21 Best Startup Accelerators & Incubators In Raleigh [2024]

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Updated: January 20th, 2022

Are you looking for an accelerator program in Raleigh?

Did you know that 2020 was a record-breaking year for the creation of new businesses and small startups in Raleigh?

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

Startup Accelerators & Business Incubators In Raleigh

#	Accelerator/Incubator	Funding	Location	Apply
1	Launch Raleigh	Not Disclosed	Raleigh	Apply
2	Andrew Launch Accelerator	$5K-$50K	Raleigh	Apply
3	Launch Her	Not Disclosed	Raleigh	Apply
4	FYSO Accelerator	Not Disclosed	Raleigh	Apply
5	First Flight Venture Center	$25K	Durham, R...	Apply
6	Innovate Raleigh	Not Disclosed	Raleigh	Apply
7	GRO Incubator by CED	Not Disclosed	Raleigh, ...	Apply
8	The Pinkubator	Not Disclosed	Raleigh	Apply
9	Audacity Factory	Not Disclosed	Raleigh	Apply
10	Carolina Small Business Development Fund	Not Disclosed	Raleigh, ...	Apply
11	Shaw University	Not Disclosed	Raleigh	Apply
12	American Underground	Not Disclosed	Durham, R...	Apply
13	The Innovators Program	$10K	Raleigh	Apply
14	RIoT Accelerator Program	Not Disclosed	Raleigh	Apply
15	Raleigh Founded	Not Disclosed	Raleigh	Apply
16	Score	Not Disclosed	Global	Apply
17	One Better ventures	Not Disclosed	Raleigh	Apply
18	Designbox	Not Disclosed	Raleigh	Apply
19	Frontier RTP	Not Disclosed	Raleigh, ...	Apply
20	SBTDC	Not Disclosed	Raleigh, ...	Apply
21	Powderkeg	Not Disclosed	Nashville...	Apply

21 Best Startup Accelerators & Incubators In Raleigh [2024]

1. Launch Raleigh

Location: Raleigh
Industry: All industries
Investment Size: Not Disclosed
Program Length: 8 weeks

Launch Raleigh hosts a business accelerator program that helps small businesses and entrepreneurs of under-resourced communities. This program supports them by providing capital, business development services, networking opportunities, business training, loans, mentorship from experienced industry experts, and networking opportunities with peers and established entrepreneurs.

Apply to Launch Raleigh, or learn more ➜

2. Andrew Launch Accelerator

Location: Raleigh
Industry: All industries
Investment Size: $5K-$50K
Program Length: 14 Weeks

Andrews Launch Accelerator program hosted by NC Entrepreneurship Clinic helps undergraduate, graduate, and alumni of NC State program. This 14-week program provides startups with funds ranging from $5K-$50K, startup lessons from subject matter experts, one-on-one developmental sessions, tailored guidance for programs at any development stage, fundraising opportunities, and various perks & resources to grow successful business companies.

Apply to Andrew Launch Accelerator, or learn more ➜

3. Launch Her

Location: Raleigh
Industry: Business owned by Women
Investment Size: Not Disclosed
Program Length: Not Disclosed

Launch Her runs a business accelerator program that empowers and inspires women entrepreneurs and female-owned startup firms to move forward in the industry and become successful. This program helps businesswomen turn their entrepreneurial dreams into reality by providing them with business resources, directional planning advice, economic business solutions, mindset & mentorship, business strategies, innovative business ideas, networking opportunities, and support to build profitable business ventures.

Apply to Launch Her, or learn more ➜

4. FYSO Accelerator

Location: Raleigh
Industry: All industries
Investment Size: Not Disclosed
Program Length: 6 Months

FYSO Accelerator program run by Christina Marie Noel helps entrepreneurs build mission-driven businesses and offers them business strategies to earn sustainable profits. This 6-month program provides mission-driven entrepreneurs with support for building & growing a business, space to test their ideas, tools to achieve pre-desired business goals, marketing strategies, networking opportunities, boot camp programs, and various other resources.

Apply to FYSO Accelerator, or learn more ➜

5. First Flight Venture Center

Location: Durham, Research Triangle Park, Raleigh
Industry: Science and Technology
Investment Size: $25K
Program: Varies

First Flight Ventures is an incubator program in North Carolina that helps entrepreneurs develop, launch, and grow in the industry. This science and technology center at RTP supports entrepreneurs to launch successful businesses in the niche of life science, information technology, medical devices, and bioscience. They offer guidance, tailored resources, and connections to the startups essential for sustained commercial success in the industry.

Apply to First Flight Venture Center, or learn more ➜

6. Innovate Raleigh

Location: Raleigh
Industry: All industries
Investment Size: Not Disclosed
Program Length: Not Disclosed

Innovate Raleigh organizes an innovation and entrepreneurship program to serve startup communities in Raleigh. This program connects strong and vibrant entrepreneurs of the community with growth opportunities, talent, and funding. They foster entrepreneurship and support business organizations by emphasizing diversity and inclusion in the innovative ecosystem of Raleigh.

Apply to Innovate Raleigh, or learn more ➜

7. GRO Incubator by CED

Location: Raleigh, Research Triangle Park
Industry: Technology and Life Science
Investment Size: Not Disclosed
Program Length: 12 Weeks

GRO Incubator by CED is a 12-week business program that helps tech companies and life science companies to grow and succeed in the industry. This program helps startup businesses to get better placement in the markets of North Carolina by providing them with a game-changing experience, one-on-one mentorship from industry leaders, a viable business model, knowledge about product-market fit, tailored curriculum different for tech and life science companies, and access to funding, pitching, & demo day program.

Apply to GRO Incubator by CED, or learn more ➜

8. The Pinkubator

Location: Raleigh
Industry: Healthcare Business owned by Women
Investment Size: Not Disclosed
Program Length: Not Disclosed

The Pinkubator program hosted by The Pink Ceiling helps healthcare businesses run by women entrepreneurs or for women in general. This program invests in the success of such startups by providing them with capital, mentorship, and resources. They empower women entrepreneurs to build wealth, inspire them to move forward in the industry, and become successful.

Apply to The Pinkubator, or learn more ➜

9. Audacity Factory

Location: Raleigh
Industry: Social Businesses
Investment Size: Not Disclosed
Program Length: Not Disclosed

Audacity Factory runs an accelerator program that helps social business ventures to end modern-day slavery. This program provides them with collaboration opportunities with industry experts, measurable resources to bring impact in the society, sustainability, tech & digital marketing practices, and knowledge about slavery & exploitation around the world.

Apply to Audacity Factory, or learn more ➜

10. Carolina Small Business Development Fund

Location: Raleigh, Asheville, and Charlotte
Industry: Small Business
Investment Size: Not Disclosed
Program Length: Not Disclosed

Carolina Small Business Development Fund runs a program to support emerging small businesses to grow and succeed in the markets of North Carolina. They support communities by helping entrepreneurs build the business firm of their dreams. This program offers them various economic opportunities, capital, technical assistance, access to programs, and resources to remove business barriers. They act as a catalyst to the success of small entrepreneurs in the industry.

Apply to Carolina Small Business Development Fund, or learn more ➜

11. Shaw University

Location: Raleigh
Industry: Small Business
Investment Size: Not Disclosed
Program Length: Not Disclosed

Shaw University runs an Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center to empower, inspire, and connect startups, student entrepreneurs, and small businesses with educational business training, valuable tools & resources, structured curriculum, workshops, and technical business assistance. They also provide them with hands-on business experience, entrepreneurial training, business incubation, financial services, and space to dream about business ideas, innovate them, and grow them in the market.

Apply to Shaw University, or learn more ➜

12. American Underground

Location: Durham, Raleigh
Industry: Technology and Digital Products
Investment Size: Not Disclosed
Program: Not Disclosed

American Underground is an incubator program and a startup hub that provides community support and space to entrepreneurs to grow and excel in the industry. They offer curated resources, workspace, and a vibrant community of mentors and investors to the participating entrepreneurs. This program diversifies the economic opportunities of startups by hosting three different programs for them to participate in; Black Founders Exchange, Landing Spot, and Idea to Entrepreneur.

Apply to American Underground, or learn more ➜

13. The Innovators Program

Location: Raleigh
Industry: All industries
Investment Size: $10K
Program Length: 12 Weeks

The Innovators Program runs an accelerator program for startup founders and internal innovators to grow and succeed in the industry. This program assists talented and motivated founders to build profitable business firms by providing them with the skillset, mindset, collaborative working environment, and solutions to business problems. They also provide members with business tools, product-market fit knowledge, branding, business model, guidance from technical founders, and learning & growth opportunities.

Apply to The Innovators Program, or learn more ➜

14. RIoT Accelerator Program

Location: Raleigh
Industry: IoT Technology
Investment Size: Not Disclosed
Program Length: 12 Weeks

RIoT Accelerator program runs for 12-weeks to support IoT technology businesses in the niche of healthcare, public safety, manufacturing, consumer & environmental products, and more. This program provides startups with research & commercialization processes, solutions to market-driven problems, connection building opportunities, prototyping lab, collaboration opportunities with industry experts and government, growth resources, and innovative business ideas to accelerate the success of businesses.

Apply to RIoT Accelerator Program, or learn more ➜

15. Raleigh Founded

Location: Raleigh
Industry: All industries
Investment Size: Not Disclosed
Program Length: Not Disclosed

Raleigh Founded offers fully-equipped co-working space and incubation services to entrepreneurs, startups, & innovators of the region. They also provide many virtual and in-person resources, early-stage assistance at Business-Law Clinic, education about legal business issues, various university-affiliated programs, collaborative space for growth, and partnership & networking opportunities for the organizations to grow and succeed in the industry.

Apply to Raleigh Founded, or learn more ➜

16. Score

Location: Global
Industry: All industries
Investment Size: Not Disclosed
Program Length: Not Disclosed

Score runs a global program that provides small businesses with low-cost business advice, professional services, workshops, training sessions, mentorship, resources, and tools. This program helps in the economic development and prosperity of the region by creating new jobs.

Apply to Score, or learn more ➜

17. One Better ventures

Location: Raleigh
Industry: Consumer-centric Businesses
Investment Size: Not Disclosed
Program Length: Not Disclosed

One Better Ventures runs a consumer-centric business program that advises, supports, invests, and helps in the operations of mission-driven companies. They combine business ideas, strategies, and capital to empower the growth of ventures that creates a positive impact on the world. This program accelerates innovative consumer products that have a track record of success in the categories of wellness, health, and nature.

Apply to One Better ventures, or learn more ➜

18. Designbox

Location: Raleigh
Industry: Innovative Businesses
Investment Size: Not Disclosed
Program Length: Not Disclosed

Designbox hosts a business program and helps entrepreneurs and startups to convert great business ideas into reality. They provide members with advanced business concepts, design for production, marketing & branding strategies, sustainable manufacturing processes & materials, and opportunity to build global manufacturing relationships. This program also provides them collaborative opportunities, ground-breaking & market-driven technologies, learning opportunities with experts, and various methodologies to manufacture innovative real-life products.

Apply to Designbox, or learn more ➜

19. Frontier RTP

Location: Raleigh, Research Triangle Park
Industry: All industries
Investment Size: Not Disclosed
Program Length: Not Disclosed

Frontier RTP hosts a business program that offers meetings & office space, networking events, educational & networking opportunities, resources, and access to events for the business firms to grow and flourish in the industry. This program supports and serves startups, freelancers, STEM professionals, and emerging business companies to build scalable ventures and to move forward in the industrial ecosystem.

Apply to Frontier RTP, or learn more ➜

20. SBTDC

Location: Raleigh, Winston-Salem
Industry: Mid-sized Business Companies
Investment Size: Not Disclosed
Program Length: Not Disclosed

SBTDC or Small Business and Technology Development Center program hosted at the NC State University provides businesses with expert business counseling, advice, viable business strategies, market opportunities, industry research, business assistance, and various resources to run a profitable business in the marketplace.

Apply to SBTDC, or learn more ➜

21. Powderkeg

Location: Nashville, Raleigh
Industry: Technology Industry
Investment Size: Not Disclosed
Program: Not Disclosed

Powderkeg is a community of growing tech entrepreneurs who build innovative tech companies around the world. They believe in the power of people and networks and thus empower connection. They host various events and programs to help the tech communities across America.

Apply to Powderkeg, 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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