 weeks). San Francisco is StartOut Growth Lab's historical base; current delivery format not stated on fetched page, hence format null. Cohort 18 applications closed June 26, 2026 (just before verification date); Cohort 19 window not yet announced, so next_deadline null. | Not published'We take zero equity' and no fees; no direct cash investment (mentorship, investor intros, $1M+ in perks/credits), so amounts null by design. 18-month program (recorded as 78 weeks). San Francisco is StartOut Growth Lab's historical base; current delivery format not stated on fetched page, hence format null. Cohort 18 applications closed June 26, 2026 (just before verification date); Cohort 19 window not yet announced, so next_deadline null. | Equity-free | CA | Not published | None confirmed | Jul 22, 2026 | Verified |
| Techstars Space Acceleratorspace technology | $220,000 total: $20,000 via convertible equity agreement plus $200,000 uncapped MFN SAFE | 5% | Equity for cash | CA | In person | None confirmed | Jul 22, 2026 | Verified |
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