How TIME and Statista Determined America's Best Incubators and Accelerators of 2026

This year, TIME and Statista have published the first edition of America’s Best Incubators and Accelerators 2026. It identifies the most outstanding hubs offering incubator and accelerator programs in the United States, based on a multi-stage research process combining an open application, structured alumni feedback, track record analysis, and expert recommendations. MethodologyThe process began with an application phase running from January to April 2026. TIME published an announcement article, and the call for entries was promoted across social media channels and shared by InBIA, a global nonprofit organization focused on advancing entrepreneurship and supporting innovation ecosystems. In addition, Statista independently identified several hundred potential candidates through databases a