Programs
Innovative Startup Acceleration Program
The goal of the program is to strengthen Georgia’s startup ecosystem by enhancing the investment potential of innovative and technology-driven startup ideas and supporting their entry into global markets. The program will promote: • The development of technological and innovative solutions, contributing to the global competitiveness of Georgian companies. • The advancement of startup founders' skills and knowledge, preparing them to build scalable businesses. • The development of minimum viable products (MVPs) and the strategic positioning of products in both local and international markets.
Innovative Startup Acceleration Program
🚀Within the program framework, the winning international accelerators - Plug and Play, Startupbootcamp, 500 Global, and Founder Institute - will implement a one-year acceleration program. The program will help early-stage innovative startups with idea validation, developing scalable business models, ensuring growth, and attracting investments.
The complete acceleration cycle includes three stages:
Stage 1 - 2-month intensive training and mentoring period for selected startups.
Stage 2- 4-month period focused on creating and refining a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), ensuring product-market fit, and increasing competitiveness. At this stage, startups receive intensive training and mentoring.
Stage 3 -6-month period during which startups receive individually tailored support. This includes developing sales strategies, facilitating entry into global and regional markets, growing the customer base, and optimizing revenue generation.
🏆Startups advancing to the second and third stages will receive grant funding of 50,000 and 150,000 GEL.
From January 2026, Plug and Play and Startupbootcamp will begin the acceleration process, while 500 Global and Founder Institute will join the program from July.
📝 Applications for the Startupbootcamp Accelerator are now open. If interested, follow the link: https://www.startupbootcamp.org/georgia
Plug and Play – One of the world's largest startup accelerators, founded in the USA in 2006, is now present in over 50 cities and runs more than 60 acceleration programs worldwide. Their portfolio includes over 2,500 startups that have raised more than $12 billion in funding. Plug and Play is one of the most powerful and influential players in the global innovation ecosystem.
Startupbootcamp - One of Europe's largest startup accelerators, founded in Denmark in 2010. The company operates globally with representation in 27 countries. Since 2010, Startupbootcamp has implemented over 180 specialized acceleration programs involving more than 1,800 startups. Portfolio startups have raised $3.5 billion in investments. The company has over 100 successfully exited startups.
500 Global - One of the world's leading venture capital firms, founded in the USA in 2010. They have 3,000+ portfolio companies, including 35+ companies valued at $1 billion or more. In partnership with GITA, 500 has been implementing an acceleration program in Georgia since 2020, which will conclude in June 2026, and venture investing since 2022 (fund size $20 million). At this stage, they have invested $5.9 million in 59 startups.
Founder Institute - One of the world's leading accelerators from the USA, helping early-stage startups turn ideas into businesses. The company was founded in 2009 and today has representation in 200+ cities and 100+ countries. Their portfolio includes 5,000+ startups that have raised $950 million in investments.
The program is fully funded by the Georgia’s Innovation and Technology Agency (GITA).
