500 Startups

500 Startups is one of the most prestigious, highly sought after accelerator programs and venture capital firms in the world. The most active global venture capital firm in 2019 and the second most active global venture capital firm in 2020, 500 Startups seeks to grow the world economy through the development of successful entrepreneurship.

To date, 500 Startups has invested in over 2,400 startups, over 5,000 founders, across more than 75 countries. It is ranked 2nd most active VC globally by exits and deal count. The 500 family is a network with all alumni founders and more than 200 mentors. Startups can leverage the network to connect with a growing list of engineers, designers, marketers, and founders worldwide.

The first to depart from an application deadline system, the flagship seed accelerator program accepts applications on a rolling basis. The program provides world class mentorship consisting of the 500 team itself, veteran entrepreneurs, experienced investors, and individuals with considerable expertise in their field. The program focuses heavily on improving distribution such as event-based analytics, SEO, paid advertising, etc. 

500 Startups is ranked as one of the top accelerator programs and one of the most highly regarded seed stage investors in existence. The brand itself draws a diverse group of people, ranging from investors, strategic corporates, potential partners, press, and even celebrity personalities. The people involved and the caliber of events hosted by 500 Startups translates into meaningful exposure and visibility for startups. 

500 Startups is broadly searching for startups in the tech industry. Examples of alumni include Talkdesk, 9GAG, Havenly, ManyChat, and many more. Accepted startups receive an investment of $150,000 for 6% equity in the form of a convertible security. The program tuition costs $37,500 per company which comes with the option to deduct from the overall investment amount provided to the startup.