$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

