Techstars vs Y Combinator vs Antler for African startups

Three accelerators dominate the conversation when African founders ask where to apply: Y Combinator, Techstars, and Antler. All three have invested in African companies, all three have cohort-based or rolling programs, and all three can open doors to capital, networks, and credibility. But they are not interchangeable. Each has different ticket sizes, different mentor profiles, different alumni networks, and different expectations of founders at different stages. Getting this wrong means spending months on an application that doesn't fit, or joining a program that doesn't move your needle.

This article breaks down each accelerator's actual approach to African founders, tells you which one matches your stage and ambition, and shows you how to apply strategically. We've worked with founders who've come through all three, and we've seen which matches which founder profile. By the end, you'll know which accelerator to prioritize, what they're actually looking for, and whether you're ready for any of them yet.

Y Combinator: the global standard, with African depth

Y Combinator is the oldest and most famous accelerator globally. Founded in 2005, YC has backed over 3,000 companies including Airbnb, Stripe, Doordash, and Instacart. In Africa specifically, YC has funded companies like Flutterwave (payments, Nigeria), Andela (talent, Nigeria), Paystack (payments, Nigeria, acquired by Stripe in 2020), Wave (remittance, Senegal), and Chipper Cash (remittance, Uganda/Kenya).

YC runs two cohorts per year: Winter and Summer. Each cohort takes around 100-150 companies globally. The program lasts 12 weeks, and founders move to San Francisco or participate remotely (this changed post-COVID and varies by cohort). At the end of Demo Day, companies pitch to hundreds of investors.

YC's investment is modest: typically $500,000 in safe notes or convertible equity, split between the accelerator and a lead investor (often Continuity Fund or YC's own fund). This isn't a lot for a Series A, but it's enough to extend runway and signal credibility to follow-on investors. The real value is the network, the brand, and the weekly office hours with founders like Paul Graham and Garry Tan.

What YC looks for in African founders:

1. Founders solving a problem they personally experienced or understand deeply.
2. A co-founder team (solo founders are rare at YC).
3. Early traction: users, revenue, or letters of intent.
4. Ambition to build a global company, not just serve one market.
5. Technical or product-led founders (YC favours founders who can build or design).

YC's blind spot for African founders: YC assumes you have access to San Francisco networks and can move or participate in real-time. For founders in Kano, Kigali, or Dakar with no visa or ability to travel, this is harder. YC also favours consumer and B2B SaaS plays, and is less interested in on-the-ground logistics or last-mile distribution—the things African founders often excel at.

Ticket size and follow-on: YC's $500,000 is non-dilutive if structured as a safe, but it comes with expectations. YC founders often raise Series A within 6-12 months post-Demo Day. YC's alumni network in Africa is strong: Flutterwave, Paystack, Wave, and others have gone on to raise hundreds of millions, and they mentor current cohorts. If you want to be part of the global startup canon and have access to US investors, YC is the right door.

For a detailed tactical guide on applying to YC as an African founder, see Y Combinator for African founders: a tactical applicant's guide.

Techstars: the operator's accelerator, with regional focus

Techstars was founded in 2006, a year after YC, and has taken a different path. Instead of one global cohort, Techstars runs 50+ programs globally, each tied to a city or region. Techstars has programs in London, Berlin, Paris, and increasingly in Africa. Techstars Africa (based in Nairobi and Lagos) launched its first cohort in 2021.

Techstars' structure is different from YC. Each program is mentorship-first: you get assigned a mentor (often a successful local founder or operator), and the program runs 13 weeks with weekly mentor sessions, workshops, and investor connections. Techstars invests $120,000 for 6% equity (or similar terms). This is a direct equity investment, not a safe.

Techstars also takes fewer companies per cohort: typically 10-15 per program. This means more focused mentorship but also more competitive selection.

What Techstars looks for in African founders:

1. Founders with existing traction or a strong MVP.
2. A problem that's geographically bounded (e.g., solving a Lagos logistics problem, not "the African Uber").
3. Founders who want hands-on mentorship from operators, not just investor access.
4. Teams committed to staying in their region (Techstars doesn't push you to San Francisco).
5. Business models that make sense in emerging markets (fintech, logistics, agritech, edtech).

Techstars' advantage for African founders: The regional focus means mentors understand your market. If you're in Lagos, your mentor might be someone who's built a logistics or fintech company in Lagos. The smaller cohort size means more attention. And Techstars' investor network in Africa is strong: they've backed companies like Kuda (neobank, Nigeria), Kobo360 (logistics, Nigeria), and others. You're not expected to move to San Francisco.

Techstars' blind spot: The $120,000 for 6% equity is a real dilution hit at early stage. For a pre-seed company with a $2 million valuation, that's 6% gone immediately. Techstars is also less global in its reach: if you want to build a company that eventually expands to the US or Europe, the mentorship and network might be more locally focused.

Ticket size and follow-on: Techstars invests $120,000 directly. This is meant to be seed funding, not a bridge. Many Techstars Africa founders go on to raise seed rounds from Nigerian VCs like Founders Factory, Lofty, or international VCs with African offices. The Techstars brand is strong in Africa but less recognized in Silicon Valley.

Antler: the pre-seed specialist, with team formation

Antler is the newest of the three, founded in 2017. Antler's model is radically different: it's a pre-seed accelerator that actively helps you find a co-founder if you don't have one. Antler runs cohorts in 25+ cities globally, including Lagos, Nairobi, Cape Town, and Kigali.

Antler's program lasts 12 weeks and is structured as follows: weeks 1-3 are team formation (if you're a solo founder, you're matched with potential co-founders). Weeks 4-12 are product development and investor pitching. At the end, Demo Day.

Antler invests $100,000 for 8% equity. Like Techstars, this is direct equity. Unlike Techstars, Antler explicitly targets pre-seed founders: people with an idea but no product, no traction, and no co-founder.

What Antler looks for in African founders:

1. Founders with a problem statement and initial research, not necessarily a product.
2. Founders who are coachable and willing to iterate on their idea.
3. Founders who want to stay in their region and build for their market.
4. Strong communication skills and ability to work in a cohort environment.
5. Ambition to raise a seed round within 6-12 months of the program.

Antler's advantage for African founders: If you're pre-seed and don't have a co-founder, Antler is the only one of the three that will help you find one. The program is explicitly designed for early-stage founders, so there's no expectation of traction. The cohort model is tight: you're with 10-15 other founders for 12 weeks, and the peer learning is intense. Antler's investor network in Africa is growing, and many Antler Africa alumni have gone on to raise seed rounds.

Antler's blind spot: $100,000 for 8% equity is a steep dilution for pre-seed. If your idea pivots (which is common in pre-seed), you're still giving up 8%. Antler is also less focused on mentorship from operators: the model is more cohort-driven and facilitator-led. If you want one-on-one guidance from someone who's built a company in your space, Techstars might be better.

Ticket size and follow-on: Antler invests $100,000 for 8% equity. This is meant to be pre-seed capital to get you to a pitch-ready state. Most Antler founders then raise seed rounds from angel investors or early-stage VCs. Antler's follow-on support is lighter than Techstars or YC: you're expected to build your own investor relationships.

Head-to-head comparison: which accelerator for which founder

Applying strategically: timelines and success rates

All three accelerators have competitive application processes. YC's acceptance rate is around 1-2% globally (fewer than 1 in 50 applications get in). Techstars Africa's acceptance rate is higher, around 3-5% (fewer than 1 in 20). Antler's acceptance rate is also around 3-5%, but this varies by city and cohort.

Applications typically open 2-3 months before the cohort starts. YC Winter cohort applications open in September; Summer in March. Techstars Africa applications are rolling but typically close 4-6 weeks before cohort start. Antler applications are rolling.

Timeline for applying:

1. Month 1: Research which accelerator fits your stage. Read previous cohort announcements. Look at the companies that got in. Do they look like you?
2. Month 2: Prepare your application. For YC, this means a 2-minute video, your pitch deck, and essays. For Techstars and Antler, it's similar but often shorter.
3. Month 3: Submit. For YC, expect an interview within 2 weeks if you're selected. For Techstars and Antler, expect to hear back within 1-2 weeks.
4. Month 4: If selected, you start the program.

Application tips specific to African founders:

• Be explicit about your market. Don't say "we're building the African Uber." Say "we're solving last-mile delivery in Lagos by building a platform for dispatch and payment." YC, Techstars, and Antler all want to see that you understand your market deeply.
• Show traction in the way your market measures it. If you're in fintech, show transaction volume or user growth. If you're in agritech, show farmer engagement or crop yield data. Don't try to mimic Silicon Valley metrics.
• Address the founder team explicitly. If you don't have a co-founder, say so (Antler and Techstars are fine with this; YC prefers teams). If you do, explain why you're co-founders and what you each bring.
• Be honest about capital needs. If you need $500,000, YC is a better fit than Techstars. If you need $100,000 to get to seed-ready, Antler might be enough. Don't apply to YC expecting a bridge; apply because you're ready to scale.

For more on what investors actually want in pre-seed rounds in Nigeria, see Raising pre-seed in Nigeria: what investors actually want in 2026.

Alternatives and complements to accelerators

Accelerators aren't the only path to capital and mentorship. In Nigeria specifically, there are VCs like Founders Factory, Lofty, Ingressive Capital, and others who do pre-seed and seed rounds without an accelerator program. In Kenya, Anterra Capital and Chandaria Capital are active. In South Africa, Knife Capital and Knife Ventures. These VCs often move faster than accelerators and don't require you to give up 6-8% equity.

There's also a hybrid path: apply to an accelerator and a VC simultaneously. Many founders have done both. If you get into both, you can negotiate. Some VCs will lead a seed round and let you skip the accelerator. Some accelerators will adjust their terms if you have a VC interested.

For a comprehensive ranking of Nigerian VCs writing checks in 2026, see Every Nigerian VC writing checks in 2026, ranked by check size.

Common mistakes African founders make with accelerators

1. Applying to all three at once. You can, but don't. Each accelerator wants to feel like your first choice. Customize your application to each one. For YC, emphasize global ambition. For Techstars, emphasize local traction and mentorship needs. For Antler, emphasize your coachability and the problem you're solving.

2. Joining the wrong accelerator for your stage. If you're pre-seed with no traction, Antler is a better fit than YC. If you have revenue and a co-founder team, YC is better. Joining the wrong accelerator wastes 12 weeks and dilutes your equity without moving your needle.

3. Underestimating the equity cost. Techstars and Antler take 6-8% equity. This seems small, but it compounds. If you raise a seed round after the accelerator, you'll give up another 10-20%. If you raise Series A, another 15-25%. By Series C, you might have given up 40-50% of your company to dilution. Understand this upfront.

4. Expecting accelerator capital to be enough. None of these accelerators' investments are meant to be your only funding. YC's $500,000 is meant to get you to Series A. Techstars' $120,000 is meant to get you to seed. Antler's $100,000 is meant to get you to pitch-ready. Plan for follow-on capital.

5. Ignoring the network. The capital is the headline, but the network is the real value. If you don't actively build relationships with other founders, mentors, and investors in your accelerator cohort, you're leaving money on the table. Many founders meet their Series A lead investor in their accelerator cohort.

How to prepare before applying

If you're thinking about applying to any of these three, here's what to do first:

1. Build an MVP or product. You don't need thousands of users, but you need something to show. A landing page with 100 emails is enough. A prototype is enough. An idea with no product is weaker.

2. Get early traction. Talk to 20-50 potential customers. Get letters of intent or pre-orders if possible. Show that people actually want what you're building.

3. Find a co-founder if you're applying to YC. YC heavily favours teams. If you're solo, you're at a disadvantage. Techstars and Antler are fine with solo founders.

4. Document your market research. Know your market size, your competition, and your unfair advantage. Be specific to your geography.

5. Prepare a 2-3 minute pitch video. All three accelerators ask for this. Practice it. Make it clear and compelling. Show your passion for the problem, not your polish.

FAQ

Q: Can I apply to multiple accelerators at the same time? A: Yes, but customize each application. Don't send the same essay to all three. Each accelerator looks for different things, and they can tell if you're not serious about them specifically. If you get into multiple, you can negotiate terms or choose the best fit.

Q: Which accelerator is easiest to get into? A: Antler has a slightly higher acceptance rate (3-5%) because it targets pre-seed founders with no traction. Techstars and YC are more selective. But "easy" is relative; all three are competitive. Focus on fit, not ease.

Q: Do I have to move to San Francisco for YC? A: No, not anymore. Post-COVID, YC allows remote participation. But you'll miss some of the in-person mentorship and investor meetings. Most successful YC founders spend at least 2-4 weeks in San Francisco during the 12 weeks.

Q: What happens if my idea pivots during the accelerator? A: This is common, especially in pre-seed programs like Antler. The accelerator will support the pivot. You're still giving up the same equity, but you're now working on a different idea. This is why understanding the equity cost upfront is important.

Q: Should I raise pre-seed capital before applying to an accelerator? A: It depends on the accelerator. For YC, having some capital already (even $50,000-$100,000) shows that you've validated your idea and can execute. For Techstars and Antler, it's not necessary. If you raise pre-seed capital before an accelerator, you'll have less dilution from the accelerator, but you'll also have fewer reasons to join.

What to do next

If you're ready to apply, start here:

1. Clarify your stage. Are you pre-seed (idea only), early traction (MVP + some users), or growth stage (revenue + team)? Your stage determines which accelerator to target.

2. Read the detailed guides. For YC specifically, see Y Combinator for African founders: a tactical applicant's guide. For pre-seed capital more broadly, see Raising pre-seed in Nigeria: what investors actually want in 2026.

3. Map your investor strategy. Beyond accelerators, know which VCs in your region are writing checks at your stage. See Every Nigerian VC writing checks in 2026, ranked by check size for a comprehensive list of Nigerian VCs. This helps you decide whether an accelerator is the right move or whether a direct VC conversation is faster.