The wider ecosystem
Incubators
Places and programs that give an early company space, equipment, advice and a community while it forms.
Often a fit for: Teams that need a lab, a shop, a campus or a steady community more than a short sprint.
Independent programs; no affiliation implied unless stated. Each entry was checked against the program’s own page in October 2026. Programs change; confirm details with the program before you apply.
5 programs
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Newlab
Labs, shops, pilot sites and workspaces, commercialization projects with industry and government partners, and access to venture capital and grant funding.
- Who it is for
- Startups building critical technology.
- Format
- A venture platform that combines physical facilities, partner projects and capital.
- Where
- Brooklyn, Detroit, New Orleans, Montevideo and Riyadh (In person)
- Stage
- Building, Launching, Growing
- Open to
- Open to all founders
Visit Newlab (external site). Opens the program’s own site. Source: program page, retrieved October 2026.
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1871
A nonprofit innovation hub with programs, innovation labs, events, resources and a job network.
- Who it is for
- Early-stage and growth-stage startups, and corporate innovators, through membership tiers.
- Format
- Physical and virtual membership with programming and events.
- Where
- Chicago (In person and online)
- Stage
- Idea, Building, Launching, Growing
- Open to
- Open to all founders
Visit 1871 (external site). Opens the program’s own site. Source: program page, retrieved October 2026.
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Capital Factory
The Texas Fund makes cash investments in deep and frontier tech companies, and All Access is a network and membership program.
- Who it is for
- Ambitious founders working on hard problems, from seed to Series C.
- Format
- Two vehicles: a fund, and a membership program of about a hundred companies a year.
- Where
- Texas (In person)
- Stage
- Building, Launching, Growing
- Open to
- Open to all founders
Visit Capital Factory (external site). Opens the program’s own site. Source: program page, retrieved October 2026.
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Activate
A fellowship that builds the mindset, skills and network scientists need to turn hard technology into real-world impact.
- Who it is for
- Scientists who want to become entrepreneurial leaders.
- Format
- A fellowship; applications for the 2026 cohort were open when checked.
- Where
- United States, with local communities (In person)
- Stage
- Idea, Building
- Open to
- Researchers and scientists
Visit Activate (external site). Opens the program’s own site. Source: program page, retrieved October 2026.
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STATION F
A startup campus with equipped workspaces, programs and housing, home to more than a thousand startups.
- Who it is for
- Startups from early stage through growth; the Founders Program is one of the campus programs.
- Format
- On-campus programs and workspaces.
- Where
- Paris, France (In person)
- Stage
- Idea, Building, Launching, Growing
- Open to
- Open to all founders
Visit STATION F (external site). Opens the program’s own site. Source: program page, retrieved October 2026.
Ask before you join
- Is membership open-ended or does it end on a date?
- Which shared equipment and advisors are included in the membership?
- Who are the other members you would work beside?
Other kinds of program
Join them. Then build for the long run.
Join them. WE works alongside, for the long run. Tell WE where your company is. A readiness review says plainly whether the work fits, and which of these programs would help most right now.
Every program here is independent. WE lists it because founders may want to consider it. No affiliation, partnership or endorsement is implied, and none is stated for any entry.
Start a readiness review
The application form asks about your company, your team and what you are building.