Portland’s Top 14 Startup Accelerators & Incubators [2023]

Are you looking for capital and/or mentorship for your startup in Portland, Oregon? Beyond funding, Portland’s startup accelerators and incubators also offer founders incredible valuable support for product development, sales and marketing.

Whether you are looking to find a co-founder, build your MVP and/or get the seed money you need to scale up, accelerators and incubators are the way to go!

In this article we have listed our top picks for the best startup accelerators and incubators in Portland. So, if you haven’t yet started to apply, here is a good place to start learning about them.

This article is part of a series where we present you the top startup incubators and accelerators across the US. For the North West, check out our rankings for Seattle.
Looking for Portland's top venture capital firms instead? Check out our ranking here.

Portland’s Top 14 Startup Accelerators & Incubators

Here’s a summary of our top 14 picks for Portland’s best startup accelerators and incubators (in alphabetical order):

Name	Accelerator or incubator?	Program length	Investment size	Sector focus
Built Oregon	Accelerator	16 weeks	None	Consumer Products
Cascadia Cleantech	Accelerator	18 weeks	$25,000	Cleantech (Software & Hardware)
EO Portland	Accelerator	2 years*	None	Sector Agnostic
Oregon Bioscience Incubator	Incubator	N/A	None	Bioscience Industry
Oregon Story Board	Incubator	N/A	None	Animation, Technology, Mixed Reality, Storytelling
OSU Advantage Accelerator	Accelerator	8-10 weeks, 5 months**	None	Sector Agnostic
PIE	Accelerator	6-9 months	None ***	SaaS, Hardware SaaS, Mobile Apps
PSU Business Accelerator	Accelerator	N/A	None	Tech, Green, Bioscience
Rain Eugene	Accelerator	16 weeks	None ***	Sector Agnostic
Starve Ups	Accelerator	N/A	None ***	Sector Agnostic (20 industries supported)
Techstars	Accelerator	3 months	$20,000	Data and Analytics, AI, Life sciences, Health
TiE Oregon XL Bootcamp	Incubator	6 weeks	None	Industry Agnostic
Upstart Labs	Accelerator	3-6 months	None	Tech (software-based)
XXcelerator	Accelerator	3 months	None ***	Sector Agnostic

* Minimum duration of the program

** Duration depends on the program

*** Startups get the opportunity to raise funding from external investors at Demo day, at the end of the program

1. Built Oregon

Founded in 2019, the Built Oregon accelerator program focuses on early-stage startups looking for growth in the consumer product industry.

As a result, they offer a 16 weeks program that provides access to mentors offering customized advice on areas like marketing & sales, finance & operations, branding, fundraising, direct-to-customer strategies, etc.

Also, it is worth noting that the program ends with the Built Festival that offers an opportunity to build a community with industry leaders and founders with fireside conversations.

2. Cascadia Cleantech

Founded in 2016, the Cascadia CleanTech Accelerator is a joint venture between Cleantech Alliance and VentureLab.

The program focuses on early-stage startups in the cleantech industry.s a result, they offer a program lasting 18 weeks where the participants receive industry connection, a structured curriculum, and $25,000 seed funding.

Moreover, the participants receive lessons on IP and Incorporation, Sustainability, Financial Projections, Exit Strategy, Pitch Coaching, etc., plus several in-kind perks in addition to the cash reward.

3. EO Portland

EO Accelerator focuses on early-stage startups and helps them to accelerate their business to cross the USD 1 million mark in revenues.

As a result, this 2 years program offers participating startups various learning opportunities through direct access to mentors, peers, and leaders.

Indeed, the participants get access to all tools they will need for propelling their business forward.

Also, it is worth noting that the program has a participation fee of $2,050 per year.

4. Oregon Bioscience Incubator

Founded in 2007 and previously known as the Oregon Translational Regional and Development Institute (OTRADI), the Oregon Bioscience Incubator (OBI) focuses on startups in the bioscience industry.

The goal of OBI is to accelerate the growth and job creation process in the bioscience industry. Therefore, it offers entrepreneurial mentoring to startups in the industry so that they can focus on innovative research and undergo development.

Indeed, the incubation program helps the startups with investment readiness and to prepare for accelerators.

5. Oregon Story Board

Founded in 2013, Oregon Story Board is an incubator focusing on the digital storytelling industry.

As a result, this Portland-based incubator offers co-working space and resources to the participating companies.

Apart from that, they also offer mentorship to the participants via various education opportunities so that they can pave their way to success in the evolving virtual reality ecosystem.

6. OSU Advantage Accelerator

Founded in 2013, the OSU Advantage Accelerator focuses on all stages of startups and helps them to develop innovative yet high-growth products and services.

In order to do so, they offer three programs that are:

• Iterate: This four-workshop program runs once every school term and focuses on business idea evaluation and refinement. It involves idea articulation, market size estimation, potential customer engagement, etc.
• Accelerate: This 8 to 10 weeks program is about helping in developing a minimum viable product and validating product market fit. Of course, this involves one-on-one mentorship, scheduled events, and other necessary support.
• Launch: This program lasts for 5 months with focus on taking the company to the Build & Sell level. Indeed, the program focuses on business operations and execution, competitor knowledge, market knowledge, sales process, etc.

Also, it is worth noting that the programs are all meant for OSU students, researchers, and staff.

7. PIE

Founded almost 13 years ago, PIE is one of Portland’s top startup accelerators. Its program focuses primarily on pre-funding and pre-revenue startups in the software and hardware-based industry (Software-as-a-Service, Hardware-as-a-Service, etc.). 

Additionally, they also focus on the growth stage and post-revenue startups in the consumer product segment.

In order to do so, Pie offers three programs, which are:

• PIE: It focuses on software-based (including SaaS) startups in pre-funding and pre-revenue stage. Ideally, the participants must have a working prototype to participate in the program.
• PIE Shop: This program focuses on hardware-based startups pre-funding and pre-revenue stage
• PIE Consumer: This program focuses on companies in the consumer product industry including niches like beverages, food, apparel, pet products, etc. Unlike the other two programs, this one focuses on companies in growth and post-revenue stage.

Moreover, all programs are free and do not require the participants to pay any tuition fees or surrender any equity. 

Also, participants receive co-working space and free tools along with customized mentorship. Of course, the program ends on a Demo Day where startups can pitch external investors (VCs, angels) and raise funding.

8. PSU Business Accelerator

PSU Business Accelerator focuses on startups in the bioscience, green, and tech industries. In order to do so, the program offers support to the companies from their early stage to growth.

Indeed, the participants get access to co-working spaces, parking, prototyping shops, and other benefits.

Additionally, they also receive mentoring and many perks from various partnering companies.

Also, it is important to note that the PSU Business Accelerator is for PSU students and faculty, and the participants do not need to pay any tuition fee or surrender any equity share.

9. RAIN Eugene

RAIN Eugene is a 16 weeks startup accelerator that focuses on startups that have come out of the incubation phase.

Indeed, the program offers one-on-one mentorship, co-working space, and networking access with successful entrepreneurs and investors.

The participants go through a structured curriculum focusing on things like customer validation, business plan development, go-to-market strategy, etc.

Like many other accelerators, the program ends with Demo Day where the participating startups get the opportunity to pitch investors and raise funds.

10. Starve Ups

Founded in 2000, Starve Ups is an end-to-end accelerator providing support to participating startups through their entire lifecycle, which has three phases – Survive (18-36 months), Strive (3-7 years), and Thrive (7-12 years).

Indeed, the participating companies receive mentorship and access to various resources and funding from partnering companies.

The program also offers a fundraising event where 26 hand-picked startups get an opportunity to pitch and raise funds.

Also, it is important to note that Starve Ups does not take any fee or equity, but the participating and successful companies need to provide mentorship to new startups.

11. Techstars

The Roux Institute Techstars Accelerator focuses on startups working in the areas of intersection between machines and humans.

As a result, during the 90 days of the program, the selected startups receive mentorship from Techstar alumni members, investors, and industry experts. 

Additionally, the selected startups receive $20,000 in funding against a 6% equity share

Plus, the participants also receive $400k cash equivalent of legal support, accounting, and hosting alongside other perks in excess of $5 million.

Indeed the program ends in a Demo Day where the participants get the opportunity to raise additional funds from angel investors and venture capitals.

12. TiE Oregon XL Bootcamp

TiE Oregon XL Bootcamp focuses on new entrepreneurs and helps them to overcome the challenges faced by startups in the early days.

As a result, the incubator program focuses on topics such as entrepreneurial thinking, customer validation, storytelling, competition research, IP, labor laws, financial preparedness, pitch practicing, etc.

Also, it is important to note that there is a participation cost of $700 for non-TiE members and $500 for TiE members. 

13. Upstart Labs

Upstart Labs business accelerator focuses on early-stage tech startups and offers hands-on mentorship, business experience, and other tools necessary for fast-growing companies.

To do so, the accelerator invests designers, developers, marketers, and managers to help fast-growing startups, but in exchange for equity.

14. XXcelerator

XXcelerator business accelerator focuses on startups led by women. Yet,  to be accepted businesses should have an annual revenue of $25k or more.

The program offers active learning focusing on goal setting & strategic planning, sales & revenue, and growth & finance. 

Additionally, the selected participants receive one-on-one mentoring and peer mentorship.

Finally, the program ends up t with a Pitch and Storytelling Event where the participants get an opportunity to raise capital.