Applying to Techstars means applying to a specific program in a specific city, with its own managing director, its own partners, and its own idea of what a great company looks like. A healthtech founder applying to Techstars Boulder and the same founder applying to Techstars AI Health Baltimore are having two very different conversations.
That makes the location decision one of the most important parts of a Techstars application, and one most founders treat as an afterthought.
This guide breaks down every Techstars location currently listed, what each program focuses on, the Spring 2027 deadlines, which programs let you stay where you are, and how to pick the right fit.
How Many Techstars Locations Are There?
Techstars currently lists 25 locations and programs on its official locations page, split into three types:
- 16 accelerators: three-month, mentorship-driven programs with investment, ending in Demo Day
- 4 Founder Catalyst programs: shorter pre-accelerators for earlier-stage founders
- 5 Startup Community Partnerships: local ecosystem partnerships in growing startup hubs
Most accelerators invest $220,000 per company: $20,000 through a post-money Convertible Equity Agreement for 5% common stock, plus $200,000 through an uncapped MFN SAFE. Companies also get more than $2M in partner perks. Tokyo uses different terms, covered below.
For a deeper look at the deal itself, see Techstars vs Y Combinator.
Techstars Accelerator Locations and Focus Areas
| Program | City | Focus | Current cycle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Techstars Anywhere | Remote (Americas time zones) | Robotics, energy, applied and physical AI, materials science | Spring 2027 |
| Techstars AI Health Baltimore | Baltimore | AI-driven health startups | Spring 2027 |
| Techstars Boston | Boston | AI/ML, robotics, healthtech, tech bio, critical infrastructure | Spring 2027 |
| Northwestern Medicine & Techstars Healthcare | Chicago | Access to care, AI, digital therapeutics, precision medicine | Spring 2027 |
| Techstars Chicago | Chicago | Industry agnostic | Spring 2027 |
| Techstars London | London | All verticals | Spring 2027 |
| USC and Techstars Accelerator | Los Angeles | All industries, with interest in bioscience, AI, healthcare, deep tech, media tech | Spring 2027 |
| Techstars New York City | New York (hybrid) | Health, climate, AI/ML, fintech, supply chain, enterprise SaaS | Spring 2027 |
| ABN AMRO + Techstars Future of Finance | Amsterdam | Fintech infrastructure in Europe | Fall 2026 |
| Techstars Boulder | Boulder | Industry agnostic | Fall 2026 |
| Techstars Columbus (Ohio State) | Columbus | AI, quantum, deep tech for aerospace, defense, manufacturing | Fall 2026 |
| Techstars Space Accelerator | Los Angeles | Space and aerospace technology | Fall 2026 |
| Techstars Future of Food (Ecolab) | Minneapolis | Food value chain technology | Fall 2026 |
| Techstars Healthcare (Permanente Medicine) | Washington, D.C. | Value-based healthcare delivery | Fall 2026 |
| Techstars Tokyo | Tokyo | Deep tech, fintech, clean tech, climate tech | Fall 2026 |
| Techstars Alabama EnergyTech | Birmingham | Energy, climate tech, clean tech | Dates not posted |
Spring 2027 Techstars Application Deadlines
Techstars is currently accepting applications for its Spring 2027 accelerators. Eight programs share the same timeline:
- Applications opened: August 24, 2026
- Final deadline: November 18, 2026
- Accelerator starts: March 8, 2027
- Demo Day: June 3, 2027
The Spring 2027 programs are Anywhere, AI Health Baltimore, Boston, Northwestern Medicine Healthcare in Chicago, Techstars Chicago, London, USC in Los Angeles, and New York City. Apply through apply.techstars.com.
Fall cycle programs: Amsterdam, Boulder, Columbus, Space, Future of Food, and Washington, D.C. ran their latest cycle with applications opening March 2, 2026, a June 10, 2026 deadline, a September 8, 2026 start, and Demo Days from December 7 to December 10, 2026. Their Fall 2026 classes are underway now, so watch each program page for the next window.
What Each Techstars Location Offers
Healthcare accelerators: Baltimore, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.
Techstars runs three healthcare programs, each anchored by major health systems:
- AI Health Baltimore: Techstars' flagship healthcare accelerator, backed by Johns Hopkins, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, MedStar Health, the University of Maryland Baltimore, and the University of Maryland Medical System. It focuses on startups that can prove measurable commercial traction
- Northwestern Medicine & Techstars Healthcare (Chicago): startups work with Northwestern Medicine teams inside the Mansueto Innovation Institute, with a focus on patient experience, clinician efficiency, precision medicine, robotics, and cybersecurity. Its third class opens in Spring 2027
- Permanente Medicine Mid-Atlantic States (Washington, D.C.): partners with the Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group, 1,800 physicians across more than 60 specialties. Its six themes are care at home, chronic care and aging, women's health, administration of care, friction reduction, and trust in clinical care
Fintech accelerators: Amsterdam and New York
- ABN AMRO + Techstars Future of Finance (Amsterdam): backs European fintech founders building infrastructure for AI-native finance. ABN AMRO runs a €100M fintech fund and can deploy startup products internally for pilots within 24 hours. The program accepts 10 startups per cohort
- Techstars New York City: backs founders in health, climate, AI/ML, fintech, supply chain, and enterprise SaaS, building in markets large enough to support $1B+ in annual revenue
Deep tech and critical infrastructure accelerators
- Techstars Columbus: powered by The Ohio State University, with a focus on AI, quantum, and deep tech for aerospace, defense, and advanced manufacturing. Founders can tap Ohio's industrial base, including Anduril, Joby, GE Aerospace, Battelle, and Honda
- Techstars Space Accelerator (Los Angeles): runs with the U.S. Space Force and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, backing space and dual-use companies across terrestrial, LEO, GEO, and lunar domains
- Techstars Boston: focuses on AI/ML, robotics, healthtech, tech bio, and critical infrastructure, while staying open to all sectors
- Techstars Alabama EnergyTech (Birmingham): powered by Alabama Power, covering renewable energy, storage, carbon capture, electric vehicles, and smart grids
- Techstars Future of Food (Minneapolis): partners with Ecolab on supply chain, labor, logistics, water tech, food safety, and restaurant and retail tech
Industry-agnostic accelerators
- Techstars Boulder: the original Techstars program, founded in 2007
- Techstars Chicago: run with Long Chicago, it offers dedicated downtown office space for up to a year and a program centered on building and fundraising
- Techstars London: open to founders from anywhere, across all verticals
- Techstars Anywhere: a remote-first program launched in 2017, with an emphasis on robotics, energy, applied and physical AI, and materials science
University accelerator: USC and Techstars
The USC and Techstars Accelerator is a 13-week, in-person program on USC's University Park campus in Los Angeles, with office space provided. At least one founder must be affiliated with USC as a student, alumnus, faculty, or staff member. Founders affiliated with Keck Medicine of USC and Children's Hospital Los Angeles also qualify.
Techstars Tokyo: A Separate Cycle and Different Terms
Techstars Tokyo runs on its own schedule. Its 2026 cohort opened applications on December 18, 2025, closed them on May 6, 2026, started on August 17, 2026, and holds Demo Day on November 10, 2026.
The deal is built for the Japanese market:
- $120,000 total investment
- $20,000 through a post-money Convertible Equity Agreement for 5% common stock
- $100,000 through an uncapped MFN SAFE or J-KISS
The program is powered by Mitsui Fudosan and JETRO Startup, with support from Japan's Cabinet Office, METI, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
Do You Need to Relocate for Techstars?
Not always. Your options depend on the program:
- Fully remote: Techstars Anywhere requires no relocation, with three in-person offsites in startup hubs during the program. It's built for companies in North American time zones
- Hybrid: Techstars New York City lets founders live anywhere. The program meets in person for the first two weeks, one week in the middle, and Demo Day
- In person: programs like USC and Techstars run on campus for all 13 weeks, and Techstars Chicago provides office space downtown
Whatever the format, Techstars expects full commitment once you're accepted. You can apply while working or studying, but accepted founders are expected to work on their startup exclusively.
Techstars Founder Catalyst: Pre-Accelerator Locations
Founder Catalyst programs suit founders who aren't ready for a full accelerator:
- Founder Catalyst Global: a part-time, virtual pre-accelerator, currently running its Fall 2026 program
- Techstars x EIT Urban Mobility Founder Catalyst (Barcelona): a 10-week hybrid program for early-stage mobility founders
- USC and Techstars University Catalyst (Los Angeles): a 10-week pre-accelerator for USC-affiliated founders
- Founder Catalyst Alabama (Tuscaloosa): a 10-week hybrid program with the University of Alabama
Techstars Startup Community Partnerships
These partnerships bring Techstars programming to growing startup hubs, without the accelerator investment:
- Belfast: with Ormeau Labs and Queen's University Belfast
- Istanbul: supporting founders across Türkiye
- Omaha: with Open Range
- Sarajevo: in Bosnia and Herzegovina's emerging innovation scene
- Uzbekistan: with UzVC and Hackonnect
How to Choose the Right Techstars Location
- Start with your sector: a specialized program brings partners who can become pilots, customers, or investors. Healthtech founders get hospital access in Baltimore, Chicago, or Washington, D.C. Defense and aerospace founders get industry access in Columbus or the Space Accelerator
- Check the cycle: Spring 2027 programs close on November 18, 2026. Fall programs open again next year
- Decide how much you can relocate: Anywhere and New York give you the most flexibility
- Check eligibility: USC programs require a USC-affiliated founder, and Founder Catalyst programs suit earlier stages
- Look at the people: each program page lists its managing director, partners, and past companies. Those are the people you'll work with for three months and often far longer
One more detail from Techstars New York's FAQ: many founders raise $1M to $5M before the program starts. The uncapped MFN SAFE lines up with earlier investment, so a recent raise doesn't rule you out.
Arrive at Techstars With Traction to Show
Every Techstars program, from Boulder to Tokyo, looks for the same core signals: founders who understand their customers, execute fast, and have early evidence that the market wants what they're building. The founders who get the most from the three months are the ones who arrive with a working product and real customer conversations.
Ellenox works with early-stage founders during exactly this phase, helping validate the problem, build an investor-ready MVP, and generate the traction that strengthens an accelerator application. If you're preparing for Techstars' Spring 2027 deadline, talk to Ellenox.