Welcome to AcceleratorCon
Schedule
October 23rd, 2026
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
The Maison Project
229 W28th St, New York, 10001
Meet with accelerator representatives, business advisors, and industry experts to learn about the different options available and how they can benefit your business.
AGENDA
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8:30 AM
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8:30 AM
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8:00 – 9:00 AM
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9:00 – 9:05 AM
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9:05 – 9:10 AM
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9:10 – 9:30 AM
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9:30 – 10:00 AM
SPECIAL KEYNOTE SESSION
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10:00 AM – 10:30 AM
AI IS LEAVING THE SCREEN, THE HARD- TECH WAVE – ROBOTICS, BIO,
PHYSICAL SYSTEMS – AND WHAT IT TAKES TO FUND AND BUILD ATOMS-PLUS/BITS COMPANIES.
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10:00AM – 10:30 AM
VIBE/CODING TO VENTURE SCALE: CAN NO-CODE FOUNDERS RAISE? HAS THE MOAT CHANGED?
AI LET’S NOT- TECHNICAL FOUNDERS SHIP IN DAYS, DOES THAT CHANGE WHO GETS
FUNDED; OR RAISE THE BAR? VC + FOUNDER DEBATE THE NEW FLOOR FOR A FUNDABLE TEAM
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BREAK
10:30AM – 10:45 AM
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10:45AM – 11:15 AM
Founders pitch an AI idea in 60 seconds; investors react in real time.
High-energy, audience-participatory format that doubles as Draft warm-up
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10:45AM – 11:15 AM
HOW VCS ARE REWRITING EVALUATION — WHAT THEY REWARD, WHAT THEY DISCOUNT,
THE RED FLAGS IN AI PITCHES. GOLD FOR FOUNDERS PREPPING TO RAISE THE SAME DAY.
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11:15AM – 11:45 AM
The people who read accelerator applications for a living tell you what gets a yes and what gets a pass in under two minutes. Real rejections, real fixes. Bring your application – you’ll leave knowing what to cut.
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11:15AM – 11:45 AM
WHERE CAPITAL ACTUALLY FLOWS. LPS AND FUND MANAGERS ON
ALLOCATION SHIFTS, AI FUND STRATEGIES, AND WHAT MAKES A MANAGER FUNDABLE THIS CYCLE.
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11:45AM – 12:00 PM
TAKE TEN MINUTES TO RESET AND RECHARGE. THIS GUIDED MINDFULNESS BREAK INVITES ATTENDEES
TO PAUSE, BREATHE, AND RECONNECT WITH PRESENCE BEFORE DIVING BACK INTO THE DAY.
THROUGH SIMPLE GROUNDING AND REFLECTION EXERCISES, WE’LL PROMOTE FOCUS, GRATITUDE,
AND CLARITY — HELPING EVERYONE RETURN TO THE CONFERENCE WITH A REFRESHED MIND AND RENEWED ENERGY.
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12:00PM – 12:30 PM
THIS SESSION WILL BE A WORKSHOP YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS
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12:00PM – 12:30 PM
THIS SESSION WILL BE A WORKSHOP YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS
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12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
HUNGRY? HAVE LUNCH DELIVERED RIGHT TO YOU!
LUNCH IS SPONSORED BY POSTMATES!
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1:30 PM – 2:00 PM
HOW TO STACK YOUR ECOSYSTEM: BUILDING A NETWORK
THAT HELPS
FOUNDERS FROM DAY 1
STAFF, MENTORS, INVESTORS, SPONSORS — HOW SHOULD IT ALL COME TOGETHER?
WHAT DOES EACH STAKEHOLDER NEED TO GIVE TO FOUNDERS?
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1:30 PM – 2:00 PM
IS CHARGING FOUNDERS THE ONLY WAY FOR PROGRAMS TO MAKE MONEY?
HOW SHOULD PROGRAMS MAKE MONEY? 4 SENIOR ACCELERATOR EXECUTIVES OPEN UP
ABOUT THE ECONOMICS OF GROWING AN ACCELERATOR BUSINESS.
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2:00 PM – 2:30 PM
THIS SESSION WILL BE A WORKSHOP YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS
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2:00 PM – 2:30 PM
THIS SESSION WILL BE A WORKSHOP YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS
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2:30 PM – 5:30 PM
BREAK + VISIT OUR EXHIBITOR + MEETING HUB EXPERIENCE
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2:00 PM – 4:30 PM
THE DRAFT IS WHERE TOP STARTUPS GET SCOUTED—LIVE. PRE-SELECTED FOUNDERS MEET 1:1
WITH LEADING ACCELERATORS AND VC FIRMS IN A FAST-PACED, HIGH-STAKES MATCHMAKING
EXPERIENCE. THINK OF IT AS THE STARTUP WORLD’S VERSION OF THE NFL DRAFT: CURATED,
COMPETITIVE, AND FULL OF OPPORTUNITY. ONE STANDOUT WILL EARN A SPOT ON THE
“DRAFT CLASS OF 2024” AND WIN ACCESS, VISIBILITY, AND A SURPRISE PRIZE DROP.
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2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
A CLOSED-DOOR DISCUSSION WITH UNIVERSITY LEADERS
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2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
NEW 6MIN SPEED MEETINGS
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2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
PRE-SCHEDULED ONE TO ONE MEETINGS
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2:30 PM – 5:30 PM
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5:30 PM – 5:45 PM
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5:45 PM – 6:00 PM
GET A FRONT-ROW SEAT TO AN EXCLUSIVE CONVERSATION WITH THE FOUNDER OF ACCELERATORCON
AS SHE REFLECTS ON THE MOVEMENT THAT SPARKED A NATIONAL ECOSYSTEM—AND WHERE IT’S HEADED
NEXT. FROM THE EVOLUTION OF THE PLATFORM TO BOLD NEW BETS, THIS SESSION WILL REVEAL WHAT’S COMING FOR 2027.
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6:00PM – 8:00 PM
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6:00PM – 8:00 PM
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