If you are serious about building in 2025, the Bay is basically an options overload: YC, HF0, Speedrun, Embed, PearX, AI Grant, Sequoia Arc, 500, Techstars SF, NFX, and a bunch of campus-style programs like Founders Inc.

This list is not every accelerator. It is a curated, founder-first shortlist of 15 programs with real reputation and signal that are either based in SF Bay or tightly anchored here.

I'll walk through:

How to pick the right programs for you
A quick note on how Peony actually helps with this
The 15 best SF/Bay accelerators in 2025 (with the info you actually care about)
Five practical tips to increase your odds of getting in

1. How to Pick the Right Accelerator (for you)

Before we get into names, it helps to be brutally clear on what you’re optimizing for.

Most strong accelerators differ on a few key axes:

Stage and founder profile
- Pre-idea / pre-product: South Park Commons, Neo, sometimes Founders, Inc.
- Pre-seed / seed, product in market: YC, PearX, Sequoia Arc, 500 Global, Techstars SF.
- AI-native / deep tech: HF0, AI Grant, Conviction Embed, Speedrun.
Check size vs. dilution
- YC: effectively $500k total ($125k for 7% + $375k uncapped MFN SAFE).
- HF0: $1M uncapped SAFE for 5%.
- Sequoia Arc: $500k–$1M seed investment.
- Neo: $600k uncapped SAFE with a $10M floor, typically for ~1.5–5% effective equity.
- PearX: $250k–$2M pre-seed.
Format & lifestyle
- Live-in, all-consuming: HF0, some Speedrun cohorts.
- Fellowship / community first: SPC, Neo, Founders, Inc.
- Classic cohort, office-hours + demo day: YC, PearX, Techstars, 500, SkyDeck, Alchemist.
Sector focus
- Generalist: YC, PearX, 500, Techstars SF, Neo.
- AI / infra–heavy: HF0, AI Grant, Conviction Embed, a16z Speedrun.
- Enterprise / B2B: Alchemist, 500, SkyDeck.

If you’re reading this, you’re already in the top few percent of founders: you’re not just asking “how do I get in,” you’re asking where is the right leverage for my time and equity. That mindset alone will serve you through any of these programs.

Quick note: how Peony quietly helps here

Whatever you apply to, you look far more professional if you:

Share a single, updatable link to your deck, product video, and metrics.
Gate sensitive docs behind lightweight NDAs or passcodes.
See who actually opened your materials before the interview.

That's exactly what Peony gives you: a clean, branded data room with version control, analytics, and sensible security using identity-bound access, so every application link you send feels like it came from a later-stage team.

2. The 15 Best Startup Accelerators in San Francisco / Bay Area (2025)

Ranked loosely by brand weight + check size + how often serious founders bring them up.

1. Y Combinator (YC)

Stage & focus: Pre-seed/seed, all sectors, still the default “kingmaker.”
Deal: $125k for 7% equity plus $375k on an uncapped MFN SAFE (total $500k).
Why it matters: Brand, alumni, and downstream funding environment are unmatched. If you can get in and are okay with the equity, you do it.

2. Sequoia Arc

Stage & focus: Seed-stage, ambitious technical teams across US and Europe.
Deal: $500k–$1M seed investment on variable terms.
Why it matters: If you want Sequoia on the cap table early and you’re already working on something real, Arc is one of the most powerful “stamp of approval” programs in the world.

3. a16z Speedrun

Stage & focus: Originally games, now broader “cultural + AI-native” products; in-person in SF / LA.
Deal: Typically ~$500k–$1M for roughly 7–10% plus heavy credits and support.
Why it matters: You get deep a16z network, content, and distribution guidance. Very competitive, very intense.

4. HF0 Residency

Stage & focus: Pre-seed/seed, repeat technical founders, heavy AI/deep-tech tilt.
Deal: $1M uncapped SAFE for 5% across a 12-week live-in residency in San Francisco.
Why it matters: “Hacker monastery” environment. If you want 12 weeks of nothing but building, in a mansion with other killers, this is the one.

5. South Park Commons (SPC) – Founder Fellowship

Stage & focus: “Pre-idea” to pre-seed; founders figuring out what to build next.
Deal: $400k upfront for 7% on a SAFE, plus $600k guaranteed in your next external funding round.
Why it matters: Less a batch, more a deep-thinking founder community in SF. Amazing if you want space to iterate with a strong peer group.

6. Neo Accelerator

Stage & focus: Young, very technical founders; lots of CS / AI / infrastructure people.
Deal: $600k on an uncapped SAFE with a $10M valuation floor, often for low single-digit equity.
Why it matters: Cash + network + a serious bet on you as a person. Great if you’re early but clearly high potential.

7. PearX (Pear VC)

Stage & focus: Pre-seed, small batches, very hands-on; strong in AI, SaaS, and climate.
Deal: $250k–$2M for ~10% is typical, through a 12-week SF-based accelerator.
Why it matters: Extremely high seed conversion rate; partners roll up sleeves on hiring, GTM, and fundraising.

8. AI Grant

Stage & focus: Seed-stage AI-native product startups, global but with a SF summit.
Deal: $250k on an uncapped SAFE, plus substantial cloud and AI credits and a San Francisco summit + demo day.
Why it matters: Run by Daniel Gross and Nat Friedman; extremely respected in the AI founder community.

9. Conviction Embed

Stage & focus: Pre-seed / seed AI-native infra & SaaS.
Deal: $150k uncapped, no-discount MFN SAFE, plus heavy credits (Azure, OpenAI, Anthropic, etc.) and an SF in-person retreat.
Why it matters: Very small cohorts, deep partner involvement; you are effectively “embedded” into a high-signal AI investor’s world.

10. 500 Global – Flagship Accelerator

Stage & focus: Post-MVP, early traction; global but long-running SF roots.
Deal: $150k investment for 6% in many cohorts.
Why it matters: Massive alumni network, great for distribution, growth and international expansion.

11. Techstars San Francisco

Stage & focus: Pre-seed/seed across sectors with local SF ecosystem plugs.
Deal: Typically $20k for 6% plus an optional $100k convertible note.
Why it matters: Good if you want a structured program, strong mentor network, and a globally recognized brand.

12. Berkeley SkyDeck

Stage & focus: Early-stage startups, often with a technical or academic edge; based in Berkeley but tightly linked to the Bay ecosystem.
Deal: Up to $200k from the SkyDeck fund ($100k for 5% plus optional $100k for 2.5%).
Why it matters: Access to UC Berkeley talent + brand plus a serious fundraising platform.

13. Alchemist Accelerator

Stage & focus: B2B / enterprise / deep tech.
Deal: Roughly $25k–$35k for about 5% equity, plus heavy enterprise GTM support.
Why it matters: If your buyer is a CIO or VP Ops, not a consumer, this is one of the best enterprise-focused accelerators.

14. Founders, Inc. (f.inc)

Stage & focus: Very early technical founders; heavy builder culture around Fort Mason in SF.
Deal: Up to $150k–$250k for 5–10% depending on program, plus campus access and residencies.
Why it matters: Great if you want constant hackathons, peers who ship fast, and tight proximity to SF’s AI scene.

15. Race Capital – Topline (SF)

Stage & focus: Pre-seed SaaS/infra founders, with a SF-based 12-week program.
Deal: $250k on an uncapped SAFE; no upfront fees.
Why it matters: Smaller and newer than YC / Sequoia, but with serious seed-stage investors and a focused cohort.

3. Five Practical Tips to Actually Get In

You already know “have a great idea” and “be technical” — here are the more actionable levers:

Make your story legible in 30 seconds. Your application and deck should answer, almost instantly: who you are, what you’re building, why now, and why this is a venture-scale wedge. Most reviewers skim. Help them help you.
Show real movement, not just vision. Screenshots, live demo links, early revenue, pilot letters, shipping history — these matter more than perfect TAM slides. Programs like YC, PearX, HF0 and Speedrun heavily weight evidence that you can actually ship.
Match your application to each program. If it’s AI-heavy (HF0, AI Grant, Embed, Speedrun), lean into your technical edge, infra choices, and model moat. If it’s SPC / Neo, emphasize your founder trajectory and how you think, not just the current idea.
Look like a grown-up in how you share materials. Instead of random Google Drive links and attachments, send a single Peony link that contains:
- Your deck (kept up to date without changing the URL).
- A short product loom or demo video.
- Light metrics or traction snapshots.
- Optional NDA gate or password protection for sensitive info.
You get analytics (who opened, how long they spent) and can tighten permissions using access management if a process stalls, without resending anything.
Treat the application as the first investor update. After you apply, send one or two tight updates if you ship something meaningful: new launch, major customer, revenue milestone. It signals momentum and resilience — the things accelerators (and later investors) actually back.

If you're actively deciding between these, you're already doing more work than most people who "want to start something someday." You're thinking about fit, leverage, and long-term dilution — exactly the muscles you need as a founder.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best startup accelerators in San Francisco?

The best SF accelerators include Y Combinator (YC), Sequoia Arc, a16z Speedrun, HF0 Residency, and South Park Commons. YC offers $500k total ($125k for 7% + $375k SAFE). Use Peony to share a secure data room with identity-bound access, password protection, and tracking for your accelerator applications.

How do you apply to startup accelerators?

Focus on showing real movement (demos, revenue, pilots), make your story clear in 30 seconds, and match your application to each program's focus. Peony helps: share one secure link with your deck, demo video, and metrics, with analytics to see who opened your materials.

What's the best way to share materials with accelerators?

Peony is best: upload your pitch deck, demo video, and metrics to a secure Peony room with identity-bound access, password protection, and tracking, then share one protected link instead of email attachments or Google Drive links.

Can you see who viewed your accelerator application materials?

Most email and cloud platforms provide limited or no viewing analytics. Peony provides complete visibility: see who accessed your deck, when, how long they viewed it, and which parts they engaged with.

What's the best startup accelerator for AI companies?

AI-focused accelerators include HF0 Residency ($1M for 5%), AI Grant ($250k SAFE), Conviction Embed ($150k SAFE), and a16z Speedrun ($500k–$1M). Use Peony to share a secure data room with watermarking and tracking for your AI startup materials.

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Best Startup Accelerators in San Francisco in 2025: Complete Guide to YC, Techstars & More