Here is a list of some of the current NYC-based accelerator programs.

Accelerators are designed to take startups and put them on a trajectory that turns them into a full-fledged companies, preparing them for the opportunity to pitch in front of a room filled with potential investors. Most provide seed money in exchange for equity, free office space for the duration of the program, and other perks, including free legal advice/banking. Many also provide mentors – subject matter experts who’ll help you if you’re stuck, or introduce you to potential partners/investors you need to meet.

1. Enterpreneurs Roundtable Accelerator

Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator is a four-month program which, according to the website, “combines hands-on help, seed capital, a great co-working location and an expert leadership team to quickly get your company to the next level.” ERA allows companies to get exposure to investors, collaborate with each other and have fun during downtime with events such as poker nights and karaoke competitions. Most companies ERA chooses are software-related. Companies have an opportunity to present to investors at the end of the program during Demo Day. ER Accelerator offers both Winter and Summer Programs.

Benefits

• Amount invested in each company: $100,000
• Number of companies per class: 10
• Equity: 8 percent
• @ERoundtable

2. TechStars

The No. 1 startup accelerator in the world, TechStars is a mentorship program located in seven cities, including NYC. The New York branch currently has 166 mentors, including Dennis Crowley, the co-founder of Foursquare, and David Karp, the founder of Tumblr. The program lasts for three months and generally funds technology-oriented companies and companies with a national or worldwide reach. The program culminates with a demo day, which gives the companies a chance to present to venture capitalists and angel investors.

Benefits

• Amount invested in each company: $18,000 in seed funding
• Number of companies per class: 10 per location
• Equity: 6 percent
• @techstars

3. DreamIt Ventures

DreamIt Ventures offers the 6 C’s to startups: capital, coaching, connections, curriculum, community and challenge. DreamIt offers one-on-one mentorship with a leading entrepreneur and a weekly speaker series. According to the website, DreamIt is “interested in any idea that can be developed into a product in three months.” The program culminates with a demo day, where companies present to investors at an invitation-only event.

Benefits

• Amount invested in each company: $25,000 in seed funding ($5,000 plus an additional $5,000 for each founding team member, up to 4)
• Number of companies per class: 25
• Equity: 6 percent
• @DreamitVentures

4. Runway Startup Postdoc at Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute

Runway Startup Postdoc Program is a 12-36 months tech incubator for post PhDs who want to commercialize their academic research. Located in CornellTech, it provides promising entrepreneurs with education, academic and business mentoring, funding, space, unique IP model, access to Cornell Tech network of investors and graduate students and many more benefits and perks.

Benefits

• Amount invested in each company: $175,000 in the first year
• Number of companies per class: Up to 6
• Equity: convertible notes, capped to less than 6%

 5. New York Digital Health Accelerator

New York Digital Health Accelerator is a nine-month program geared toward digital health companies. The four areas of focus include care coordination, analytics, message alerts and patient engagement. One of the perks of NYDHA, according to the website, is that companies “have priority access to the technology platform that is connecting electronic health records across New York State: the Statewide Health Information Network of New York (SHIN-NY).” A leadership program is included in the overall program, which allows the companies to interact with investors, entrepreneurs and healthcare leaders. This program also culminates in a demo day for potential investors.

Benefits

• Amount invested in each company: $100,000 (up to an additional $200,000 if certain milestones are met upon program completion)
• Number of companies per class: 8
• Equity: 2.5 percent
• @NYeHealth

6. Blueprint Health

Blueprint Health is a three-month program targeted at healthcare companies. Blueprint has a variety of mentors, including venture capitalists, doctors and entrepreneurs. As a mentored company, guidance is offered through panel discussions, presentations and hands-on mentoring. The third month of the program focuses on creating a 7-minute pitch to present to potential investors at Demo Day.

Benefits

• Amount invested in each company: $20,000
• Number of companies per class: 10-11
• Equity: 6 percent
• @bphealth

7. FinTech Innovation Lab

FinTech Innovation Lab is a three-month program dedicated to helping financial services products. Companies have the opportunity to beta test their products throughout the program. Also included are a leadership program, panel discussions and mentoring sessions. At the end of the program, companies present the products to investors, financial services firms’ senior executives and the press at a Demo Day.

Benefits

• Amount invested in each company: $25,000 in the form of a convertible note which is optional and independent of the common stock warrants
• Number of companies per class: 6
• Equity: <1 percent in the form of common stock warrants
• @FinTechLab

8. EdgeTech Accelerator

The EdgeTech Accelerator seeks technology-powered startups who are “looking to change education for the better,” according to the website. Some examples are education-related apps and various instruction tools. The three-month program includes mentoring from top professionals in the industry, feedback from students and instructors and a Demo Day to present to executives, as well as investors and industry leaders.

Benefits

• Amount invested in each company: $20,000+
• Number of companies per class: 10
• Equity: 6 percent
• @EdgeEdTechl

9. StartUp Health

StartUp Health is a 12- to 36- month program that promotes health and wellness businesses through a structured curriculum with an emphasis on community, academy and passion. According to the website, StartUp Health strives to “provide an infrastructure, facilitate an environment and inspire the best talent to come in and focus on solving the biggest challenge of our time: fixing the broken healthcare system.” StartUp Health wants to help build 1,000 sustainable businesses within the next 10 years.

Benefits

• Amount invested in each company: Does not invest
• Number of companies per class: Approx. 75
• Equity: 6-7 percent
• @startuphealth

10. NYCSeedStart

NYCSeedStart is a three-month accelerator program with a technology-focused approach. Instead of having a set of recurring mentors, SeedStart seeks out “the mentor that is absolutely perfect for each of our companies,” and that mentor is assigned “based upon the needs of your company to flourish during and after your time in NYC SeedStart,” according to the website. Companies also have an opportunity to present to investors during a Demo Day at the end of the program.

Benefits

• Amount invested in each company: $20,000
• Number of companies per class: Up to 10
• Equity: 5 percent
• @SeedStart

11. Women Innovate Mobile

Like the name suggests, Women Innovate Mobile is a startup accelerator that promotes the growth of female-led companies in mobile technology. The three-month program is mentor-driven and provides access to investors through a Demo Day at the end of the program. WIM’s mission, according to the website, is “to foster a richer and diverse startup ecosystem by leading early-stage investment in mobile-first female-led startup ventures.”

Benefits

• Amount invested in each company: $18,000
• Number of companies per class: 4
• Equity: 6 percent
• @WIMAccelerator

12. AngelPad

Originally based in San Francisco, AngelPad making the move to NYC. The mentorship program serves to help startups in the web-technology field by covering “all aspects of a company launch—from idea to product, market fit, customer acquisition and fundraising,” according to their website. The 10-week program culminates with a demo day, which gives the companies a chance to present to investors.

Benefits

• Amount invested in each company: $20,000 in seed funding
• Number of companies per class: 12
• Equity: 6 percent
• @angelpad

13. The Founder Institute

The Founder Institute serves to “globalize Silicon Valley” by “providing high-potential entrepreneurs with expert training, critical objective feedback, and peer support in the early stages of building a company,” according to the website. The Founder Institute offers a four-month program that covers various topics critical for startups, from Startup Legal Issues to Fundraising. The Founder Institute also has a unique Graduate Liquidity Pool, which allows graduates to share peer success. Unlike most other accelerator programs, FI does not require founders to quit their day jobs.

Benefits

• Amount invested in each company: Roughly 1/3 of companies are funded at an average of $200,000
• Number of companies per class: 25-40
• Equity: 3.5 percent is contributed to the Graduate Liquidity Pool
• @founding

14. Socratic Labs

Socratic Labs is an accelerator that focuses on educational technology entrepreneurship. With its debut in February of this year, Socratic Labs is well on the rise in the education technology industry. The 14-week program includes a mentorship, curriculum and various startup services, and ends with a Demo Day where the startups pitch to potential investors.

Benefits

• Amount invested in each company: $15,000-$25,000
• Number of companies per class: 8-10
• Equity: 6 percent non-diluted or 10-12 percent on a common-equity basis
• @SocraticLabs

Originally based on Alleywatch; subseqently modified..