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$100,000 Blue Ridge Labs Catalyst Accelerator

  • Organization: Blue Ridge Labs at Robin Hood
  • Type: Other
  • Location: United States
  • Deadline: November 13, 2026
  • Funding: Fully Funded

Blue Ridge Labs, the venture studio of New York poverty-fighting charity Robin Hood, runs Catalyst, a 16-week accelerator for pre-seed startups and early-stage tech nonprofits. It backs teams using software, AI and data to help low-income New Yorkers and Americans move up economically, in areas like housing, health, food, jobs, education and financial access. Selected ventures get $100,000 plus coaching, and work from Robin Hood's headquarters in Union Square, New York City, two days a week from February to June 2027. **What you get:** - $100,000 per venture: an investment through a SAFE for for-profit companies, or a grant for nonprofits - Money you can spend on whatever helps the business, including paying yourself a salary - Tailored coaching in finance, product, sales and marketing, and engineering - One-on-one sessions with Robin Hood's Design Insight Group, a network of 3,600+ New Yorkers with lived experience of the problems you are solving - A desk at Blue Ridge Labs in Robin Hood's Union Square headquarters - A trip to SXSW with the cohort, and a demo day with investors and partners - Possible follow-on funding for selected ventures, and ongoing introductions to investors, mentors and partners after the programme **What you'll do:** - Phase 1, Scale Foundations (February to March 2027, 10 weeks): weekly workshops on scaling operations, growth and fundraising, founder lunch and learns, and SXSW - Phase 2, Growth and Visibility (April to June 2027, 6 weeks): weekly programming on growth, storytelling, fundraising and partnerships, with dedicated pitching support - Attend in person in New York City two days a week; all programming in those sessions is required - Pitch at demo day to investors, partners and Robin Hood's network **Key dates:** - Applications close November 13, 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time - Shortlisted applicants are invited to a short video interview - Final decisions and cohort offers: early January 2027 - Phase 1: February to March 2027, Union Square NYC and SXSW - Phase 2 and demo day: April to June 2027, Union Square NYC **More information:** - Full terms, including the SAFE, are in the Catalyst FAQ PDF linked from the programme page - Idea-stage founders are pointed to Blue Ridge Labs' separate Founder Fellowship instead

Apply for $100,000 Blue Ridge Labs Catalyst Accelerator

Blue Ridge Labs at Robin HoodOther

$100,000 Blue Ridge Labs Catalyst Accelerator

Nov 13, 2026 23:59:00 ET
Opportunity type
Other
Funding
Fully Funded
Location
United States
Deadline
Nov 13, 2026 23:59:00 ET

About this opportunity

Blue Ridge Labs, the venture studio of New York poverty-fighting charity Robin Hood, runs Catalyst, a 16-week accelerator for pre-seed startups and early-stage tech nonprofits. It backs teams using software, AI and data to help low-income New Yorkers and Americans move up economically, in areas like housing, health, food, jobs, education and financial access. Selected ventures get $100,000 plus coaching, and work from Robin Hood's headquarters in Union Square, New York City, two days a week from February to June 2027.

What you get:

  • $100,000 per venture: an investment through a SAFE for for-profit companies, or a grant for nonprofits
  • Money you can spend on whatever helps the business, including paying yourself a salary
  • Tailored coaching in finance, product, sales and marketing, and engineering
  • One-on-one sessions with Robin Hood's Design Insight Group, a network of 3,600+ New Yorkers with lived experience of the problems you are solving
  • A desk at Blue Ridge Labs in Robin Hood's Union Square headquarters
  • A trip to SXSW with the cohort, and a demo day with investors and partners
  • Possible follow-on funding for selected ventures, and ongoing introductions to investors, mentors and partners after the programme

What you'll do:

  • Phase 1, Scale Foundations (February to March 2027, 10 weeks): weekly workshops on scaling operations, growth and fundraising, founder lunch and learns, and SXSW
  • Phase 2, Growth and Visibility (April to June 2027, 6 weeks): weekly programming on growth, storytelling, fundraising and partnerships, with dedicated pitching support
  • Attend in person in New York City two days a week; all programming in those sessions is required
  • Pitch at demo day to investors, partners and Robin Hood's network

Key dates:

  • Applications close November 13, 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time
  • Shortlisted applicants are invited to a short video interview
  • Final decisions and cohort offers: early January 2027
  • Phase 1: February to March 2027, Union Square NYC and SXSW
  • Phase 2 and demo day: April to June 2027, Union Square NYC

More information:

  • Full terms, including the SAFE, are in the Catalyst FAQ PDF linked from the programme page
  • Idea-stage founders are pointed to Blue Ridge Labs' separate Founder Fellowship instead

Who can apply

  • Open to teams in the United States; the application asks whether you are legally authorised to work in the US
  • In-person attendance at Robin Hood's headquarters in Union Square, New York City, two days a week for four months is compulsory
  • Pre-seed startups or early-stage tech nonprofits building scalable tech solutions with a working product (MVP) and early traction
  • No more than $150,000 in total revenue in any 12-month period, and no more than $500,000 raised, excluding grants
  • Solo founders and small teams can apply; you must be able to build the product yourselves, which for most means a technical cofounder
  • The product must serve low-income New Yorkers and Americans and create pathways out of poverty
  • You do not need to be incorporated to apply, but must incorporate to receive funding and sign the Catalyst Program Agreement

AI Verification

✓ AI Verified

Our AI read the official sources and cross-checked the key facts. Here is what held up, and what it could not confirm.

We could not fully verify this organization or all of its details. Check it independently on the official website before you apply, and never share sensitive personal or financial information until you are sure a request is genuine.

76
LOT Verification ScoreSolid

Cross-checked 13 of 13 key facts

Confirmed Our best read Not stated

Good to know

  • +$100,000 for each venture, plus 16 weeks of coaching and access to Robin Hood's network of partners and investors
  • +Nonprofits receive the money as a grant
  • +Run by Robin Hood, one of New York's largest anti-poverty charities; this is the eleventh cohort
  • +Free to apply, and the funding terms are published in full

Worth checking yourself

  • !For-profit startups receive the $100,000 as a SAFE that converts to 5.5 percent of the company
  • !You must be US-based and attend in person in Union Square, New York City, two days a week from February to June 2027; travel and housing are not covered
  • !Aimed at working founders with a product and some traction, and only 6 to 8 are accepted
  • !Closes 13 November at 11:59 pm Eastern

Sources checked

ROrobinhood.orgApplyROrobinhood.orgApplyAIairtable.comOfficialROrobinhood.orgApplyHThttp://blueridgelabs.org (IONOS parking redirect; https fails TLS)OfficialROrobinhood.orgApply

LOT finds and checks opportunities from public sources. Always confirm details on the organiser’s own page before applying.

$100,000 Blue Ridge Labs Catalyst Accelerator
Nov 13, 2026 23:59:00 ET