What is an Incubator?
Incubators support early-stage and idea-phase ventures over a longer period — typically 12 to 24 months. They provide a nurturing environment with workspace, mentorship, business development training, and access to networks and funding, helping entrepreneurs transform an idea into a viable business. Incubators are best suited for founders who are still developing their product, validating their market, or building their business model.
- ✔ Idea to MVP stage
- ✔ 12–24 month programmes
- ✔ Workspace, mentorship & training
- ✔ No fixed equity requirement
- ✔ Slower-paced, foundational support
What is an Accelerator?
Accelerators support existing businesses with a proven concept that are ready to scale rapidly. They are cohort-based, intensive, and time-limited — typically 3 to 6 months — focused on fast growth, investor readiness, and market expansion. In exchange for programme participation, most accelerators take a small equity stake. Accelerators are best suited for businesses that already have a product or service and some early traction.
- ✔ Existing business with traction
- ✔ 3–6 month intensive cohorts
- ✔ Investor access & demo days
- ✔ Typically 5–10% equity
- ✔ Fast-paced, growth-focused
Business Incubators
These programmes support early-stage entrepreneurs and idea-phase ventures in Trinidad & Tobago, providing a structured environment for business development over an extended period.
RevUP Caribbean Incubator
The Caribbean's first virtual incubator, backed by IDB Lab. A 5-month programme admitting two cohorts per year for equity-seeking startups and growth-seeking scaleups. Delivered virtually, offering mentorship, DISC assessments, strategic planning, and investor matchmaking. Subsidised fee of USD $750 per founder.
Visit revupcaribbean.com →Lok Jack Graduate School of Business
BizBooster Commercial Incubator
An 18-month SME growth centre and commercial incubator run by the UWI Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business. A collaborative programme among private enterprise, academia, and government, providing startups and existing companies with financial and non-financial resources, mentorship, and market access for growth and sustainability.
Visit lokjackgsb.edu.tt →
UTT uSTART Business Incubator
The first university-originated business incubator in Trinidad & Tobago, run by the University of Trinidad and Tobago. uSTART functions as an engine of innovation and enterprise, fostering entrepreneurial mindsets among students, alumni, and staff of UTT, helping aspiring entrepreneurs build sustainable businesses from the ground up.
Visit utt.edu.tt →
YBTT JumpSTART Incubator
Youth Business TT's incubator for entrepreneurs aged 18–35 in the ideation or early startup phase. Provides mentorship, coaching, networking, and educational workshops to transform ideas into viable businesses. The JumpSTART Crash Course offers five weeks of focused training plus a final pitch week, running twice annually.
Visit ybtt.org →
IBIS — National Business Incubator System
A government programme by the Ministry of Labour and Small Enterprise Development providing micro and small enterprises with mentoring, infrastructural support, IT access, operational and financial assistance, and networking opportunities for access to local and foreign markets. Designed to support both new and existing MSEs across Trinidad & Tobago.
Visit tradeind.gov.tt →Accelerator Programmes
These programmes are open to startups and innovating corporations with an existing product or service that are ready to scale. Eligibility criteria and intake schedules vary — click through to each programme's website for the latest application details.
Scale Up Trinidad & Tobago
The internationally proven Scalerator® programme, brought to T&T by the Ministry of Trade & Industry and UTC. A 3-month intensive accelerator teaching the 3C Scale Up™ model — Customers, Capacity & Cash — for businesses with revenues of roughly TT $2M–$30M from any sector. Now in its 5th cohort.
Visit scaleuptt.com →
UrpreneurPlus Startup Accelerator
A joint initiative of the Unit Trust Corporation (UTC) and UWI Ventures Limited supporting innovative early-stage companies (3 years or younger) through education, mentorship, and financing. Three tiers of investment ranging from TT $50,000 to TT $1M, including a pathway to the junior stock exchange.
Visit ttutc.com →
NEDCO Business Accelerator Programme
A 12-month government-funded accelerator run by the National Entrepreneurship Development Company (NEDCO) for micro and small enterprises. Covers small business financing, entrepreneurial training, mentorship, product development, research analytics, and prototyping. Open to diverse sectors including food & beverage, tech, agro-processing, and creative industries.
Visit nedco.gov.tt →YBTT JumpSTART Incubator
Youth Business Trinidad & Tobago's flagship incubator for young entrepreneurs aged 18–35 in the ideation or early startup phase. A 3-month cohort-based programme delivering 40+ hours of live virtual training in effectuation, design thinking, and business model development, paired with mentorship and access to the YBTT alumni network. Launches twice annually.
Visit ybtt.org →
Founder Institute Caribbean
The world's largest pre-seed startup accelerator, with a dedicated Caribbean chapter open to T&T founders. The FI Core programme pushes founders from idea and pre-seed stage to investment readiness. Alumni receive lifetime access to Founder Lab advanced accelerators and matching with the FI Venture Network of global investors.
Visit fi.co →
UWI Ventures / StACIE Ecosystem
UWI Ventures Limited and the St. Augustine Centre for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (StACIE) offer coaching, R&D support, seed funding, IP management, and investor readiness programmes. Open to UWI students, alumni, staff, and the general public. Includes access to UWI's Innovation Lab — the first of its kind in the English-speaking Caribbean.
Visit uwiventuresltd.com →
EU-LAC Digital Accelerator
A multi-sided platform connecting Caribbean startups and innovative SMEs with large European corporations seeking digital transformation partners through open innovation. T&T is an active participating country. Supports corporate-startup partnerships through to investment-ready stage with tailored benefits for each party.
Visit eulacdigitalaccelerator.com →YBTT Waste Management eLearning Accelerator
An eLearning accelerator by Youth Business Trinidad & Tobago designed to support Caribbean entrepreneurs in the waste management sector. Provides tailored content, tools, and mentorship for startups and NGOs working on sustainable waste solutions across the region.
Visit ybtt.org →Accelerators Open to T&T Businesses Internationally
Regional and global accelerator programmes that T&T startups, innovating organisations, and NGOs can apply to directly.
Innovate Caribbean (!C)
Caribbean incubator and accelerator for startups and growing businesses across the region. Provides access to resources, training, coaching, capital, and an Economic Development Accelerator track specifically supporting micro-businesses in T&T.
Visit innovatecaribbean.org →
Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator (CCSA)
Backed by 28 Caribbean governments and major global institutions, the CCSA fast-tracks investment opportunities supporting climate action and economic growth. Supports innovators, NGOs, and businesses across renewable energy, resilience, and sustainable development sectors.
Visit caribbeanaccelerator.org →Social Accelerator
EU-LAC Social Accelerator
A €15 million EU-funded programme running 2025–2029 that strengthens social innovation ecosystems across Latin America and the Caribbean. Caribbean Export leads T&T-specific activities, including establishing national Social Innovation Poles connecting public, private, and civil society actors.
Visit carib-export.com →Carbon Shift Accelerator
The Caribbean's first climate tech accelerator, led by TBR Lab in partnership with Climate KIC. An 8-week curriculum plus 12 weeks of ongoing support, targeting entrepreneurs in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and carbon markets. Open to established Caribbean climate businesses — not idea-stage.
Visit tbrlab.com →Inter-American Development Bank
IDB Lab Caribbean Loans Programme
IDB Lab is issuing a Call for Loan Proposals for innovative, high-impact businesses operating in Trinidad & Tobago. Supports companies addressing key social, economic, and environmental challenges. Requires audited financials for the last 3 years. Debt financing — not equity.
Visit bidlab.org →500 LatAm Seed Fund IV
Currently accepting applications from tech startups across Latin America and the Caribbean. Selected companies receive a $300,000 USD investment and access to a personalised mentoring programme. The fund targets 40+ early-stage startups developing highly scalable technology solutions across the region.
Visit 500.co →
IDB Lab WeXchange (Women STEMpreneurs)
Open to women-led tech startups in Latin America and the Caribbean working in fintech, edtech, agtech, healthtech, biotech, or SaaS. Startups must have a regional or international expansion model. Selected startups are connected to investors and presented at IDB Lab's flagship innovation forum.
Visit wexchange.org →Google for Startups Accelerator – Latin America
A ten-week, equity-free accelerator for high-potential Seed to Series A tech startups based in Latin America including the Caribbean. Selected founders receive deep technical mentorship from Google experts, with emphasis on AI, machine learning, and data. Also includes an AI for Cybersecurity track launching September 2025.
Visit startup.google.com →Y Combinator
The world's most prestigious startup accelerator, open to founders worldwide including T&T. Two batches per year (summer and winter). Provides $500,000 USD — $125K for 7% equity plus $375K via an uncapped SAFE. YC-backed startups have a 93% survival rate and are 2.6× more likely to raise a Series A.
Visit ycombinator.com →Techstars
One of the world's largest accelerator networks, open to global founders including the Caribbean. Offers $220,000 USD — $20K for 5% equity plus $200K on an uncapped SAFE. Three-month programmes across multiple cities and sectors with remote participation options. 4,000+ alumni companies at $120B+ combined valuation.
Visit techstars.com →