Seattle has become one of the most exciting technology hubs in the world. In the last few years especially, the city has solidified its position as one of Silicon Valley’s main rivals. Seattle saw the highest job growth in the tech industry in the country, and Seattle startups have raised capital at record levels. Thanks to this growth, there’s enough talent in the Emerald City to build a strong team and to scale your startup.
If you are planning to set your roots in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, there are numerous startup incubators and accelerators that can turn your innovative idea into something tangible.
Please take a look at them below:
1. Accelerator Life Science Partners
- Description: "Accelerator Life Science Partners catalyzes the development and commercialization of breakthrough biotechnology innovations. We are trusted partners that provide a complete business, scientific, and financial toolkit necessary for successfully establishing and operating an early-stage biotechnology company. We nurture our companies across all stages and in all facets of development, setting them on a path that offers the greatest chance for long-term success. Among these key resources are committed investment capital, experienced start-up management, world-class scientific expertise, and state-of-the-art laboratories and shared facilities."
- Sectors / Markets of Focus: Biotechnology and Life Sciences.
- Requirements: They welcome innovative, early-stage biotechnology startups.
- Deal Terms: They help to develop your ideas through the help of an experienced management team, research labs and facilities; plus, access to top-tier investors.
- Notable Accelerator Life Science Partners Alumni: ApoGen Biotechnologies, Lodo Therapeutics, Magnolia Neurosciences, Petra Pharma, Proniras, Rodeo Therapeutics.
2. Alexa Accelerator
- Description: "The Alexa Accelerator, powered by Techstars is looking for companies building a wide range of products, including devices that work with Alexa or have Alexa built-in; software and services that leverage voice technology; developer tools that service voice-first businesses; and core technologies like AI and machine learning that enable better voice experiences. Teams will have access to a wide range of mentors from both inside Amazon as well as the Techstars network.”
- Sectors / Markets of Focus: AI, IoT, Machine Learning and Voice Technology.
- Alexa Accelerator Requirements: Startups who build innovative products that work with Alexa.
- Alexa Accelerator Deal Terms: Startups are offered a $100,000 convertible note; plus, Techstars contributes $20,000 USD to support living expenses during the accelerator program. Techstars receives a 6% equity until the startup raises a priced equity financing of $250,000 USD or more.
- Notable Alexa Accelerator Alumni: Aspinity, Blutag, Botnik, HelixAI, Jargon, VOICEITT.
3. Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence
- Description: "We team up with top AI minds and talented entrepreneurs to build AI-first startups. Throughout each year, we invite both technical and business entrepreneurs to join our incubator on a rolling basis. We help them come up with ideas, find co-founders, engage pilot customers, build traction, and raise millions of dollars. Along the way, we make two investments: Right at the beginning, to give cofounders breathing room to find an idea and other cofounders that they love. And we invest again when a team is ready to start ramping their traction story."
- Sectors / Markets of Focus: AI.
- AllenAI Requirements: Being an entrepreneur or having a startup who wants to reach the next level in the AI space.
- AllenAI Deal Terms: They offer an initial investment up to $400,000 USD. Free AWS and Google Credits, access to office space; plus, an additional cash investment of up to $350,000 USD. Access to training and mentorships, a network of entrepreneurs and investors, etc.
- Notable AllenAI Alumni: Blue Canoe Learning, KITT.AI, WellSaid, XNOR.
4. Cambia Grove
- Description: “Cambia Grove is a health care innovation hub focused on bridging the gap between entrepreneurs and the traditional health care sectors. We connect, nurture and expand communities of health care changemakers to support health care transformation. We catalyze solutions to system-level challenges in health care while advancing innovative efforts to create a more person-focused and economically sustainable health care system.”
- Sectors / Markets of Focus: Healthcare Technology.
- Cambia Grove Requirements: Being an innovator/entrepreneur looking to disrupt traditional health care.
- Cambia Grove Deal Terms: Access to a co-working space, useful data to improve health care; also, to a network of investors, organizations and resources who support health care innovation.
5. Cascadia CleanTech Accelerator
- Description: "Cascadia CleanTech Accelerator is a business accelerator program powered by the CleanTech Alliance and VertueLab (formerly Oregon BEST). The 15-week program delivers mentorship, curriculum, connections and funding opportunities designed specifically for early-stage cleantech startups."
- Sectors / Markets of Focus: CleanTech.
- Cascadia CleanTech Accelerator Requirements: Being an early-stage cleantech startup who has already been incorporated and hasn’t raised more than $1 million USD in funding.
- Cascadia CleanTech Accelerator Deal Terms: Access to workshops and mentorship programs, it also offers investor and business networking; plus, having the opportunity to showcase your startup at industry events.
- Notable Cascadia CleanTech Alumni: AlgoteK, Astrolabe Analytics, Blade Runner Energy, Drive Zero, Hive Battery Labs, Local-e, NODE, SmartVineyards.
6. CoMotion Labs
- Description: “CoMotion® is UW’s collaborative innovation hub dedicated to expanding the economic and societal impact of the UW community and beyond. By developing and connecting to local and global innovation ecosystems, CoMotion guides and partners with faculty, researchers, students, and entrepreneurs on their path to market, and helps them amplify the impact of their ideas.”
- Sectors / Markets of Focus: All tech or tech-enabled businesses.
- CoMotion Labs Requirements: All innovators, entrepreneurs and startups are welcome.
- CoMotion Labs Deal Terms: CoMotion Labs offers various resources, such as: labs and co-working spaces, workshops and bootcamps, investor networking, mentorship and much more.
- Notable CoMotion Labs Alumni: C-SATS, PvP Biologics, Turi, Universal Cells, VICIS.
7. Fledge
- Description: “Fledge is a global network of conscious company accelerators and seed funds, helping entrepreneurs create impactful companies and co-ops at scale through intense, short programs filled with education, guidance, and a massive amount of mentorship.”
- Sectors / Markets of Focus: All tech or tech-enabled businesses.
- Fledge Requirements: They are looking for dedicated entrepreneurs who are looking to make a significant impact and who are capable of teamwork. Also, the idea must be viable and scalable.
- Fledge Deal Terms: Fledge invests between $15,000-$20,000 USD. They provide mentorship and workshops to accelerate your idea.
- Notable Fledge Alumni: Arqlite, BridgeCare Finance, BURN, Cold Hubs, EcoBuild, Seeder, Shift Labs.
8. Founder Institute Seattle (pre-seed accelerator)
- Description: The Founder Institute works with entrepreneurs and teams in the pre-seed stage, typically before they are advanced enough to gain acceptance into a seed-accelerator program. The program helps you build an enduring business by providing Seattle startup experts that are invested in your success, and a structured business-building process that has helped alumni raise over $1.75BN.
- Sectors / Markets of Focus: All tech or tech-enabled businesses.
- Founder Institute Requirements: Both solo founders and teams at the pre-seed stage are welcome, including those at the idea or very early-stages of a company (including pre-incorporation). If your company has significant funding, traction, or revenue, then you are probably too advanced for the Founder Institute and should consider applying to the seed-accelerators on this list.
- Founder Institute Deal Terms: To create a strong support network, participants join an "Equity Collective" where they contribute 4% of their company to a shared pool. Any financial returns to this pool are then shared equally with each cohort's alumni, the program mentors, Local Leaders, and Founder Institute.
- Notable Founder Institute Alumni: Udemy, Acudeen, Appota, Ovamba, Realty Mogul, TravelCar, and more.
9. Kernel Labs
- Description: “We are a start-up studio based in Seattle with deep expertise in machine learning, computer vision, and security. We build innovative companies that create and disrupt big markets.”
- Sectors / Markets of Focus: Machine Learning, Computer Vision and Security Technology.
- Kernel Labs Requirements: Startups looking to disrupt with their innovative ideas.
- Kernel Labs Deal Terms: Apply for more details.
- Notable Kernel Labs Alumni: AnsweriQ, Asidero, Blue Canoe Learning, OCCO, Omnivor, Trusted Key.
10. Madrona Venture Labs
- Description: “Madrona Venture Labs is a startup studio based in Seattle. We partner with founders to build meaningful companies from scratch.”
- Sectors / Markets of Focus: All tech or tech-enabled businesses.
- Madrona Venture Labs Requirements: They are looking for remarkable founders and teams who want to build the next great startup.
- Madrona Venture Labs Deal Terms: Startups participate in a 3 month program where they receive a $100,000 USD investment. Teams go through MVL’s idea validation process, use their office space; plus, startups have access to advisors, talent and an investor network.
- Notable Madrona Venture Labs Alumni: Chatitive, Domicile, Invio, Mighty AI, Spruce Up, Vouched.
11. Microsoft ScaleUp
- Description: “The Microsoft ScaleUp program (previously known as Microsoft Accelerator) is designed for Series A startups and offers access to sales, marketing and technical support. Eligible startups partake in the immersive program at one of our eight global locations followed by ongoing support from a dedicated team of success managers."
- Sectors / Markets of Focus: All tech or tech-enabled businesses.
- Microsoft ScaleUp Requirements: Having a Series A startup.
- Microsoft ScaleUp Deal Terms: Startups receive advice and mentorship from industry experts and Microsoft sales leaders. Companies also join the program’s alumni network to build peer relationships, they get access to the Microsoft Partner Network and Microsoft events.
- Notable Microsoft ScaleUp Alumni: Affinio, BeehiveID, Clarify.io, GestSure, GoSlope, LoginRadius, Openhour, pymetrics, Wallflower.
12. Outline Ventures Group
- Description: “Anne Kennedy and Gillian Muessig are field-tested entrepreneurs, start up mentors, brand whisperers and CEO coaches, and cheerleaders, too. Keynote speakers worldwide, and fearless and enthusiastic travelers, they joined forces to help online companies launch, grow pivot and thrive to build better ways to live and work together.
With more than 80 years experience between them, Gillian in software and Anne in services, they formed Outlines Venture Group in 2013 to turn around and use the know-how they garnered – often the hard way -- to give other entrepreneurs a hand up and smooth the ride for CEO’s running growing companies." - Sectors / Markets of Focus: All tech or tech-enabled businesses.
- Outline Ventures Requirements: Having a promising startup that demonstrates scalability.
- Outline Ventures Deal Terms: The investment amount depends on the startup; plus, they offer mentorship and consulting services.
- Notable Outline Ventures Alumni: brettapproved, Spiral Genetics, SYNQY, trip.me.
13. Pioneer Square Labs
- Description: “The Pacific Northwest entrepreneurial ecosystem has boundless potential. PSL exists to champion the next generation of founders by bringing together world-class talent, big ideas, and investment capital."
- Sectors / Markets of Focus: All tech or tech-enabled businesses.
- Pioneer Square Labs Requirements: Being an entrepreneur in the Pacific Northwest who wants to turn their idea into a successful startup.
- Pioneer Square Labs Deal Terms: They offer mentorship and workshops in different areas to validate innovative ideas (marketing, concept validation, visual & UX design, etc.); plus, access to a strong investor network.
- Notable Pioneer Square Labs Alumni: Ad Lightning, Attunely, Boundless, Gemma Labs, Gradient.io, JetClosing, LumaTax, NextStep, Remarkably, SHUJINKO, Sigma IQ, Tally, Taunt.
14. REACTOR
- Description: “Washington Interactive Network’s REACTOR is the industry initiative for interactive media [games and tech]. Driven by a strong core team of industry veterans and experts, the Reactor is fueling the next generation of talent and innovation. Designed around the electric Washington State interactive media industry, Reactor serves as an interactive community hub and resource center.”
- Sectors / Markets of Focus: Interactive Media, Games, VR and AR.
- REACTOR Requirements: Innovators and startups in the interactive media industry.
- REACTOR Deal Terms: Mentorship from industry experts, startup exposure and PR opportunities, access to exclusive REACTOR events, etc.
- Notable REACTOR Alumni: Apptentive, Cascade Game Foundry, Litesprite, VRcade.
15. SURF Incubator
- Description: “SURF is a curated community with a dynamic culture that enables entrepreneurs to focus on executing their ideas. For nearly a decade, SURF has provided incubation, mentorship and open community work environment specifically focused on providing the necessary facilities, educational events and professional resources to support efficient and effective growths."
- Sectors / Markets of Focus: All tech or tech-enabled businesses.
- SURF Incubator Requirements: All entrepreneurs and startups looking to execute their innovative ideas are welcome.
- SURF Incubator Deal Terms: They provide a co-working space, mentorship programs, educational and networking events, etc.
16. Techstars
- Description: "Techstars is the worldwide network that helps entrepreneurs succeed. Our three month program is designed to help you gain traction through deep mentor engagement, rapid iteration cycles, and fundraising preparation.”
- Sectors / Markets of Focus: All tech or tech-enabled businesses.
- Techstars Requirements: They are looking for strong and balanced teams who possess a wide array of skill sets.
- Techstars Deal Terms: Startups are offered a $100,000 convertible note; plus, Techstars contributes $20,000 USD to support living expenses during the accelerator program. Techstars receives a 6% equity until the startup raises a priced equity financing of $250,000 USD or more.
- Notable Techstars Alumni: Legalpad, SendGrid, DigitalOcean, Zipline, Outreach, PillPack, ClassPass.
17. Village88 Techlab
- Description: “A stealth innovation studio that is committed to enabling entrepreneurs to fulfill their product potential, and creating breakthrough web technologies.”
- Sectors / Markets of Focus: All tech or tech-enabled businesses.
- Village88 Techlab Requirements: Passionate entrepreneurs who are looking to take their innovative idea/product and turn it into a scalable startup.
- Village88 Techlab Deal Terms: They work with 5 startups at a time and provide between $10,000-$200,000 USD worth of engineering resources to build a product within a 3-6 month period.
18. Women in Cloud Accelerator
- Description: “Build and grow your company in the Women in Cloud Accelerator. The Accelerator is an immersive 6-month program to assist women-led companies to co-build, co-market, and co-sell with Cloud hyper-scalers and their distribution channels.”
- Sectors / Markets of Focus: Cloud Technology.
- Women in Cloud Accelerator Requirements: Women-led startups looking to create and scale their B2B solutions.
- Women in Cloud Accelerator Deal Terms: Access to investors, Microsoft executives and leaders; as well as, partner benefits and educational resources. Coaching and mentoring sessions, lead generation, pitch and deal preparation, discounted travel benefits, etc.
- Notable Women in Cloud Accelerator Alumni: Agile Impact, Automaton, Bitlume, Computing Kids, Genneve, Meylah, Plantmatch, RightSciences, Stylyze.
If you are looking to build a startup in Seattle, the Founder Institute is looking for you. Apply today!
Image courtesy of Pixabay.
