Guide · EasyCofounder
Incubator, accelerator or startup studio: which should you choose?
Support programmes for founders have multiplied and their names are confusing. This guide explains the differences between incubators, accelerators and startup studios, what they actually offer, how to choose according to your stage and how to put together a strong application.
Updated on 5 min readBy the EasyCofounder team
In short
- An incubator supports a project during its creation over a fairly long period.
- An accelerator helps a launched startup grow fast through an intensive programme, often for equity, while a startup studio builds companies itself.
- Choose according to your stage, your needs and what you are prepared to give up.
Contents
- Incubator, accelerator, startup studio: what are the differences?
- What does a support programme actually offer?
- Which programme suits which stage?
- How do you choose an incubator?
- How do you prepare your application?
- Do you need a co-founder to be accepted?
- Frequently asked questions
- Glossary
- About this guide
Incubator, accelerator, startup studio: what are the differences?
All three support founders, but they come in at different moments and rest on different models.
| Type | Target stage | Duration | Usual cost to the startup |
|---|---|---|---|
| Incubator | Idea or project being created | Often several months to over a year | Free, modest fees or rent, depending on the organisation |
| Accelerator | Launched startup with first customers | Intensive programme of a few months | Often a share of the equity, sometimes with funding |
| Startup studio | Idea originated by the studio | Through incorporation and beyond | A large share of the equity held by the studio |
| Business centre (pépinière) | Recently created company | A few years | Office rent and shared services |
What does a support programme actually offer?
- A method: workshops on market validation, business model, product, sales and fundraising.
- Personal follow-up from programme managers, mentors or experts.
- A network: investors, large corporations, alumni, technical and legal partners.
- Resources: office space, discounted tools, access to labs or equipment depending on the organisation.
- Sometimes direct funding, or help obtaining interest-free founder loans and public grants.
- Visibility: demo days in front of investors, joint communications.
Which programme suits which stage?
- 1Idea to validate: an incubator run by a school, university or local authority helps structure the process; see also validating a startup idea.
- 2First version and first users: a more selective incubator or a pre-acceleration programme helps you find your first customers.
- 3Paying customers and a need for growth: an accelerator brings an intensive method, a network and access to investors (pre-seed fundraising).
- 4Wanting to start a company without a settled idea: a startup studio may offer you the chance to co-found one of its companies.
Projects that come out of research also have dedicated technology transfer organisations, best approached through the labs and universities in your region.
How do you choose an incubator?
- The programme matches your stage and your sector.
- What you give in return is clear: cost, share of equity, attendance commitments.
- The mentors and experts have real experience in your field.
- Former participants recommend the programme.
- The location and pace are compatible with how you work, including if the team is remote.
A team developing software for farms hesitates between a generalist accelerator and an incubator specialising in agriculture. They choose the latter, whose network of farmers and cooperatives allows them to sign their first pilots.
Schools, universities and incubators can also become EasyCofounder partners and offer the platform to the founders they support, with their own dashboard and a reserved rate for their members.
How do you prepare your application?
Selection committees look for teams able to move fast and for a real problem, more than for a perfectly finished idea.
- 1Present the problem with concrete feedback from potential customers.
- 2Describe the team, its skills and how roles are divided.
- 3Show what has already been done: interviews, mock-ups, first users.
- 4Explain what you expect from the programme and what you plan to achieve during it.
- 5Prepare a short pitch for the interview (how to pitch your project).
Do you need a co-founder to be accepted?
Many programmes accept solo founders, but most look closely at the make-up of the team, and some accelerators clearly favour teams of two or three co-founders with complementary skills.
If a key skill is missing, for example a technical profile for a digital product, show that you have identified it and are actively looking. Our guide on how to find a co-founder explains the process.
On EasyCofounder, you can publish your project and filter talent profiles by role and skill to complete your team before or during your application.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an incubator and an accelerator?
An incubator supports the creation of a project over a fairly long period, while an accelerator helps an already launched startup grow quickly through a short, intensive programme, often in exchange for a share of the equity.
What is a startup studio?
It is an organisation that comes up with and launches startups itself, recruiting founders to run them and providing shared teams, funding and method, in exchange for a large share of the equity.
Do incubators charge a fee?
It depends on the organisation. Some public or school incubators are free or inexpensive, others charge for services or office space, and accelerators often take a share of the equity.
Can you join an incubator with just an idea?
Yes. Many incubators run by schools, universities or local authorities take projects at the idea stage, as long as you show a serious approach to validating the problem.
How do you find a co-founder during a programme?
Programmes bring together many founders and talented people, so make the most of the events, and also publish your project on EasyCofounder to widen your search beyond your cohort.
Glossary
- Incubator
- An organisation that supports the creation of a company, from the idea to the first customers.
- Accelerator
- An intensive, selective programme that helps an already launched startup grow fast, often in exchange for equity.
- Startup studio
- An organisation that creates startups in-house and recruits founders to run them.
- Demo day
- An end-of-programme event at which startups present their project to investors.
Complete my team
Publish your project and find the co-founder your application is missing
Find your co-founder
By role
Near you
Further reading
- Validate your startup ideaValidate your startup idea before looking for a co-founder: customer interviews, demand tests, landing pages, MVP, first customers and go/no-go criteria.
- Pre-seed fundingRaising a pre-seed round: how it differs from seed, early-stage funding sources, what investors look for at this stage and the mistakes to avoid.
- Find a co-founderHow to find a co-founder for your startup: CTO, CEO and COO profiles, where to look, how to choose, equity and the mistakes to avoid.
- Pitch your projectHow to present your project to win over a future co-founder: pitch structure, what they want to know, questions to anticipate and mistakes to avoid.
About this guide
This guide was written by the EasyCofounder team — a platform that connects founders, talents and startups — and was last updated on November 9, 2026. It draws on common startup practice and on the questions our members ask.
How we write, review and update our guides is explained on our About page.
It provides general guidance and is not legal, tax or financial advice. For your own situation, consult a qualified professional (lawyer, accountant) and the official resources available in your country.