Startup accelerators, also known as seed accelerators, are fixed-term, cohort-based programs, that include mentorship and educational components and culminate in a public pitch event or demo day. While traditional business incubators are often government-funded, generally take no equity, and rarely provide funding, accelerators can be either privately or publicly funded and cover a wide range of industries. Unlike business incubators, the application process for seed accelerators is open to anyone but highly competitive. There are specific accelerators, such as corporate accelerators, which are often subsidiaries or programs of larger corporations that act like seed accelerators. Distinctive qualities The main differences between business incubators, startup studios, and accelerators are: The application process is open to anyone but highly competitive. For instance, Y Combinator and TechStars have application acceptance rates between 1% and 3%. Seed investment in startups may be made, in exchange for equity. Typically, the investment is between US$20,000 to US$50,000...