Curated list of startup incubators and accelerators from San Diago and guides to their programs
San Diego has cultivated a thriving startup ecosystem anchored by world-class research institutions, a strong life sciences industry, and deep expertise in wireless technology and defense innovation. The city's incubators and accelerators leverage these strengths while offering founders a more affordable and lifestyle-friendly alternative to Silicon Valley or Los Angeles. Programs focus heavily on biotech, medical devices, digital health, telecommunications, cleantech, and defense technology — sectors where San Diego has decades of institutional knowledge and established industry presence. With consistent weather, access to top-tier university talent from UCSD and other institutions, and proximity to both the Pacific Ocean and the Mexican border, San Diego provides a unique environment for building sustainable, innovation-driven companies.
Next on the list is Techstars, which has backed more than 3,500 startups, including well-known names like Uber, Twilio, and DigitalOcean.
Techstars invests up to $120,000 in each company. This includes $20,000 upfront plus the right to purchase 6% of your fully diluted shares at your next qualified financing round (typically when you raise $250,000+). The 6% common stock is issued right before that financing event. Full investment terms are available on the Techstars website.
You apply through an online form, which usually takes 2–5 hours to complete. Many founders speak with Techstars mentors beforehand to make sure their application communicates their startup clearly and effectively.
If your application makes it through the initial review, you’ll receive an invitation to a two-round interview, usually within four weeks. Common interview questions include:
If I gave you $200K to hire people, who would you hire?
Who are your target customers?
What outcome are you hoping to achieve by joining Techstars?
What are your most important leading indicators or KPIs this week?
How did you validate this market, and how big is the opportunity?
If you pass the interview rounds, you’ll meet with the Techstars screening committee, which includes the managing director, program manager, mentors, and corporate partners. Clear that stage, and you officially join the three-month Techstars program.
Month 1 is all about building your network. You’ll meet around 100 mentors from the Techstars ecosystem—experts across product, marketing, leadership, hiring, fundraising, and more.
Month 2 is about execution. You’ll use what you learned to push your startup forward: building product milestones, hitting KPIs, onboarding early users, or sharpening your business model.
Month 3 focuses on storytelling and fundraising. You’ll polish your pitch deck, develop investor materials, and practice communicating your vision to customers, investors, and future team members. The month ends with Demo Day.
After the program, Techstars continues supporting founders through its alumni network and ongoing mentorship.
San Diego ranks among the top biotech and life sciences hubs globally, and this specialization profoundly shapes the city's startup incubators and accelerators. With concentrations of pharmaceutical companies, research institutions like Scripps Research, the Salk Institute, and UCSD's medical and biological sciences programs, San Diego offers life sciences founders resources and connections that rival Boston and the Bay Area.
Programs like JLABS @ San Diego, Biocom, and university-affiliated incubators provide startups with access to wet lab space, specialized equipment, and regulatory expertise that are essential for life sciences companies but prohibitively expensive to acquire independently. These aren't basic coworking spaces — they're purpose-built facilities with biosafety cabinets, analytical instruments, and infrastructure designed specifically for biological research and product development.
Access to Clinical and Research Expertise
San Diego's concentration of scientists, clinicians, and regulatory experts creates an unmatched talent pool for biotech startups. Incubators facilitate connections with researchers who can provide scientific guidance, clinicians who understand real-world medical needs, and former FDA reviewers who help navigate regulatory pathways. A medical device startup might gain advisors who've successfully taken similar devices through 510(k) clearance or PMA approval.
Pharmaceutical and Biotech Company Partnerships
Major pharmaceutical and biotech companies with San Diego operations — including Pfizer, Illumina, Thermo Fisher, and others — often partner with local accelerators to identify promising technologies for licensing, acquisition, or strategic investment. These relationships can provide startups with validation, pilot opportunities, and potential exit paths that accelerate growth and attract investor interest.
Contract Research and Manufacturing Access
San Diego's ecosystem includes numerous CROs (Contract Research Organizations) and CMOs (Contract Manufacturing Organizations) experienced in helping startups advance from early research through clinical trials and commercial production. Accelerators help connect startups with these service providers and negotiate favorable terms that preserve precious early-stage capital.
Investor Understanding of Life Sciences
San Diego has a strong base of investors who genuinely understand life sciences — the long timelines, regulatory requirements, capital intensity, and technical risks involved. Unlike generalist investors who might penalize biotech startups for characteristics inherent to the industry, San Diego investors evaluate companies using appropriate metrics and benchmarks for the sector.
For founders building therapeutics, diagnostics, medical devices, or digital health solutions, San Diego's life sciences ecosystem provides infrastructure, expertise, and connections that dramatically improve odds of successfully bringing innovations to market.
San Diego's significant military presence — including Naval Base San Diego, Marine Corps bases, and numerous defense contractors — creates unique opportunities for startups building technologies with defense and security applications. Local incubators and accelerators help founders navigate the complex world of government contracts, security clearances, and dual-use technology development.
The city hosts major defense contractors like General Atomics, Northrop Grumman, and countless smaller defense technology companies. This concentration creates an ecosystem that understands how to work with the Department of Defense, meet stringent security requirements, and build products that serve both military and commercial markets.
Understanding Government Procurement
Selling to the military and government agencies requires navigating complex procurement processes, compliance requirements, and lengthy sales cycles. San Diego accelerators provide mentorship from former military officers, defense contractors, and government procurement specialists who teach founders how to position solutions for government buyers, respond to RFPs, and leverage programs like SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) grants for non-dilutive funding.
SBIR/STTR Funding Opportunities
San Diego startups excel at securing SBIR and STTR grants from DoD, Navy, and other agencies. These programs provide significant non-dilutive capital to develop technologies the military needs. Local incubators help startups identify relevant solicitations, write competitive proposals, and manage awarded grants effectively. Success with SBIR often leads to follow-on contracts and commercial opportunities.
Dual-Use Technology Strategy
Many successful defense startups build technologies with both military and commercial applications — cybersecurity, autonomous systems, communications, sensing technologies, and materials science innovations. Accelerators help founders develop dual-use strategies that allow them to serve government customers while building commercial revenue streams that provide faster growth and higher valuations.
Security Clearances and Facility Requirements
Working with classified programs requires security clearances and potentially secure facilities. San Diego's ecosystem includes resources to help startups understand clearance processes, identify which team members need clearances, and access secure workspaces when required. This expertise is rare outside major defense hubs.
Maritime and Naval Technology
San Diego's Navy presence creates specific opportunities for startups working on maritime technologies — underwater vehicles, marine sensors, ship systems, port security, and ocean monitoring. The proximity to active naval operations allows for testing, validation, and direct feedback from end users that's difficult to obtain elsewhere.
For founders interested in defense technology or dual-use innovations, San Diego offers expertise, connections, and funding pathways that few other startup ecosystems can match.
San Diego's location on the U.S.-Mexico border creates distinctive opportunities for startups, and local incubators increasingly help founders leverage the San Diego-Tijuana mega-region. This cross-border ecosystem combines San Diego's innovation, capital, and market access with Tijuana's manufacturing capabilities, engineering talent, and growing tech scene — creating competitive advantages unavailable to startups in landlocked tech hubs.
The Tijuana region has evolved far beyond simple manufacturing, now hosting sophisticated medical device production, aerospace manufacturing, electronics assembly, and a growing software development community. Forward-thinking San Diego accelerators help startups build cross-border strategies that leverage strengths on both sides of the border.
Manufacturing and Production Access
For hardware startups, access to Tijuana's manufacturing ecosystem provides cost-effective production capabilities just 30 minutes from San Diego. Medical device companies can work with FDA-registered contract manufacturers experienced in Class II and Class III devices. Electronics startups find experienced assembly partners. The proximity allows for rapid iteration and quality oversight that's impossible when manufacturing in Asia.
Engineering Talent and R&D
Tijuana and broader Baja California produce thousands of engineering graduates annually, many from strong technical universities. San Diego startups can build cross-border engineering teams that provide cost advantages while maintaining close collaboration. Some accelerators help navigate the legal and logistical aspects of hiring in Mexico while headquartering in California.
Testing Latin American Markets
For startups interested in Spanish-speaking markets, proximity to Mexico provides natural opportunities for market validation, user research, and early customer development. The cultural and linguistic insights gained can inform expansion strategies throughout Latin America. Some incubators facilitate introductions to Mexican investors, partners, and potential customers.
Supply Chain Resilience
Recent years have highlighted risks of over-reliance on distant supply chains. San Diego startups building hardware increasingly leverage nearshore manufacturing in Mexico as part of resilient supply chain strategies. Accelerators connect founders with logistics providers, customs brokers, and manufacturing partners who make cross-border operations smooth and compliant.
Emerging Binational Ecosystem
Organizations are increasingly treating San Diego-Tijuana as a single mega-region for innovation purposes. Cross-border accelerator programs, shared events, and binational initiatives create opportunities for collaboration that strengthen both sides. Founders who embrace this cross-border mindset access resources and capabilities that give them genuine competitive advantages.
San Diego's border location is increasingly viewed not as a geographic footnote but as a strategic asset that smart founders and accelerators are learning to leverage for manufacturing, talent, market access, and cost efficiency.
San Diego offers an exceptional quality of life that directly impacts startup success through improved talent recruitment, retention, and founder wellbeing. Local incubators help founders position these lifestyle advantages strategically when competing for talent against higher-paying opportunities in San Francisco or Los Angeles.
Year-Round Ideal Climate
San Diego's Mediterranean climate means comfortable temperatures, abundant sunshine, and minimal weather disruption year-round. This isn't just pleasant — it enables outdoor activities, consistent routines, and lifestyle balance that helps prevent founder burnout and keeps teams energized. Unlike ecosystems with harsh winters or oppressive summers, San Diego maintains productivity-friendly conditions constantly.
Outdoor Recreation and Work-Life Integration
Access to beaches, hiking trails, surfing, sailing, and countless outdoor activities within minutes of most offices creates natural opportunities for exercise, stress relief, and informal team bonding. Many San Diego startups embrace flexible schedules that allow employees to surf before work or hike during lunch — recognizing that these activities improve rather than hinder performance.
Lower Stress, Higher Retention
San Diego's more relaxed pace compared to Silicon Valley creates a sustainable working environment. While startups still work hard, the culture tends toward marathon sustainability rather than sprint burnout. Accelerators help founders build cultures that leverage this advantage, creating workplaces where people can build careers rather than just survive a few years before burning out.
Competitive Cost of Living (Relative to Bay Area)
While San Diego isn't cheap, it's significantly more affordable than San Francisco or Silicon Valley. Housing costs, in particular, are lower for comparable quality. This means startup salaries go further, making it easier to recruit talent who want California living without Bay Area housing prices. Accelerators teach founders how to position this advantage when recruiting.
Family-Friendly Environment
San Diego's excellent schools, safe neighborhoods, and family-oriented culture make it attractive to experienced professionals with families — exactly the senior talent startups need but often struggle to recruit to grittier urban environments. Founders can build teams that include industry veterans who choose San Diego specifically for family reasons.
Attracting Remote Talent
In an increasingly remote-friendly world, San Diego's lifestyle attracts talented people who can work from anywhere but choose San Diego for quality of life. This expands the talent pool beyond locals to include experienced professionals relocating from more expensive or less pleasant cities.
Founder Mental Health and Longevity
Building a startup is inherently stressful. San Diego's environment — ocean access, sunshine, outdoor activities, supportive community — provides natural stress relief mechanisms that help founders maintain mental health through the inevitable challenges. Progressive accelerators now recognize that founder wellbeing directly correlates with startup success and actively support work-life integration.
These quality of life advantages translate into tangible business benefits: easier recruiting, lower turnover, healthier founders, and sustainable team cultures that support long-term company building rather than quick flips.
San Diego's legacy as a telecommunications and wireless innovation hub, anchored by Qualcomm's decades-long presence, has created deep expertise in wireless technologies, semiconductors, and communications systems. Local incubators leverage this heritage to support startups building next-generation wireless solutions, IoT devices, 5G applications, and communications technologies.
The ecosystem includes engineers who developed foundational wireless technologies, RF (radio frequency) experts, antenna designers, and semiconductor specialists — expertise that's increasingly valuable as everything becomes connected and wireless capabilities become critical across industries.
RF and Wireless Engineering Talent
San Diego has one of the highest concentrations of RF engineers in the world, thanks to Qualcomm, other telecom companies, and defense contractors working on communications systems. Startups building IoT devices, wireless sensors, connected medical devices, or telecommunications infrastructure can recruit talent with deep expertise that's scarce in other markets. Accelerators facilitate introductions to these specialists and help startups attract them.
IoT and Connected Device Opportunities
As industries from healthcare to agriculture to smart cities embrace IoT, San Diego startups have advantages in building the underlying wireless technologies. Local incubators connect hardware startups with contract manufacturers experienced in wireless devices, testing facilities for certification, and advisors who understand the complexities of deploying connected devices at scale.
5G and Next-Generation Networks
San Diego's expertise in cellular technologies positions local startups well for 5G applications and beyond. Whether building infrastructure, applications leveraging 5G capabilities, or devices optimized for next-generation networks, founders can access mentors who shaped previous wireless generations and understand what's technically possible versus marketing hype.
Semiconductor and Chip Design Expertise
Beyond wireless systems, San Diego has semiconductor design capabilities spanning custom ASICs, wireless chipsets, and specialized processors. Startups building hardware that requires custom silicon can find experienced chip designers, access to design tools, and connections to fabrication partners — expertise concentrated in only a few global hubs.
Standards and Certification Knowledge
Developing wireless products requires navigating complex standards (WiFi, Bluetooth, cellular, etc.) and certification processes (FCC, international regulatory bodies). San Diego's ecosystem includes experts who've navigated these processes countless times and can help startups avoid costly mistakes and delays. Accelerators connect founders with testing facilities, certification consultants, and regulatory advisors.
For startups building the next generation of wireless technologies — whether communications infrastructure, connected devices, or applications leveraging wireless capabilities — San Diego's telecommunications heritage provides technical depth and institutional knowledge that few ecosystems can match.
San Diego's startup ecosystem has developed a notably collaborative culture that contrasts with the more aggressive competitiveness found in some larger tech hubs. Local incubators and accelerators foster this collaborative spirit, creating environments where founders genuinely help each other succeed rather than viewing every interaction through a competitive lens.
This culture stems partly from San Diego's relative size — small enough that the community feels connected but large enough to support substantial innovation — and partly from the city's more relaxed, lifestyle-oriented environment. The result is an ecosystem where knowledge sharing, mutual support, and long-term relationship building are normalized.
Founders Helping Founders
San Diego accelerator alumni frequently return to mentor new cohorts, make introductions to investors or customers, and provide honest advice about challenges they've faced. This generosity isn't just performative — founders regularly spend meaningful time helping peers without expecting immediate returns. The community operates on a genuine pay-it-forward mentality.
Less Zero-Sum Thinking
Unlike ecosystems where founders might hide what they're building or view every potential partner as a competitor, San Diego's culture encourages openness and collaboration. Founders are more willing to share what's working, discuss challenges candidly, and even refer customers to competitors when their own product isn't the right fit. This builds trust and long-term relationships that pay dividends over years.
Industry-Specific Communities
San Diego's focus areas — life sciences, defense tech, wireless, cleantech — have developed tight communities where participants know each other and collaborate frequently. A biotech founder might connect with others developing complementary technologies, leading to partnerships rather than competition. Accelerators facilitate these sector-specific communities through focused events and introductions.
Accessible Leadership and Mentorship
Successful founders, executives, and investors in San Diego tend to be approachable and willing to meet with early-stage entrepreneurs. The ecosystem hasn't developed the gatekeeping or exclusivity sometimes found in larger hubs. Coffee meetings with accomplished operators happen routinely, and people generally respond to thoughtful outreach.
Sustainable Growth Over Hype
San Diego's culture tends to value sustainable business building over hypergrowth-at-any-cost. While ambitious goals are certainly encouraged, there's less pressure to pursue unsustainable growth just to meet investor expectations or match competitor announcements. This allows founders to build businesses that align with their values and long-term visions.
Community Over Competition in Recruiting
Even when competing for talent, San Diego startups tend toward collaborative approaches — sharing job postings, referring candidates who aren't the right fit, and recognizing that growing the overall talent pool benefits everyone. This creates a healthier employment market and stronger community bonds.
For founders who want to build companies in a supportive environment without the psychological toll of hyper-competitive cultures, San Diego's collaborative ecosystem offers a refreshing alternative that proves you can pursue ambitious goals while maintaining community and humanity.