15 Best Startup Accelerators & Incubators In Columbus [2024]

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Updated: January 20th, 2022

Are you looking for an accelerator program in Columbus city?

According to Forbes, Columbus City is rated amongst the top cities in the USA and offers various benefits to business owners.

If you're starting a startup in Columbus, you might be wondering what startup accelerators or incubators exist in the area. Here's the full list:

Startup Accelerators & Business Incubators In Columbus

#	Accelerator/Incubator	Funding	Location	Apply
1	Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship	Varies	Columbus	Apply
2	Rev1 Ventures	Not Disclosed	Columbus	Apply
3	Taivara	Not Disclosed	Columbus	Apply
4	Ohio SBDC	Varies	Columbus	Apply
5	Fintech 71	$100K	Columbus	Apply
6	ECDI Women's Business Center	$350K	Columbus	Apply
7	BMW Collaboration Labs	Varies	Columbus	Apply
8	Social Enterprise Accelerator	$100K	Columbus	Apply
9	Idea Foundry	Not Disclosed	Columbus	Apply
10	One Columbus	$500K	Columbus	Apply
11	Urban Accelerator	Not Disclosed	Columbus	Apply
12	Columbus Chamber of Commerce	Not Disclosed	Columbus	Apply
13	Lumos Innovation	$20K	Columbus	Apply
14	Sun Down Run Down Group	$10K	Columbus	Apply
15	American Electric Power Illumination Lab	Not Disclosed	Columbus	Apply

15 Best Startup Accelerators & Incubators In Columbus [2024]

1. Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship

Location: Columbus
Industry: All Industries
Investment Size: Varies
Program: 2 Years

Keenen Center for Entrepreneurship is a program hosted by The Ohio State University to help the entrepreneurial community of Columbus. This program supports entrepreneurs by providing them with education, startup talent, mentorship, programming resources, venture development services, growth opportunities, and early-stage capital.

Apply to Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship, or learn more ➜

2. Rev1 Ventures

Location: Columbus
Industry: Innovation and Technology Industry
Investment Size: Not Disclosed
Program: Not Disclosed

Rev1 Ventures is an accelerator program that helps startups grow and scale in their industry. They help startups that specialize in insurance technology, fintech, advanced manufacturing & materials, enterprise software, data analytics, mobile, media, alternative energy, food tech, agtech, IoT, connected devices, and life sciences & digital health. Rev1 Ventures is a startup studio that fulfills the individual needs of startups and pairs them up with innovators, investors, education, capital, and resources.

Apply to Rev1 Ventures, or learn more ➜

3. Taivara

Location: Columbus
Industry: Technology and Innovation
Investment Size: Not Disclosed
Program: Not Disclosed

Taivara is a technology innovation accelerator program that helps founders and innovators to build digital products. This program provides entrepreneurs with essential resources to co-create innovative products and deliver them to the market of Columbus in a cost-effective manner. Taivara program is highly secured and provides end-to-end business solutions to digital products startups.

Apply to Taivara, or learn more ➜

4. Ohio SBDC

Location: Columbus
Industry: All Industries
Investment Size: Varies
Program: Varies

Ohio Small Business Development Center is a program that helps local businesses to thrive in the industrial ecosystem. They provide entrepreneurs with one-on-one advising, training sessions, workshops, business skills, and access to experts in the field of finance, accounts, and research. This program has a curated team of mentors who help startups achieve their business goals and become profitable business firms.

Apply to Ohio SBDC, or learn more ➜

5. Fintech 71

Location: Columbus
Industry: Financial Technology
Investment Size: $100K
Program: 10 Weeks

Fintech 71 is a startup accelerator program that provides entrepreneurs with access to top financial services and mentors. This program helps businesses in the verticals of insurance technology, digital banking, cybersecurity, investments & institutional finance, reg tech, lending & payments, and personal finance. This 10-week program offers the capital of $100K and education about business operation, big data & analytics to the entrepreneurs.

Apply to Fintech 71, or learn more ➜

6. ECDI Women's Business Center

Location: Columbus
Industry: All Industries
Investment Size: $350K
Program: Not Disclosed

ECDI Women's Business Center of Ohio is a program that provides guidance and education for women entrepreneurs. They support them by helping start, run, and scale their businesses in the industry. This program is a one-stop resource that offers training, mentorship, and capital to women-based startup firms.

Apply to ECDI Women's Business Center, or learn more ➜

7. BMW Collaboration Labs

Location: Columbus
Industry: Innovation Industry
Investment Size: Varies
Program: 10 Weeks

BMW Collaboration Lab is a 10-week program that provides startups with the opportunity to trial their products, access mentoring from the experts at BMW Group Financial Services, and receive funding and capital from L Marks. This program focuses on digitizing customer journeys, provide them with data analytics and business insights, help them build blockchain technology, and educate them about lease returns and life cycle management.

Apply to BMW Collaboration Labs, or learn more ➜

Location: Columbus
Industry: Social Ventures
Investment Size: $100K
Program: 14 Weeks

Social Enterprise Accelerator (SEA) is a program that offers training, mentorship, and access to tools & resources to social entrepreneurs essential to succeed in the industry. They help startups leave a meaningful societal impact and build a successful business firm. SEA guides entrepreneurs to develop a deep business model through both in-person and online programs.

Apply to Social Enterprise Accelerator, or learn more ➜

9. Idea Foundry

Location: Columbus
Industry: Technology Industry
Investment Size: Not Disclosed
Program: Not Disclosed

Idea Foundry is an incubator program and a makerspace that shares tools, technology, knowledge, and resources with entrepreneurs. They help entrepreneurs to launch their startup businesses through collaboration, experience, and inspiration. This program hosts various events, classes and offers a co-working space so that participants of the program can build a flourishing business firm.

Apply to Idea Foundry, or learn more ➜

10. One Columbus

Location: Columbus
Industry: All Industries
Investment Size: $500K
Program: Not Disclosed

One Columbus is a program that helps local entrepreneurs and startup firms stand out in their niche. This program serves as a central business location for the startups to grow and innovate. Their mission is to develop a regional growth strategy and grow companies through an adaptive workforce.

Apply to One Columbus, or learn more ➜

11. Urban Accelerator

Location: Columbus
Industry: Main Street and Lifestyle
Investment Size: Not Disclosed
Program: Fall and Winter - 16 and 8 weeks respectively

The Urban Accelerator was created to fill the gap of access for many entrepreneurs by providing education, resources, and connections that will positively impact their businesses. They offer entrepreneurs virtual streaming services, co-working space, consultation services, tailored curriculum, workshops, training sessions, education, boot camps, and solutions to overcome business barriers.

Apply to Urban Accelerator, or learn more ➜

12. Columbus Chamber of Commerce

Location: Columbus
Industry: All Industries
Investment Size: Not Disclosed
Program: 14 Weeks

Columbus Chamber of Commerce is a program that invests in the success of local startups and entrepreneurs. They provide entrepreneurs with networking opportunities, government relations, business solutions & strategies, market research, consultation, and a talented workforce to move forward in the industry.

Apply to Columbus Chamber of Commerce, or learn more ➜

13. Lumos Innovation

Location: Columbus
Industry: Technology Industry
Investment Size: $20K
Program: 10 Weeks

Lumos Accelerator program provides technology entrepreneurs with community engagement, workforce development, and support. This 10-week program offers an initial investment of $20K and offers various perks and networking opportunities to transform startups into disruptive companies.

Apply to Lumos Innovation, or learn more ➜

14. Sun Down Run Down Group

Location: Columbus
Industry: All Industries
Investment Size: $10K
Program: 3 Months

Sun Down Run Down Group is a program that connects entrepreneurs to mentors, investors, and talents. They provide entrepreneurs with capital, mentorship, co-working space, and networking opportunities. This program also hosts pitching events, workshops, classes, and educational sessions for startups and businesses to grow in the industry.

Apply to Sun Down Run Down Group, or learn more ➜

15. American Electric Power Illumination Lab

Location: Columbus
Industry: Energy Products/Services
Investment Size: Not Disclosed
Program: 10 Weeks

American Electric Power Innovation Lab is a program that works with entrepreneurs having a business idea or a startup firm related to innovative energy products and services. This 10-week program provides entrepreneurs with opportunities to grow their business idea, mentorship from subject matter experts, partnership opportunities, potential funding, workspace, a wide pool of resources & investors, and access to attend pitching events.

Apply to American Electric Power Illumination Lab, or learn more ➜

meet the author

Pat Walls

I'm Pat Walls and I created Starter Story - a website dedicated to helping people start businesses. We interview entrepreneurs from around the world about how they started and grew their businesses.

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