Startup accelerators and incubators in Palo Alto, California

Accel Atoms is a pre-seed incubator designed for Indian and Indian-origin founders building from anywhere in the world. The program blends Accel’s global network, operational playbooks, and hands-on mentorship to help early teams scale fast and stay in “perpetual beta”—constantly iterating, testing, and uncovering new possibilities.

What they focus on:
Atoms backs ambitious founders across the full AI stack—from foundational models and developer tooling to enterprise AI agents, consumer AI products, and frontier “physical AI” applications. They’re also open to bold ideas outside these themes.

Program highlights:

• Highly selective cohort: Only 8–10 startups per batch.

• Deep personalization: No cookie-cutters—support is tailored to each startup’s stage and needs.

• Community access: Connect with 350+ founders, 100+ investors, and Accel’s global operator network.

• Customer access: Warm introductions to early enterprise buyers, end-users, and the Accel portfolio of 200+ startups.

• 1:1 Mentorship: Monthly office hours with Accel partners plus direct sessions with top global AI leaders.

Applications for the AI 2025 Cohort close on September 1, with the program kicking off in November.

StartX has helped launch 332 startups and is deeply connected to the tech ecosystem through its partnership with Stanford University.

Its portfolio includes companies like EdCast, Nearpod, and eero (acquired by Amazon).

StartX doesn’t invest directly, but it offers equity-free support, including 1:1 mentorship, educational seminars, and a strong entrepreneurial community.

Founders also receive over $1.2M in free resources, such as office space, legal support, and other essential services.

Beyond mentorship and investor access, StartX gives founders a direct path to top Stanford talent for building their teams.

Additionally, StartX companies benefit from access to a network of 700+ customers across their broader founder and corporate community.

With more than 2,700 startups funded, 500 Startups is another major player in the accelerator world. Their portfolio includes well-known companies like Udemy, Talkdesk, and Canva.

Every accepted startup receives a $150,000 investment in exchange for 6% equity.

500 Startups runs several accelerator programs across the U.S. You can apply directly through their website or via AngelList.

Once you submit your application, you may be invited to an interview day, which includes three back-to-back interviews with members of the investment team. They recommend reserving about three hours, although the process can be quicker.

Common interview themes include:

• How does your startup work?

• What evidence shows it’s working?

• Why do you want to join 500 Startups?

If accepted, you’ll join a four-month, in-person program at your chosen location. Their mentors include operators and experts from companies like PayPal, Google, YouTube, Apple, Twitter, and others.

Alongside hands-on mentorship, the program offers talks and office hours on distribution, customer acquisition, UX, design, fundraising, and more.

A typical week at 500 Startups includes:

• Weekly all-hands roundup

• Regular touchpoints with mentors and advisors

• Fireside sessions and brainstorming breakouts

• Weekly talks from successful tech founders

The program wraps up with a Demo Day, where you present your company to investors and industry leaders.