500 Startups
500 Global, formerly 500 Startups, is a venture firm that runs accelerators for early-stage founders. Its flagship Fellowship is in San Francisco.
500 Startups at a glance
| Established | 2010 |
|---|---|
| Address | Silicon Valley, California, USA |
| Programmes | 3 standing programmes |
| Official website | www.500.co |
Which 500 Startups programme fits you
3 programmes compared by who they are for, the stage they accept, how long they run and what they cost.
| Programme | Best for | Stage | Duration | Format | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 Fellowship | Early-stage founders who are already in the U.S. or plan to be there within six months. | — | — | In person | Paid |
| Alberta Innovates Accelerator powered by 500 Global | Pre-seed and seed-stage tech startups that are based in Alberta, or plan to land and expand there. | — | — | In person | — |
| VC Unlocked: Silicon Valley | Emerging VC leaders and investors. It is not a founder programme. | — | — | — | — |
Programmes they run
Standing programmes at 500 Startups, separate from the funding calls above.
500 Fellowship
AcceleratorThe flagship accelerator of 500 Global, run in San Francisco for early-stage founders building for the U.S. and the world.
Best for: Early-stage founders who are already in the U.S. or plan to be there within six months.
- In person
- Paid
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
Not open to founders in India as stated. The page asks for founders who are already in the U.S. or plan to be there within six months.
What you get
- Investment that accepted companies can receive, with more available as the startup progresses.
- Mentorship from experienced operators, investors and alumni founder coaches.
- A curriculum on customer discovery, product-market fit, go-to-market, pitching and fundraising.
- Access to a founder community that the page puts at 6,000+ founders.
Who can apply
- Early-stage founders who have started building and thinking globally.
- Founders who are already in the U.S. or plan to be there within six months.
How selection works
- Selected applicants have a series of interviews with the team.
How to apply
- Use the Apply button on the programme page. The page gives more than one deadline for the current batch, so check the date before you apply.
- The Phase 1 programme charges a fee, excluding travel expenses.
An accelerator in Calgary for early-stage tech startups that want to scale in Alberta, with an Immersion Week visit to a 500 Global international office.
Best for: Pre-seed and seed-stage tech startups that are based in Alberta, or plan to land and expand there.
- In person
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
What you get
- A programme built on the 500 Global startup playbook, with rapid market experiments and funding guidance to scale in Alberta and beyond.
- An Immersion Week, in which participants visit one of 500 Global's international offices to meet venture community members, industry partners and local startups. Attendance is mandatory.
Who can apply
- Early-stage startups looking to scale in Alberta. Local and international startups are encouraged to apply.
- Pre-seed or seed-stage startups that are based in Alberta or looking to land and expand there.
Dates
- The programme takes up to 20 startups in Calgary. The page says dates for the next intake will be announced soon. Its label reads 'Fall 2025', so confirm the timing before you apply.
How to apply
- Join the interest form on the programme page.
- There are fees associated with Immersion Week.
The page names 500 Ecosystems Canada, Inc. as the operator.
VC Unlocked: Silicon Valley
ProgrammeAn invite-only programme for emerging VC and angel investors, created with the Stanford Engineering Center for Global & Online Education.
Best for: Emerging VC leaders and investors. It is not a founder programme.
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
This programme is for investors, not founders.
How to get in
- Entry is invite-only. Submit a nomination or join the waitlist.
- Ideal nominators include VC Unlocked alumni, 500 Global employees or portfolio companies, mentors and peers from VC firms, family offices, and fund managers.
Dates
- The page gives August 24 - September 4, with no year shown. Treat the session as closed until the page shows a new one.
How to apply to 500 Startups
Choosing the right programme
- The 500 Fellowship is for early-stage founders who are in the U.S. or plan to be there within six months.
- The Alberta accelerator is for pre-seed and seed-stage startups that are based in Alberta or plan to land and expand there.
- VC Unlocked is for investors, not founders.
How applications work
- Check the programme page for the current deadline. The Fellowship page gives different dates in different places.
- Apply for the Fellowship with the Apply button on the programme page.
- For the Alberta accelerator, join the interest form on its programme page. The page says dates will be announced soon.
How selection works
- Selected Fellowship applicants have a series of interviews with the team.
- The Alberta programme requires attendance at Immersion Week, which is a step toward graduation.
Costs
- The Fellowship charges a programme fee for Phase 1, excluding travel expenses. The page also describes investment that accepted companies can receive.
- The Alberta page says there are fees associated with Immersion Week.
About 500 Startups
500 Global is a venture firm that also runs accelerator programmes for early-stage founders. It was called 500 Startups until its rebrand. The firm says it has been backing early-stage founders since 2010, that it has backed 3,000+ startups, and that it has trained 1,400+ investors.
How the programmes work
The flagship is the 500 Fellowship, run in San Francisco. The firm also runs the Alberta Innovates Accelerator in Calgary, for early-stage tech startups that want to scale in Alberta. A third offering, VC Unlocked: Silicon Valley, is an invite-only programme for investors, run with the Stanford Engineering Center for Global & Online Education.
Who can apply
The Fellowship is open to founders who are already in the U.S. or who plan to be there within six months. It is not open to founders in India as stated on the page. The Alberta accelerator welcomes local and international startups, but its programme runs in Calgary.
Dates
The Fellowship page gives more than one deadline for its next batch. The page gives October 11 for Batch 36. It gives October 2 for Batch 37 in one place and October 16, 2026 for Batch 37 in another. Confirm the date on the programme page before you apply. The Alberta page says dates for its next intake will be announced soon.
Who runs it
The Fellowship page names 500 Startups Incubator, L.L.C as the operator. The Alberta page names 500 Ecosystems Canada, Inc. as the operator. Both pages say the programme is part of 500 Global.
Locations
The firm is headquartered in Silicon Valley. The Fellowship runs in San Francisco. The Alberta accelerator runs in Calgary.
Frequently asked questions about 500 Startups
What does 500 Startups do?
500 Global is a venture firm that also runs accelerator programmes for early-stage founders. It was called 500 Startups until its rebrand. The firm says it has been backing early-stage founders since 2010, that it has backed 3,000+ startups, and that it has trained 1,400+ investors.
Where is 500 Startups located?
500 Startups is located at Silicon Valley, California, USA.
What programs does 500 Startups run?
500 Startups runs 500 Fellowship, Alberta Innovates Accelerator powered by 500 Global and VC Unlocked: Silicon Valley.
How do I apply to 500 Startups?
- The 500 Fellowship is for early-stage founders who are in the U.S. or plan to be there within six months. - The Alberta accelerator is for pre-seed and seed-stage startups that are based in Alberta or plan to land and expand there. - VC Unlocked is for investors, not founders. - Check the programme page for the current deadline. The Fellowship page gives different dates in different places.
When was 500 Startups founded?
500 Startups was founded in 2010. It is a venture capital investor.
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