How do PNP's innovation accelerator programs work?
Corporate Innovation
An innovation model built on the strength of many
What makes Plug and Play (PNP) unique is our open innovation approach. Rather than a single company dictating what's valuable, we bring together an entire ecosystem of partners, investors, and institutions to co-select the startups most relevant to their specific needs.
PNP at a glance
20+
Years of innovation
Years of innovation
60+
Locations
Locations
2.5K+
Investments made
Investments made
40+
Unicorns
Unicorns
Partner Alignment
We bring together corporations, investors, government entities, universities, and foundations around a shared industry vertical or theme.
Focus Area Definition
Then we identify the common focus areas across the group of partners, based on the areas where they want to meet startups driving innovation.
Call for Applications
We source hundreds of startups globally based on partner-defined themes, then screen applications down to the top 10% with the strongest fit for the cohort’s specific verticals.
Collaborative Review
Once our partners have reviewed the list, we bring in the top 20-30 companies to present at an in-person Selection Day.
Selection Day
All partners convene to evaluate the shortlisted startups during live presentations. Following a final vote, 10 startups are selected, with the decision made jointly by our partners, rather than solely by PNP.
Innovation Accelerator Program
Weekly mentorship, business model refinement, and pitch coaching, but most importantly, direct access to partners for pilots, PoCs, strategic investment, and acquisition conversations.
The innovation accelerator video series
Selection Day
GOAL Program
Summit
Summit Events
Our biannual Silicon Valley Summit, held at our Sunnyvale, California headquarters, spans three days filled with startup pitches, valuable networking opportunities, and panels and keynotes focused on the latest innovations in industry programs. Additionally, we organize regional Summits in locations such as Japan, Italy, Alberta, the APAC region, and the Middle East.
GOAL Program
Global Overseas Acceleration & Learning (GOAL) provides international startups with soft-landing support in the U.S., with an average of 10 targeted introductions per startup to corporate partners and investors.
Playbook Platform
Digital infrastructure behind every accelerator program. Playbook tracks startup onboarding, curates dealflow for partners, manages pilot engagements from first introduction to investment decision, and provides data-driven dashboards across all programs.
Program Success Stories
Learn about our programs
PNP's innovation accelerator programs FAQ
1. What are innovation accelerator programs?
An innovation accelerator program is a structured, time-limited initiative that connects corporations, investors, universities, and government institutions with the world’s most relevant early-stage startups. At PNP, our programs are designed primarily for our partners, providing a curated, continuously refreshed pipeline of vetted startups aligned with their specific innovation priorities, without the overhead of running an in-house scouting operation. Each cohort produces real commercial outcomes: pilots, proofs of concept, strategic investments, and acquisitions.
2. How is PNP's accelerator different from Y Combinator or Techstars?
The key distinction is our open innovation model. Y Combinator and Techstars are investor-led programs that select startups based on their own thesis and take equity in return. Plug and Play programs are co-designed by the corporations, investors, and institutions that join as partners, meaning that the startups selected reflect genuine demand across your industry, not one firm’s bet. We take no equity and charge no program fees to startups, which means the best founders in the world are willing to apply.
3. Who participates as a partner in a PNP accelerator?
Our ecosystem includes 550+ partners, ranging from Fortune 500 companies to regional industry leaders, as well as government agencies, universities, and venture capital firms. Partners co-fund and co-select each cohort, and their teams are present on Selection Day to evaluate startups firsthand. This structure ensures that every startup entering the program has real, pre-validated interest from multiple potential customers or investors.
4. What industries does PNP's accelerator cover?
We run programs across 25+ industry verticals, including Fintech, Health & Longevity, Mobility & Physical AI, Supply Chain, Sustainability, Insurtech, Enterprise & AI, Brand & Retail, Smart Cities, Crypto & Digital Assets, Energy, Food & Beverage, Real Estate & Construction, and more. Each program is vertical-specific, meaning the startups, partners, and mentors are all domain experts in the same space.
5. Does PNP take equity from startups?
No. PNP’s accelerator programs do not take equity and charge no program fees. Startups participate with full ownership of their company intact. PNP’s VC arm may invest separately, but participation in an accelerator program is entirely independent of any investment relationship.
6. How do startups get selected for a PNP program?
After a global call for applications, our team screens hundreds of applicants, narrowing them to the top 10% most relevant to partner focus areas. Corporate partners then independently review this list and score applicants. The top 20–30 by aggregate score are invited to present live at Selection Day, where all partners vote to select the final cohort of 10 startups. The process is deliberate as it reflects the collective opinion of dozens of industry experts, not the decision of a single individual.
Plug and Play Around the World
Discover our global locations
We have a community of experts all over the world. We work as a bridge between Silicon Valley and the rest of the world, making innovation open to anyone, anywhere.