Berkeley Xcelerator

The Launchpad for Next‑Generation AI & Agentic AI Startups

Why Berkeley Xcelerator

The Berkeley Center for Responsible, Decentralized Intelligence (RDI) is building the global hub for innovation in AI and Agentic AI. At the heart of this mission is the Berkeley Xcelerator, designed to help founders turn breakthrough ideas into scalable, venture‑backable companies that shape the future of intelligent systems.

Unlike traditional accelerators, the Berkeley Xcelerator is completely non-dilutive and free for selected startups.

In just three years, Berkeley RDI has:

110+

Global teams incubated across AI, cybersecurity, and decentralized tech

$650M+

Follow-on funding from venture and strategic investors

100+

Countries represented in founder network

What We Offer

Unparalleled Research Access

Plug directly into Berkeley's frontier research at the intersection of Agentic AI Foundation, AI Safety & Security, and related domains, giving companies an early advantage grounded in scientific excellence.

Elite Mentorship & Advisors

Founders receive guidance from renowned faculty, serial entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and top venture investors with experience scaling successful companies.

Global Innovation Community

Startups access Berkeley RDI's network of 40,000+ builders, developers, researchers, and founders worldwide collaborating on responsible AI advancement.

Market Visibility & Validation

Companies showcase their work at summits and demo days to build credibility with investors, customers, and enterprise partners.

Cloud & GPU Resources

Participants receive cloud credits, GPU access, and computational support from our industry partners to accelerate product development.

Up to $10,000 in API credits from OpenAI
Up to $10,000 in Google Cloud and Gemini credits from Google Cloud & DeepMind
Up to $10,000 in compute/inference credits from Nebius
More cloud, GPU, and infrastructure support to be announced

What You'll Achieve

By the end of the Xcelerator cohort, teams are expected to demonstrate meaningful progress across the following areas:

Clearly Defined Problem & Target Customer
A well-articulated problem statement, a clearly identified target customer profile, and a validated use case.
Working Product Demo
A functional product demo (from MVP to early v1) showcasing core capabilities.
Early Validation & Traction
Tangible evidence of validation, such as user engagement, pilot programs, customer feedback or other credible signals of demand.
Go-to-Market Strategy
Clear plan for distribution, scaling, user/customer acquisition, and early revenue.

Our Partners

Join the Berkeley Xcelerator

The Berkeley Xcelerator is where cutting-edge research meets entrepreneurial execution — giving founders the tools, network, and resources to build, scale and lead the next wave of innovation in AI and Agentic AI.

Apply Now