Accelerators that accept solo founders (2026)

No co-founder yet? These 5 programs say on their own pages that solo founders can apply. 5 have an open, dated deadline right now, and the next one closes Oct 21, 2026 (Founder Institute). Each answer is paraphrased from the official page, checked Oct 18, 2026, with a link to the source.

Full deadline calendar · November 2026 deadlines · Which one fits me? · Deal calculator

Program	Solo founders? (official page)	Headline terms	Deadline
Founder Institute Is it worth it? →	Yes. FI says a typical cohort is roughly 60% solo founders and 40% teams. The entrance fee is per company: teams of 2 to 3 pay 1.5x and teams of 4 to 5 pay 2x the solo fee. fi.co/faq	Paid: $1,199 entrance fee for the Silicon Valley Fall 2026 cohort, run fully online (fee varies by city and deadline)	Closes Oct 21, 2026 checked Oct 17, 2026 · source
Startmate Accelerator	Yes. Startmate says it loves solo founders just as much as teams. At least one founder must be full-time (or go full-time for the program). startmate.com/accelerator	$120K AUD at a $1.5M post-money valuation (AUD, not converted)	Closes Nov 1, 2026 checked Oct 17, 2026 · source
a16z speedrun	Yes. speedrun's FAQ says you can apply as a solo founder and that it values founders who can build on their own. It generally prefers teams with complementary skills, and strongly encourages solo founders with a strong execution track record to apply. speedrun.a16z.com/faq	$500,000 for 10%	Closes Nov 1, 2026 checked Oct 17, 2026 · source
Entrepreneur First	Built for it. EF backs individuals, whether or not they have an idea or a co-founder yet, and says that within 8 weeks 80% of participants find a co-founder in the cohort. joinef.com/faqs	$125,000 for 8%	Closes Nov 2, 2026 checked Oct 17, 2026 · source
Y Combinator Late apps & Early Decision →	Yes. YC's FAQ says it regularly accepts solo founders, though it still says one-person startups are tough and you're more likely to succeed with a co-founder. It points solo founders to YC Co-founder Match. ycombinator.com/faq	$500,000 total ($125,000 for a fixed 7%)	Closes Nov 2, 2026 checked Oct 17, 2026 · source

Solo isn't a dealbreaker, but expect the question

YC and speedrun both say yes to solo founders while saying they prefer teams, so be ready to show you can build and sell on your own. If you'd rather find a co-founder first, Entrepreneur First is designed for that.

Questions solo founders ask

Which accelerators accept solo founders?

These 5 say so on their official pages: Founder Institute, Startmate Accelerator, a16z speedrun, Entrepreneur First, Y Combinator. Programs that don't mention it aren't listed here, which doesn't mean they reject solo founders.

Does Y Combinator accept solo founders?

Yes. YC's FAQ says it regularly accepts solo founders, but its advice is still that you're more likely to succeed with a co-founder.

Does a16z speedrun accept solo founders?

Yes. speedrun's FAQ says you can apply as a solo founder, though it generally prefers multi-founder teams and especially wants solo founders with a strong execution track record.

I don't have a co-founder. Where can I find one?

Entrepreneur First is built around this: you join as an individual and EF says 80% of participants find a co-founder within 8 weeks. YC runs Co-founder Match, and Founder Institute has a find-a-cofounder page at fi.co.

BatchUp isn't affiliated with these programs and wasn't paid for this page. Not investment advice. Policies, dates and terms can change, so check the official page before you rely on them.