Accelerators are a popular way for startups to fast-track their growth and development. They provide hands-on support, mentorship, and funding in exchange for a stake in the business.
Startup accelerators are designed to be an all-in-one solution for entrepreneurs seeking assistance with everything from business development to marketing strategy. As such, they tend to have more programs than standalone businesses.
They also operate at increasing speeds these days as well as with growing standards of quality. This makes it harder than ever before to differentiate between the good ones.
That’s why we’ve created this top list so you can see which accelerators you should contact if you’re looking to get your business off the ground in Europe but first let’s brief look into what to expect from the best startup accelerators in Europe.
What to Look for Within the Best Startup Accelerators in Europe
Startup accelerators are popping up across the world at a rapid pace. While the concept is simple, choosing the right one for you can be challenging.
By now, we’ve all heard about how these programs are booming, but how can you tell if one is a good fit for you? There are a few things to keep in mind before diving in.
- What is the focus of the acceleration program?
- What should be the focus of the program you’re looking at?
- What sort of programs does the accelerator have?
- Is it an investment-based program or a more traditional business growth approach? This is a good way to get a better idea of what to expect.
- What are the admission criteria?
There are a few things you can look at when deciding on an accelerator. One of those things is the admission criteria. How many startups are accepted? What are the requirements for being accepted?
Another important question is what kind of mentorship is offered? Accelerators vary in the level of mentorship they offer. Some will provide a single mentor, while others provide a full team to assist with your journey. This is another way you can hone in on which program is right for you.
But let’s go back to the original question of this blog post: What are the best startup accelerators in Europe?
Below we list top 10 best startup accelerators in Europe. In another post, we provide top 10 best startup incubators in the world, something that might be worth checking!
1. Station F (France)
Station F, the world’s first technology and business innovation center in the heart of Paris, France, is a non-profit organization that incubates and accelerates startups.
It functions as a startup campus with a main hub building that offers services specifically for the French tech sector. The startup that enrolls in the program must remain for at least three months and may deploy up to 15 personnel.
It does not offer investment for stock, unlike other programmes, and businesses must pay for their workstations.
Partners of Station F, including Facebook, Zendesk, Vente-Privée, HEC, Microsoft, etc., are in charge of managing a portion of the structure.
2. Startupbootcamp (UK)
Startupbootcamp, as one of the best startup accelerators in Europe, is a three-month program built for entrepreneurs who are looking to start and grow their own business. The program is based in London, and it aims to help startups grow their business and become successful.
In its three-month accelerator programme, Startupbootcamp equips companies with the necessary resources to support the mentorship-driven approach.
The company offers the team six months of co-working space, €15,000 for living expenses during the programme, and approximately €450,000 in sponsored services.
The accelerator chooses 10 firms for each program to participate in a focused, 3-month acceleration program.
3. Antler (Global)
If you’re looking for an accelerator in Europe with an expansive reach, Antler is worth considering. Antler is one of the best startup accelerators in Europe and the world and has a network of over 50 accelerators and incubators in 29 countries.
If you’re looking for an accelerator program with global reach and a deep network of partners, Antler should be your first port of call.
With its focus on Agri-tech, food and beverage, and biotech, this accelerator will help you find your way in the highly attractive but equally challenging food and agricultural sector.
Its program is 11 weeks long and focuses on business growth, marketing and product development. There’s also mentorship from industry leaders, access to an extensive network of investors and partners, and a 12-week post-program residency to help you scale the business.
4. Sting (Sweden)
Sting, as a leading startup accelerator in Sweden, is a two-month accelerator that’s unique for its focus on teaching mentorship. This Swedish accelerator aims to bridge the gap between the startup world and the more traditional corporate world by providing mentors with business insights.
They provide competent company development counselling, an international network of investors, business contacts, and specialists, a venture capital fund, a business angel network, a recruitment service, and a recruitment service.
Additionally, they contribute significantly to Stockholm’s export revenues and to the growth and international competition of startups.
5. Hightech XL (Netherlands)
High Tech XL is an entirely online accelerator that was established in 2015. More than 60% of the startups that participated in their program are still in business.
This Eindhoven-based startup accelerator, as one of the best startup accelerators in Europe, shifted its emphasis to technology in 2018 and formed partnerships with important industry players like CERN and Philips.
High Tech XL offers a 9-month program to entrepreneurs at the idea stage, in contrast to other startup accelerators. By assisting entrepreneurs in forming a team and minimum viable product, it essentially blends the principles of an incubator with an accelerator (MVP).
6. H-Farm (Italy)
H-Farm is the leading accelerator in Italy and one of the best startup accelerators in Europe. is a cutting-edge platform that was established in 2005 to facilitate corporate digitalization and assist entrepreneurs in launching new projects.
The organization offers sector-specific accelerator programs every year with the goal of identifying, assisting, and funding innovative early-stage and market-ready entrepreneurs.
Additionally, the chosen entrepreneurs participate in a 4-month immersive program where they are exposed to businesses at various stages, corporations, business leaders, mentors, and investors.
The firm offers an all-inclusive investment package that includes seed funding, lodging and meals, workspace, and services for business acceleration such as mentorship, workshops and seminars, deals with tech partners, business networking, and Demo Day.
7. Wilco (France)
Through its annual acceleration programs geared to 16 different sectors, Wilco assists startups, midcaps, and large organizations.
The company also provides interactive sessions. Start sessions include eight-day one-on-one coaching sessions with specialists who assist with structuring a business plan and six-day thematic bootcamps with an emphasis on business development.
Additionally, Wilco offers non-dilutive financing for companies up to €150K and associates up to €60K with 0% interest and a 12-month deferral at lending sessions.
The company also helps businesses grow by providing corporate mentorship, fundraising coaching, pitch structuring, and other services.
8. Maria 01 (Finland)
Maria 01 is a Finnish accelerator with a focus on female entrepreneurs. Its one-year program is designed to help these startups launch and grow their businesses.
Based in Helsinki, Maria 01 enables tech entrepreneurs to collaborate with existing businesses, venture investors, and a wider ecosystem to support one another’s success.
The hub is situated on the grounds of a 130-year-old hospital in the heart of Helsinki, Finland. Notably, the business aims to give emerging technology enterprises the greatest environment possible for growth.
Over 5000 professionals have a space to work across the entire campus.
9. Entrepreneur First (Berlin & London)
The Entrepreneur First Program runs two programs in Berlin and London, each of which lasts 11 weeks. The program is designed to help startups develop their business and find the right product-market fit.
Worldwide, they have programs and offices in places like Bangalore, Toronto, Paris, Berlin, and Singapore. They have assisted more than 3000 entrepreneurs and more than 500 startups since 2011.
New ventures participating in this program ought to have the ability to test their ideas, recruit cofounders, and obtain capital. The mission of Entrepreneur First, as one of the best startup accelerators in Europe, is to support entrepreneurs as they develop.
Only 10% of applications, though, get accepted. The selective accelerator allows applicants to raise up to $100,000 for 10% equity. Additionally, successful entrepreneurs are given a $2,500 monthly allowance for the duration of the 6-month program.
10. Kickstart (Switzerland)
Kickstart, which is provided through Impact Hub Zurich, trains 100 Swiss entrepreneurs in the fields of science and engineering by working with influential figures on proof-of-concept work, pilot projects, and other innovative partnerships.
The program is open to Swiss and foreign startups working in the fields of EdTech & Learning, FinTech & Digital Assets, Food & Retail Tech, Smart City & Technology, Health-Tech, and Cybersecurity. Deep technologies include science- and engineering-driven technologies such as AI, Big Data, Blockchain, Robotics, etc.
Additionally, during the program, Kickstart will pay up to CHF 10,000 in business development costs. Additionally, they don’t take any shares from the participating startups and don’t collect any fees.
Bottom Line
With so many new programs popping up across the world, it’s hard to tell which ones are worth your time and effort. We’ve combed through the best startup accelerators in Europe and curated a list of startups that are worth your time. In this article, we provide some suggestions how you can increase your application success chances with these accelerators.
With enrollment in one of the best startup accelerators in Europe, you’ll find yourself immersed in a supportive, community-based environment. You’ll receive extensive mentorship from experts in your field, as well as access to investors and partners to help you grow your business.
Finally, with accelerator programs, you don’t have to be the best, just better than the next guy. With this in mind, you can tweak your business and apply for more programs until you find the one that suits your needs best. So, which startups are you ready to set sail with?
2 Comments
[…] That’s where an incubator comes in handy. It provides companies with access to various resources at cheap or even no cost in exchange for some or no costs. It also acts as a testing ground where startups are able to experiment with new ideas and procedures without exposing their entire business plan to the public yet. In another post, we introduce the top 10 best startup accelerators in Europe. […]
Top site ,.. i will save for later !