Equity-free accelerators & incubators (2026)
Accelerators, incubators and fellowships that take no equity: corporate programs, government incubators and founder fellowships. Many add cloud credits, mentoring or a small grant on top.
We track 40 programs in this category from 26 providers: 17 open now and 23 paused until their next round. 10 are open to startups worldwide and 30 are limited to specific countries or regions. The largest headline value among open programs is Hub71 Access Programme from Hub71 (Abu Dhabi) (AED 250,000 (~$68k) in-kind incentives + AED 250,000 (~$68k) cash via SAFE + up to AED…). Across the 5 open programs with a stated value, the median is $58,000. Most common types: Corporate accelerator (10), Government-backed tech hub (1), University deep-tech accelerator (1), Pre-seed investment (1). 22 do not require a registered company, and 7 accept students or researchers. The next dated deadline or opening is 1 November 2026 (DCAI Accelerator: Agentic AI for Government Services).
Guides: Startup grants and free credits for student founders (2026)
All 40 programs, open first and largest first
| Program | What you get | Where | Status | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hub71 Access ProgrammeHub71 (Abu Dhabi) | AED 250,000 (~$68k) in-kind incentives + AED 250,000 (~$68k) cash via SAFE + up to AED 250,000 (~$68k) equity top-up | Worldwide | Open | 2026-10-22 |
| Enterprise Ireland Pre-Seed Start Fund (PSSF)Enterprise Ireland | €50,000 or €100,000 investment (~$54k–$108k) + 10 mentoring sessions — an INVESTMENT, not a grant | Ireland | Open | 2026-10-23 |
| Orange Corners + Orange Corners Innovation Fund (Arab hubs)Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs / RVO | Free incubation; OCIF Track 1 up to EUR 5,000 (prototype voucher + allowance), Track 2 up to EUR 50,000 (~$58k) seed per entrepreneur,… | 8 countries | Open | 2026-10-22 |
| Anzisha Fellowship 2027African Leadership Academy / Mastercard Foundation | Fellowship with coaching and milestone support; finalists compete for a $40,000 prize pool | 54 countries | Open | 2026-10-30 |
| Z FellowsZ Fellows | $10,000 optional investment ($1B valuation cap) + one week with billion-dollar founders | Worldwide | Open | 2026-10-22 |
| Berytech ScaleSmartBerytech | Tailored 4-month investment-readiness support, mentoring, workshops and investor introductions; no cash amount stated | Lebanon | Open | 2026-10-22 |
| BridgeStart Global GatewayIgnite – National Technology Fund (MoITT, Pakistan) | Sponsorship of program fees, travel and accommodation at a partner global accelerator (amount not stated) | Pakistan | Open | 2026-10-23 |
| DCAI Accelerator: Agentic AI for Government ServicesDubai Future Foundation / Dubai Centre for AI | 0% equity; Dubai residency programme with government pilot access (cash value not published) | Worldwide | Open | 2026-10-30 |
| Green Growth and Jobs Accelerator Project (GGJAP)Flat6Labs with UNDP (Danish-Arab Partnership Program) | Free 5-phase accelerator (training, operational support, digital resources, investor access); no cash amount stated | Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Jordan | Open | 2026-10-22 |
| Hub71 InitiateHub71 (Abu Dhabi) | Free Abu Dhabi licence + office space at Hub71 for one year, soft-landing support and partner network (value not stated) | Worldwide | Open | 2026-10-22 |
| Ignite MoroccoFlat6Labs | Free 6–18 month support program (training, coaching, investor prep, Demo Day); no cash amount stated | Morocco | Open | 2026-10-22 |
| ITIDA Technology Entrepreneurship Accelerator (TEA)Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) | Free 3-month accelerator (workshops, mentorship, investor pitch); no cash amount stated | Egypt | Open | 2026-10-22 |
| Microsoft for Startups Pegasus ProgramMicrosoft | Co-selling through Microsoft sales channels, a dedicated Cloud Solutions Architect and prioritized access to Azure AI offerings; credit… | Worldwide | Open | 2026-10-23 |
| Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund (MBRIF) AcceleratorUAE Ministry of Finance / MBRIF | Equity-free, fee-free accelerator: experts, partner services and government/corporate access (value not stated) | Worldwide | Open | 2026-10 |
| Monsha'at Sector Business AcceleratorsMonsha'at (SME General Authority) | Free-of-charge sector accelerators (e.g. EdTech, Real Estate Innovation, Dates, Franchise); funding varies by program | Saudi Arabia | Open | 2026-10 |
| StartMashreq Incubation ProgramFlat6Labs | Free incubation: training, 1:1 coaching, mentors, investor/corporate access, pitch nights, international tours; no cash amount stated | Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq | Open | 2026-10-22 |
| Tamkeen Riyada Business Accelerator ProgramTamkeen (Bahrain Labour Fund), powered by Salica Investments | 100% of programme cost covered by Tamkeen (free 6-month accelerator); investor access | Bahrain | Open | 2026-10-22 |
| KAUST TAQADAM AcceleratorKing Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) with Saudi Awwal Bank | $40,000 at start; up to $140,000 total including $100,000 follow-on for 10 startups at the annual showcase | Worldwide | Paused: next round TBA | 2026-10-23 |
| Cyberport Incubation ProgrammeCyberport | Up to HK$500,000 (~$64k) financial assistance + up to HK$200,000 (~$26k) on-site rental subsidy over 24 months | Hong Kong | Paused: next deadline Dec 1, 2026 | 2026-10-30 |
| Access Sharjah Challenge (ASC)Sheraa (Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center) | AED 250,000 (~$68k) proof-of-concept contract + $1M+ in partner perks | Worldwide | Paused: next round TBA | 2026-10-23 |
| MCIT CODE Tech ChampionsCenter of Digital Entrepreneurship (CODE), MCIT | Incubation + pathway to MVPLab support of up to SAR 150,000 (~$40k) | Saudi Arabia | Paused: next round TBA | 2026-10-23 |
| MZN x Hub71 Programme (Emirati founders)Hub71 & Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development | Equity-free 3-month programme; Demo Day in-kind awards AED 100k / 60k / 40k (~$27k max) | United Arab Emirates | Paused: next round TBA | 2026-10-23 |
| Sharjah Women Impact Fellowship (SWIF)Sheraa (Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center) | Free 6-month fellowship + AED 3,000 (~$800) Sharjah licensing reimbursement | United Arab Emirates | Paused: next round TBA | 2026-10-23 |
| Creative Destruction Lab (CDL)Creative Destruction Lab | No-fee, no-equity objectives-based mentorship with investors and scientists (no cash) | Worldwide | Paused: next round TBA | 2026-10-23 |
| Fast Forward Tech Nonprofit AcceleratorFast Forward | $25K+ in unrestricted funding, plus mentorship and partnerships | Worldwide | Paused: next round TBA | 2026-10-23 |
| Google for Startups Accelerator: AfricaGoogle | Equity-free mentoring, Google product credits and Cloud credits (amounts not stated), plus Cloud TPU access | 54 countries | Paused: next round TBA | 2026-10-23 |
| Google for Startups Accelerator: Australia and New ZealandGoogle | Equity-free mentoring, Google product credits and Cloud credits (amounts not stated), plus Cloud TPU access | Australia, New Zealand | Paused: next round TBA | 2026-10-23 |
| Google for Startups Accelerator: BrazilGoogle | Equity-free mentoring, Google product credits and Cloud credits (amounts not stated), plus Cloud TPU access | Brazil | Paused: next round TBA | 2026-10-23 |
| Google for Startups Accelerator: CanadaGoogle | Equity-free mentoring, Google product credits and Cloud credits (amounts not stated), plus Cloud TPU access | Canada | Paused: next round TBA | 2026-10-23 |
| Google for Startups Accelerator: IndiaGoogle | Equity-free mentoring, Google product credits and Cloud credits (amounts not stated), plus Cloud TPU access | India | Paused: next round TBA | 2026-10-23 |
| Google for Startups Accelerator: JapanGoogle | Equity-free mentoring, Google product credits and Cloud credits (amounts not stated), plus Cloud TPU access | Japan | Paused: next round TBA | 2026-10-23 |
| Google for Startups Accelerator: KoreaGoogle | Equity-free mentoring, Google product credits and Cloud credits (amounts not stated), plus Cloud TPU access | South Korea | Paused: next round TBA | 2026-10-23 |
| Google for Startups Accelerator: Middle East, North Africa and TurkeyGoogle | Equity-free mentoring and Google product credits, plus Cloud credits of up to $350K in year one (subject to Google Cloud tier eligibility) | 17 countries | Paused: next round TBA | 2026-10-23 |
| Google for Startups Accelerator: North America (Energy)Google | Equity-free mentoring, Google product credits and Cloud credits (amounts not stated), plus Cloud TPU access | United States, Canada | Paused: next round TBA | 2026-10-23 |
| Google for Startups Accelerator: Southeast AsiaGoogle | Equity-free mentoring, Google product credits and Cloud credits (amounts not stated), plus Cloud TPU access | 11 countries | Paused: next round TBA | 2026-10-23 |
| Google for Startups Growth Academy: Women in AI (MENA)Google for Startups | Equity-free 6-week program with Google mentoring and product credits (amount not stated) | 16 countries | Paused: next round TBA | 2026-10-23 |
| Monsha'at FinTech AcceleratorMonsha'at (SME General Authority) | Free 3-month accelerator; financing grant for the first 10 companies reaching the accelerator phase (amount not stated) | Saudi Arabia | Paused: next round TBA | 2026-10 |
| Monsha'at University Startup AcceleratorMonsha'at (SME General Authority) | Free acceleration for student/graduate startups run with Saudi universities; no cash amount stated | Saudi Arabia | Paused: next round TBA | 2026-10 |
| QSTP XLR8 AcceleratorQatar Science & Technology Park (Qatar Foundation) | Free 14-week program; winners get incorporation at QSTP and a paid product-development intern | Qatar | Paused: next round TBA | 2026-10-23 |
| The Garage Accelerator (Riyadh)The Garage | Free facilities, workshops and perks for Garage program companies; no cash amount published | Saudi Arabia | Paused: next round TBA | 2026-10 |
Other categories
AI credits for startups · Cloud credits for startups · GPU credits for startups · Free developer tools for startups · Data & analytics perks for startups · Security & compliance perks for startups · Business software perks for startups · Banking & payments perks for startups · Cash grants & prizes for startups · Government grants for startups · Research & student founder programs
Program terms change often. Open a program to see its official source and verification date, and confirm on the provider's page before you apply. Spotted something out of date? Report a correction.