Plug and Play2027 deadline, funding, equity and how to apply
Silicon Valley innovation platform with 500+ corporate partners. Its accelerator programs take no equity and focus on corporate pilots and partnerships.
- No cash investment
- Funding
- No equity
- Equity
- About 3 months
- Program length
- Rolling
- Applications
About Plug and Play
Plug and Play is a Silicon Valley innovation platform founded in 2006 by Saeed Amidi and headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. It works differently from most accelerators. Its core business is connecting startups with large corporations, and its accelerator programs are organized by industry, such as fintech, insurtech, health, mobility and supply chain. Corporate partners pay to be part of these programs, and they help choose the startups that match the problems they want to solve. For startups, the result is a program that is free and equity-free. Plug and Play says it does not take equity, fees or commissions for participation. A separate arm, Plug and Play Ventures, invests in some startups, typically writing checks of $50,000 to $250,000 at pre-seed to Series A. Plug and Play now runs programs in more than 60 locations and over 25 industry verticals. CB Insights ranked it the most active accelerator in the world by deal count, averaging 929 deals a year from 2020 to 2022. Its early tenant and investment history includes PayPal, Dropbox, LendingClub and Honey. Because selection depends on corporate fit, it tends to suit startups with a working product that can run a pilot with a large company, rather than idea-stage teams looking for a first check.
What Plug and Play looks for
Plug and Play selects startups that can solve a specific problem for its corporate partners. Selection is a joint decision with those corporates, so the key question is business fit: can this product run a pilot with a large company in this vertical. Most programs favor startups with a working product and some traction, often seed to Series B, rather than pre-product ideas. Regional programs set their own rules, such as post-MVP requirements.
How the Plug and Play program works
Most Plug and Play accelerator programs run for about three months within one industry vertical and one location. The center of the program is corporate matchmaking. Startups meet with corporate partners in their vertical through structured sessions and deal flow events, with the aim of landing pilots, partnerships or customer contracts. Programming also includes mentorship, workshops and access to Plug and Play's investor network. Each batch ends with an Expo or showcase where startups present to corporate partners and investors. Cohort sizes vary widely by program: the first Silicon Valley batches of 2026 included 113 startups, while some regional programs take five to ten companies. Participation is free and equity-free. Startups that fit Plug and Play Ventures' thesis may also receive investment.
How to apply to Plug and Play
- 1Choose the industry vertical and location that match your product, such as fintech in Silicon Valley or mobility in Germany.
- 2Check that program's eligibility and application window on its Plug and Play page.
- 3Submit the startup application with your product, traction, funding and the corporate problems you solve.
- 4Take an initial startup meeting with the Plug and Play team for that vertical.
- 5If selected by Plug and Play and its corporate partners, join the batch and its corporate matchmaking sessions.
Startup perks after acceptance
Accelerator startups qualify for most startup credit programs. These are the ones founders claim first.
Notable Plug and Play alumni
Companies that went through or were backed by Plug and Play.
Plug and Play vs similar accelerators
| Program | Funding | Equity | Location | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plug and Play | No cash investment | No equity | Sunnyvale, CA | Rolling admissions |
| AWS Generative AI Accelerator | Up to $1M | No equity | Seattle, WA | Next deadline not announced yet |
| Conception X | Up to $390K | No equity | London | December 6, 2026 (40 days left) |
| WILCO | Up to $173K | No equity | Paris | Next deadline not announced yet |
| Microsoft for Startups (formerly Founders Hub) | Up to $150K | No equity | Online | Rolling admissions |
| KAUST TAQADAM Accelerator | Up to $140K | No equity | Thuwal, Saudi Arabia | Next deadline not announced yet |
Plug and Play FAQ
When is the Plug and Play application deadline?+
Plug and Play reviews applications on a rolling basis, so you can apply at any time.
Does Plug and Play take equity?+
No, not for participation. Plug and Play says it does not take equity, fees or commissions from startups in its accelerator programs. Its separate fund, Plug and Play Ventures, takes a stake only when it chooses to invest, typically writing $50,000 to $250,000 at pre-seed to Series A.
How is Plug and Play different from YC or Techstars?+
Plug and Play does not give every startup a fixed investment. Its programs are paid for by corporate partners and built around matching startups with those corporates for pilots and partnerships. That makes it most useful for B2B startups with a working product that want large customers.
Which well-known companies are linked to Plug and Play?+
Plug and Play's early tenant and investment history includes PayPal, Dropbox, LendingClub and Honey. Founder Saeed Amidi was also an early investor in Google. CB Insights ranked Plug and Play the most active accelerator by deal count, averaging 929 deals a year from 2020 to 2022.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org, hub.causo.ai, prnewswire.co.uk, elev-x.com