Startup accelerators in India and Southeast Asia: who each program takes, where it runs and what it invests

For founders in India, the accelerator on our list built for you is Accel Atoms, Accel's pre-seed program. It takes founders based in India and Indian-origin founders based anywhere in the world, and reads applications on a rolling basis. For Southeast Asia, it's Iterative: it backs companies based in the region or selling mostly there, opens with an in-person orientation in Bali and runs the rest of the program remotely.

Programs from outside the region reach it too. Entrepreneur First and the South Park Commons Founder Fellowship have offices in Bangalore, and Antler's locations include India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam. This guide quotes each program's own pages on who can apply, where you'd spend time and what it invests, as we read them between 29 September and 2 October 2026. A program is here only when its own page ties it to the region: on our list, 4 programs name India among their locations and 2 name Indonesia. Programs in other regions are in accelerators outside the US.

The cost column shows each program's terms in the short form our posters use; Iterative's shows its program fee (there is none), and its stake is quoted below. Hover a cell for the full sentence.

01The short answer

• You're an Indian or Indian-origin founder, anywhere: Accel Atoms.
• Your company is in Southeast Asia, or most of your customers are: Iterative.
• You're starting before there's a company: Entrepreneur First in Bangalore, or Antler in one of its Asian locations (compared).
• You want a fellowship and can work from Bangalore: the South Park Commons Founder Fellowship.
• You want to stay where you are: Iterative after its orientation, or a remote program (below).

02Accel Atoms: India, or Indian origin anywhere

Who can apply. Its FAQ (opens in a new tab), read on 2 October 2026: "Yes, we are accepting applications from founders based in India & Indian-origin founders based anywhere in the world." The second half matters. By that line, a founder of Indian origin living in London, Dubai or San Francisco can apply too.

The money. Its FAQ states a ceiling and two possible instruments:

A012Accel Atoms·Terms

“We invest up to $1M- $2M in startups in the form of equity or a convertible note.”

Our reading: Up to $1M–$2M, as equity or a convertible note

Its home page (opens in a new tab) names two tracks, an AI program (next to the other AI programs) and Atoms X. "Up to" is a maximum, and the quote doesn't say what each track invests on its own, so ask which one you're applying to. "Equity or a convertible note" leaves the instrument open too: ask which one, and which of your companies the money goes into.

Where. Accel's page on its 2026 AI cohort (opens in a new tab), read on 2 October 2026: "From the labs in Bengaluru to the final showcase in Silicon Valley, these founders are showing that the most meaningful shifts happen when intelligence is applied to solve real-world challenges." That puts one cohort's work in Bengaluru and its showcase in Silicon Valley. We found no line in its FAQ on whether you have to relocate, so ask before you plan around it.

When. It takes applications on a rolling basis, so there is no batch deadline to wait for. Accel Atoms on the list.

03Iterative: Southeast Asia, by base or by customers

Who can apply. Its FAQ (opens in a new tab), read on 2 October 2026, answers "Does Iterative only invest in Southeast Asia?" with: "The company either needs to be based in Southeast Asia or has a majority of its customers in Southeast Asia."

So the test is the company, not the founder. A team based in Australia, Europe or the US can apply if most of its customers are in Southeast Asia, and a team in Jakarta or Ho Chi Minh City qualifies by being there.

Where. The program meets in person once, at the start. Its orientation page (opens in a new tab), read on 2 October 2026: "Location – Seminyak, Bali. Hotels may change but Bali is the flagship location for now." After the orientation, the program is remote. How long it runs:

A052Iterative·Kind

“We then work with the founders closely on their idea for 3 months during the cohort.”

Our reading: accelerator

The money. Iterative invests US$150K to US$500K on a post-money SAFE, for roughly 10–15% of the company; its own sentence is quoted in how much equity accelerators take. There's no fee on top:

A052Iterative·Cost

“There is no program fee.”

Our reading: No program fee

It runs a batch twice a year, so check when the next one starts before you apply. Iterative on the list.

04Programs from elsewhere with a Bangalore office

Entrepreneur First runs a program in Bangalore. It matches individuals with a cofounder inside the program. Its terms, format and review, next to Antler's, are in Antler vs Entrepreneur First. The next Bangalore deadline is in the Next deadlines strip in room 03. Entrepreneur First on the list.

South Park Commons Founder Fellowship. Bangalore is one of its three bootcamp offices. Its terms are quoted in the equity guide; it takes applications twice a year. South Park Commons on the list.

05Antler and the global networks

Antler's locations include India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam. Terms and length differ by country: the Singapore deal and residency are quoted in Antler vs Entrepreneur First, next to the US ones. Further east, Antler also lists Japan and Korea. Antler on the list.

A few networks reach the region without a program built for it:

• Techstars: its Asia-Pacific programs use a smaller SAFE (the equity guide). We hold no quote naming the cities. Techstars on the list.
• Google for Startups: one of its accelerator regions is Asia Pacific. Google for Startups on the list.
• Founder Institute and Plug and Play: local chapters and locations worldwide, covered in accelerators outside the US. Pages on the list: Founder Institute, Plug and Play.

With a network, read the page of the city program you'd join: a global page may not give the local terms or dates.

06What to check before you apply

1. Whether you qualify. Accel Atoms looks at where you're based or where you're from. Iterative looks at where the company is or where it sells. Read the exact sentence above against your own case.
2. The instrument, and which company gets it. Accel Atoms invests as equity or a convertible note; Iterative uses a post-money SAFE. If your company is registered in India or another country in the region, ask which entity the program invests in and whether it expects a holding company elsewhere. We can't give legal advice; a local lawyer can.
3. Time in person. Iterative asks for an orientation in Bali. For Accel Atoms, ask. Entrepreneur First and South Park Commons work from their Bangalore offices.
4. Currency. Accel Atoms and Iterative state their amounts in US dollars. Convert on the day you compare, and remember the amounts are ceilings or ranges.
5. Timing. Accel Atoms reads applications on a rolling basis; Iterative runs two batches a year; Entrepreneur First closes on dated deadlines.

If none of these fits, a remote program may: the ones whose own pages say you don't have to move are in remote accelerators. If you'd move to the US for a program, what US accelerators say about visas and incorporation is in accelerators for international founders. Put the programs you pick in My launch with the + on each poster:

07How we checked

Every quote comes from the program's own pages. We read Accel Atoms' and Iterative's terms, prices and descriptions on 29 and 30 September 2026, and their rules on who can apply and where the program meets on 2 October 2026. We re-read both FAQs that day, and their terms were unchanged. A program is on this page when its own page ties it to India or Southeast Asia: by where it runs, or by who it accepts. What we did: we read each program's own pages and checked its link; each table row and poster shows the date of our last link check. Terms and locations change between batches, so read the current page before you apply. This is not legal or investment advice.

Nobody pays to be listed or to appear in a guide. Read how we check for the details.

08Questions

01

What are the best startup accelerators in India?

We don't rank them. On our list, Accel Atoms is the program built for founders in India and Indian-origin founders anywhere. Entrepreneur First and the South Park Commons Founder Fellowship have Bangalore offices, and Antler lists India among its locations. Each is in this guide with the day we read its page.

02

Can Indian-origin founders outside India apply to Accel Atoms?

Yes, by its FAQ: it accepts applications from founders based in India and from Indian-origin founders based anywhere in the world.

03

Which accelerators focus on Southeast Asia?

On our list, Iterative: the company must be based in Southeast Asia or have most of its customers there. Antler's locations include Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam.

04

Do I have to move to Bali for Iterative?

No. Iterative holds an in-person orientation, in Bali for now by its orientation page, and runs the rest of the program remotely.

05

Does Iterative charge a program fee?

No. Its home page says there is no program fee. It invests on a post-money SAFE, and its terms are quoted in how much equity accelerators take.