2026 Directory
Every Free Startup Programme
Worth Applying To
Cloud credits, dev tools, AI compute, and go-to-market support. Most need nothing more than a working product and a business email.
Apply Today
No funding requirements, minimal friction, and real value. If you haven't applied to all of them, you're leaving money on the table.
Worth the Effort
Substantial value but need some legwork — an accelerator affiliation, building a relationship, or timing your application to a cohort window.
Save for After You Raise
These programmes unlock once you have VC backing, accelerator membership, or meaningful traction. Worth knowing about now so you can move fast when the time comes.
How to Think About Stacking
The real leverage isn't in any single programme. It's in the compounding effect of stacking them together.
Each acceptance makes the next application stronger. NVIDIA Inception on your profile makes your AWS Activate application more compelling. An IBM partnership creates alignment for enterprise conversations. And the moment you land one accelerator or close a pre-seed round, a dozen locked programmes unlock simultaneously.
Start with the free, no-barrier programmes. Apply to all of them in the same week. Then work the relationship-based ones over the following month.
Need help finding the right funding path?
At Pitchwits, we help deep-tech and R&D startups navigate funding — from grant applications to investor readiness.