Accelerator terms compared: cash, equity and real valuation (2026)
The headline check is the number accelerators advertise. The number that matters is how much cash buys the fixed equity stake, because that sets the valuation you're really giving. This table lists the published deal for 20 programs that invest cash, each with a link to the official page we took it from (checked Oct 17, 2026).
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Implied post-money = cash for the fixed stake ÷ fixed equity %. YC's $125K for 7% works out to about $1,785,714. Techstars' $20K for 5% works out to about $400,000, even though both advertise a much bigger check. The rest of the headline is usually an uncapped MFN SAFE or a follow-on commitment: it converts at your next round's price, so it costs you dilution later instead of now. It's real money, but it isn't what buys the fixed stake. BatchUp scores only the fixed part and shows the rest separately.
Programs with a fixed stake (10), highest implied valuation first
| Program | Headline check | Cash for the fixed stake | Fixed equity | Implied post-money | Converting / follow-on money | Terms detail | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Park Commons Founder Fellowship #2 | $400,000 | $400,000 | 7% | $5,714,286 | $600K guaranteed in next external round (follow-on) | $400K for 7% on standard SAFE + $600K guaranteed in next external round. Fall 2026 closed; Spring 2027 opens later (no date). | southparkcommons.com ↗ |
| a16z speedrun #1 | $500,000 | $500,000 | 10% | $5,000,000 | up to $500K more in next qualifying round (follow-on) | $500K upfront for 10% via SAFE + up to $500K in next qualifying round within 18 months (up to $1M total). SR008 applications close Nov 1, 2026 11:59pm PT. | speedrun.a16z.com ↗ |
| 500 Global Flagship Accelerator #6 | $150,000 | $150,000 | 6% | $2,500,000 | — | $150K for 6%, subject to terms and diligence; four-month in-person program; Batch 37 applications open, no dated cutoff shown. Program fee not confirmed on official page. | flagship.aplica.500.co ↗ |
| Antler (Disrupt) #10 | $400,000 | $250,000 | 10% | $2,500,000 | $150K uncapped MFN SAFE (converts later) | $250K for 10% via SAFE + $150K uncapped MFN SAFE; no residency fee. US residency separately quotes $500K–$1M initial commitments. | antler.co ↗ |
| Y Combinator #8 | $500,000 | $125,000 | 7% | $1,785,714 | $375K uncapped MFN SAFE (converts later) | $125K post-money SAFE for fixed 7% + $375K uncapped MFN SAFE; no fees; pro-rata right. | ycombinator.com ↗ |
| LAUNCH Accelerator #9 | $125,000 | $125,000 | 7% | $1,785,714 | — | $125K for 7%, non-negotiable; 14 weeks. | launchaccelerator.co ↗ |
| Entrepreneur First #3 | $125,000 | $125,000 | 8% | $1,562,500 | optional $125K uncapped MFN SAFE (converts later) | $125K post-money SAFE for 8% + optional $125K uncapped MFN SAFE (requires SF relocation, Delaware C-corp). | joinef.com ↗ |
| gener8tor #5 | $100,000 | $100,000 | 7.5% | $1,333,333 | — | $100K for 7.5% via SAFE; 12 weeks. | gener8tor.com ↗ |
| Alchemist Accelerator #7 | $25,000 | $25,000 | 5% | $500,000 | — | Optional ~$25K investment typically offsets program tuition; ~5% common equity, terms flexible. Six months. | intercom.help ↗ |
| Techstars New York City #11 | $220,000 | $20,000 | 5% | $400,000 | $200K uncapped MFN SAFE (converts later) | $20K CEA for 5% + $200K uncapped MFN SAFE; 2027 cohort apps close Nov 18, 2026. | techstars.com ↗ |
Other cash programs (10): uncapped SAFEs, notes and terms without a fixed price
These invest cash but don't publish a fixed price for a fixed stake (for example an uncapped SAFE, or equity with no stated cash amount), so there's no implied valuation to compute. Equity-free grants take 0% and have no valuation at all. Startmate's deal is in AUD and isn't converted.
| Program | Headline check | Cash for the fixed stake | Fixed equity | Implied post-money | Converting / follow-on money | Terms detail | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AI Grant | $250,000 | — | — | — | — | $250K on an uncapped SAFE; $600K credits. | aigrant.com ↗ |
| Betaworks Camp #12 | $250,000 | $0 | 5% | $0 | up to $250K uncapped SAFE with 25% discount (converts later); the 5% is a common-stock grant with no fixed-price cash | Betaworks invests up to $250K uncapped SAFE (25% discount) + 5% common; syndicate may add up to $250K. 12 weeks, no fee. | betaworks.com ↗ |
| Conviction Embed | $250,000 | — | — | — | — | $250K uncapped, no-discount MFN SAFE (or same price as a round in last 60 days); $1M+ compute credits. | embed.conviction.com ↗ |
| HAX (SOSV) | $250,000 | — | — | — | — | Typically starts at $250K ($150K cash + $100K in-kind) on uncapped post-money SAFE with target ownership; up to $550K initial. Six-month residency. | hax.co ↗ |
| Techstars AI Health Baltimore | $220,000 | $20,000 | — | — | $200K uncapped MFN SAFE (converts later) | $220K stated on the program page: $20K CEA for 5% common + $200K uncapped MFN SAFE (Techstars standard terms). | techstars.com ↗ |
| USC and Techstars Accelerator | $220,000 | $20,000 | — | — | $200K uncapped MFN SAFE (converts later) | $220K stated on the program page: $20K CEA for 5% common + $200K uncapped MFN SAFE (Techstars standard terms). | techstars.com ↗ |
| Soma Fellows | $100,000 | — | — | — | — | $100K uncapped SAFE; no fixed equity at issuance. | somafellows.com ↗ |
| Third Derivative | $100,000 | — | — | — | — | Optional $100K convertible note converting at qualified financing; no fixed %. | third-derivative.org ↗ |
| MIT delta v #4 | $75,000 | $75,000 | 0% | — | equity-free grant | Up to $75K equity-free funding; 2026 cohort ran Jun 1–Sep 11 (~14 weeks). MIT students only. | entrepreneurship.mit.edu ↗ |
| Startmate Accelerator | — | — | 8% | — | — | $120K AUD at a $1.5M post-money valuation (AUD, not converted); 14 weeks; remote-first with 3 weeks IRL. | startmate.com ↗ |
Terms change and some programs negotiate. “—” means the official page doesn't say. Always read the program's own deal page before you sign. Not investment advice. Spotted an outdated term? Program teams can send updated terms via Get featured; it never changes rank or score.