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Startup accelerator deadlines 2026-2027: YC, Techstars, SXSW and more

As of October 2026, the next startup accelerator deadlines fall within seven weeks: the a16z speedrun SR008 priority window runs October 12 to November 1, Startmate Summer '27 closes November 1, Y Combinator Winter 2027 and ERA Winter 2027 both close November 2, SXSW Pitch 2027 closes November 13, and the Techstars Spring 2027 programs close November 18. Every date below comes from the program's own application page, with the time zone where the organiser publishes one.

Last checked: October 5, 2026. We recheck this page every Monday. Deadlines can move, so confirm on the official page before you submit.

Upcoming accelerator deadlines at a glance

1. a16z speedrun SR008: priority window October 12 to November 1, 2026; cohort starts in early 2027.
2. Startmate Summer '27: November 1, 2026, 11:59pm AEDT; program runs February 1 to May 7, 2027.
3. Y Combinator Winter 2027: November 2, 2026, 8pm PT; batch runs January to March 2027.
4. ERA Winter 2027: November 2, 2026; program starts January 11, 2027.
5. SXSW Pitch 2027: November 13, 2026; finalists pitch March 16 to 17, 2027 in Austin.
6. Techstars Spring 2027: November 18, 2026; programs start March 8, 2027, Demo Day June 3, 2027.

Open now: deadline, start date and deal

a16z speedrun SR008

Andreessen Horowitz's speedrun says it invests up to $1M in each startup. Its apply page sets a priority window from October 12 through November 1, 2026 for the SR008 cohort, which starts in early 2027. Applications sent during that window are reviewed fastest, but speedrun also accepts applications year-round. Our speedrun guide covers the deal terms and the application form in more detail.

Startmate Summer '27

Startmate closes applications at 11:59pm AEDT on November 1, 2026, which is 12:59 UTC the same day. The program runs February 1 to May 7, 2027. It is remote-first: the cohort meets in person for Week 0 in Melbourne, a mid-program week and Demo Day week, and Startmate's Melbourne and Sydney offices are open for co-working in any other week.

• Deal for first-time fundraisers: A$120,000 at a A$1.5m post-money valuation, or 8%.
• Founders who have already raised A$250,000 or more from VCs or angels get the terms and valuation of that previous round.
• Who can apply: founders in Australia and New Zealand, plus overseas founders with a strong connection to either country who can attend the in-person weeks in Melbourne. At least one founder must be full-time.

Y Combinator Winter 2027

YC's on-time deadline for the Winter 2027 batch is 8pm Pacific time on Monday, November 2, 2026, which is 04:00 UTC on November 3. According to the YC apply page, decisions are expected by December 11, and the batch runs January to March 2027 in San Francisco, opening with a three-day in-person kickoff. YC still considers late applications but does not promise when it will reply.

YC has not published a separate Spring 2027 deadline. Its apply page says founders can already apply for a later batch (Spring, Summer or Fall) through Early Decision by choosing "A batch after Winter 2027" on the form; accepted teams are funded right away and their future batch is confirmed.

The standard YC deal is $500,000 in two parts: $125,000 on a post-money SAFE for 7%, and $375,000 on an uncapped MFN SAFE. Our YC Winter 2027 deadline guide has the full timeline.

ERA Winter 2027

Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator in New York lists November 2, 2026 as its Winter 2027 deadline and January 11, 2027 as the program start on its application page. It does not publish a cut-off time, so submit during the day rather than close to midnight. The program lasts four months, and ERA invests $150,000 on a post-money SAFE for 6%, with the potential for follow-on funding.

SXSW Pitch 2027

SXSW Pitch is a startup competition rather than an accelerator, but it draws the same founders and sits in the same November calendar. The SXSW Pitch page lists November 13, 2026 as the final deadline. The regular entry fee is $225 and is not refunded if you are not selected. One FAQ answer on the same page still gives November 11 at 11:59pm PT, so filing by November 11 removes any doubt. Finalists pitch on March 16 to 17, 2027, during SXSW in Austin (March 15 to 21).

• The product or service must not have launched before January 1, 2024.
• The company must not have raised more than $10 million from all sources combined.
• Founders must keep some ownership, and each company may enter only one product or service.

Techstars Spring 2027

The Techstars Spring 2027 programs, including New York City, Boston, Chicago, London and the remote Anywhere program, all list a final deadline of November 18, 2026. Programs start on March 8, 2027, and Demo Day is June 3, 2027. The program pages do not give a time zone for the deadline.

According to the FAQ on the New York City page, the Techstars investment is $220,000: $200,000 on an uncapped MFN SAFE and $20,000 on a post-money convertible common equity agreement. Techstars ends up with 5% in common stock plus whatever the MFN SAFE converts into at your next priced round.

Recently closed, and when to watch for the next round

• PearX W27: regular applications closed on October 4, 2026, and Pear says later applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Its PearX page says winter cohorts run January to April and summer cohorts July to October, and that teams must relocate to the San Francisco Bay Area for the program.
• South Park Commons Founder Fellowship F26: closed at 11:59pm PT on August 2, 2026; the fall bootcamp runs late September to late November. The F26 page lists $400K for 7% on a SAFE plus $600K guaranteed in the next external round, but gives no date for the next intake.
• Google for Startups Accelerator: the equity-free North America program for AI startups in energy closed on June 30, 2026, and the United States and Canada programs also show applications as closed. Google says 2027 dates for the Canada program will be announced later.

Accelerators with rolling applications

Not every program runs on a single cut-off. Some take applications at any time and review them in rounds:

• a16z speedrun accepts applications year-round outside its priority window.
• PearX accepts applications year-round and starts working with teams before their cohort officially begins.
• Alchemist Accelerator uses rolling deadlines: an application is reviewed at the next application date, and the Alchemist FAQ says applicants hear back within three weeks of that date.

How to plan around overlapping deadlines

• Convert every time zone. Startmate closes before dawn on November 1 in California, roughly 39 hours before YC's deadline passes.
• Write one core application, then adapt it. Most forms ask what you are building, who uses it, what traction you have, who is on the team and why now. Draft those answers once and tailor them to each program.
• Compare terms before you apply. Among the programs above that publish fixed terms, upfront equity ranges from 5% plus an MFN SAFE at Techstars to 8% at Startmate for first-time fundraisers, and some programs, such as PearX, require relocation. Our funding coverage follows what founders raise after these programs.
• Count the perks separately. YC cites more than $12M in partner credits and deals, and speedrun more than $10M in credits. Our guide to startup cloud credits covers the AWS, Google Cloud and Microsoft programs you can apply to directly.
• Do not wait for the final hour. ERA and Techstars do not publish a cut-off time, and late YC applications have no guaranteed reply date.

How this page is maintained

We check each program's own application page every Monday and update the date at the top. A program is listed only when the organiser has published a deadline or says it reviews applications on a rolling basis. If anything here conflicts with the official page, the official page wins. For batch news and demo days, see our startups section and events coverage.

Frequently asked questions

When is the YC deadline for Winter 2027?

The on-time deadline for Y Combinator's Winter 2027 batch is November 2, 2026 at 8pm Pacific time. YC expects to send decisions by December 11, and the batch runs January to March 2027 in San Francisco.

What is the Techstars application deadline for 2027?

The Techstars Spring 2027 programs, including New York City, Boston, Chicago, London and Anywhere, list a final deadline of November 18, 2026. The programs start on March 8, 2027.

Can you apply to an accelerator after the deadline?

Sometimes. YC says it still considers late applications but cannot promise when it will respond, Pear reviews late PearX applications on a rolling basis, and speedrun accepts applications year-round.

Which accelerators are accepting applications now?

As of October 5, 2026, applications are open for YC Winter 2027, Startmate Summer '27, ERA Winter 2027, SXSW Pitch 2027 and Techstars Spring 2027. The a16z speedrun SR008 priority window opens on October 12, and speedrun, PearX and Alchemist also take applications on a rolling basis.

Is there a YC Spring 2027 deadline?

Not yet. As of October 5, 2026, YC lists only the Winter 2027 deadline. Founders who want a later batch can apply now through Early Decision by selecting "A batch after Winter 2027" on the application.

How much equity do accelerators take?

It depends on the program. As of October 2026, YC takes 7% for $125,000 plus an uncapped MFN SAFE for a further $375,000, ERA takes 6% for $150,000, Techstars takes 5% plus an uncapped MFN SAFE, and Startmate takes 8% for A$120,000 from first-time fundraisers.