HAE ACCELERATOR · POWERED BY PEGASUS TECH VENTURESHAE Accelerator copy, revised (2026-09-11)

Two Dedicated Mentors. A Network of Expertise. Zero Equity.

An 11-week virtual accelerator for Harvard alumni founders with traction—and the ambition to build something bigger.HAE Accelerator copy, revised (2026-09-11)

Work alongside experienced founders, operators, investors, advisors, and subject-matter experts to sharpen your strategy, accelerate execution, and prepare your company for its next stage.HAE Accelerator copy, revised (2026-09-11)

2027 applications open October 2026. Every Harvard alumni founder on the founding team must be an active HAE member by the application deadline.HAE Accelerator copy, revised (2026-09-11)

JOIN THE 2027 INTEREST LIST MEET ACCELERATOR ALUMNI →

A working desk in morning light: open notebook, coffee, a small plant, the city soft through the window. Placeholder — HAE's own photography portfolio is being assembled. — Subject brief for this slot

HEROIC COHORT / FOUNDER-IN-ACTION PHOTO

The brief prohibits, by name:
large posed groups
staged stock photography

Subject rules from the creative brief §8. This is the brief for the image that belongs in this slot, and it is shown to reviewers only.

PROGRAM AT A GLANCEHAE Accelerator copy, revised (2026-09-11)

WEEKS

LEAD MENTORS PER COMPANY

ZERO

EQUITY TAKEN

GLOBAL

VIRTUAL COHORT

PEGASUS TECH VENTURESHAE Accelerator copy, revised (2026-09-11)

Global venture capital. A direct path to the world stage.

Pegasus Tech Ventures is a Silicon Valley-based global venture capital firm with more than $2 billion in assets under management. It works with corporations and high-growth technology companies around the world and is the founder and organizer of Startup World Cup.HAE Accelerator copy, revised (2026-09-11)

Through HAE’s partnership with Pegasus Tech Ventures, the Accelerator’s Demo Day winner advances directly to the HAE Startup World Cup Regional—and the opportunity to compete for a place at the Global Finale.Regina Ryan: chapter and Accelerator count corrections (2026-10-29)

LEARN MORE ABOUT PEGASUS TECH VENTURES →

BUILT FOR FOUNDERS READY TO MOVEHAE Accelerator copy, revised (2026-09-11)

Bring your company. Leave with a stronger one.

This isn’t about building a hypothetical startup. It’s about working on the company you already have.HAE Accelerator copy, revised (2026-09-11)

Across 11 intensive weeks, founders pressure-test what matters most—from product-market fit and pricing to customer acquisition, fundraising, AI, and leadership—with experienced people focused on helping the company move forward.HAE Accelerator copy, revised (2026-09-11)

TWO LEAD MENTORSHAE Accelerator copy, revised (2026-09-11)

Dedicated to your company throughout the program.HAE Accelerator copy, revised (2026-09-11)

EXPERT ACCESSHAE Accelerator copy, revised (2026-09-11)

Targeted Office Hours with specialists who can help you work through specific challenges.HAE Accelerator copy, revised (2026-09-11)

INVESTOR PERSPECTIVEHAE Accelerator copy, revised (2026-09-11)

Strengthen your fundraising story, diligence readiness, and investor pitch.HAE Accelerator copy, revised (2026-09-11)

A HIGH-CALIBER PEER COHORTHAE Accelerator copy, revised (2026-09-11)

Build alongside founders facing many of the same questions—and pushing just as hard.HAE Accelerator copy, revised (2026-09-11)

A shared worktable mid-session: two open notebooks, pens, reading glasses and coffee in bright window light. Placeholder — HAE's own photography portfolio is being assembled. — Subject brief for this slot

MENTOR + FOUNDER / WORKING SESSION

The brief prohibits, by name:
corporate boardrooms
handshake photos

Subject rules from the creative brief §8. This is the brief for the image that belongs in this slot, and it is shown to reviewers only.

WHAT YOU’LL WORK ONHAE Accelerator copy, revised (2026-09-11)

The fundamentals that turn traction into growth.

1
PRODUCT-MARKET FIT
Strengthen the evidence that customers truly need what you’re building.
2
BUSINESS MODEL AND PRICING
Pressure-test how you create, deliver, and capture value.
3
GO-TO-MARKET AND SALES
Build a more focused path to customers and revenue.
4
AI AND SCALE
Identify where AI can strengthen your product, accelerate execution, and create competitive advantage.
5
LEGAL, IP, AND EQUITY
Get smarter about decisions that can shape your company for years.
6
FUNDRAISING AND DILIGENCE
Prepare for investor conversations and what follows.
7
LEADERSHIP AND PITCH
Lead the company—and tell its story—with greater clarity and conviction.

HOW IT WORKSHAE Accelerator copy, revised (2026-09-11)

11 weeks. A network of expertise focused on your company.

1
JOIN A SELECTIVE COHORT
Build alongside a small group of high-potential founders with traction, ambition, and companies ready for their next stage.
2
GET TWO DEDICATED LEAD MENTORS
Two experienced mentors stay with your company throughout the program—challenging your thinking and helping you focus on what will move the business forward.
3
TAP THE EXPERTISE YOU NEED
Go beyond your Lead Mentors with access to subject-matter experts, advisors, experienced operators, and investors across the HAE network. Bring them real issues spanning AI, pricing, sales, product, legal, IP, fundraising, hiring, and scale.
4
BUILD. TEST. REFINE.
Put the expertise to work immediately. Test assumptions, sharpen strategy, tackle roadblocks, and make measurable progress.
5
GET INVESTOR-READY
Pressure-test your story, strengthen your pitch, anticipate diligence questions, and prepare for consequential investor conversations.
6
TAKE THE STAGE
Present at Demo Day to investors, mentors, advisors, and HAE leaders. The winning company advances directly to the HAE Startup World Cup Regional.
7
STAY IN THE COMMUNITY
The Accelerator ends. The relationships don’t. Join a growing community of alumni, mentors, experts, and investors who share expertise, open doors, and support one another long after Demo Day.

FIVE

COHORTS

STARTUPS

$150M+

RAISED

The program ends. The momentum doesn’t.

Since 2021, HAE Accelerator founders have built companies across industries and geographies, raised capital, earned recognition, and continued into other parts of the HAE entrepreneurial ecosystem.HAE Accelerator copy, revised (2026-09-11)

For many, the Accelerator is not the finish line. It’s an inflection point.HAE Accelerator copy, revised (2026-09-11)

From Demo Day to the global stage.

The winning HAE Accelerator Demo Day company advances to the HAE Startup World Cup Regional. Win the Regional, and the company moves on to the Startup World Cup Global Finale for the opportunity to compete for a $1 million investment prize.HAE Accelerator copy, revised (2026-09-11)

EXPLORE STARTUP WORLD CUP →

WHO SHOULD APPLY?HAE Accelerator copy, revised (2026-09-11)

You have traction. Now you’re ready to accelerate.

The HAE Accelerator is designed for Harvard alumni founders who have moved beyond the idea stage and are ready to turn early evidence into a stronger, more scalable company.HAE Accelerator copy, revised (2026-09-11)

YOU’VE BUILT SOMETHINGHAE Accelerator copy, revised (2026-09-11)

You have a product, customer signal, meaningful validation, or early revenue.HAE Accelerator copy, revised (2026-09-11)

YOU SEE THE POTENTIALHAE Accelerator copy, revised (2026-09-11)

There is a credible opportunity to build a significantly larger company.HAE Accelerator copy, revised (2026-09-11)

YOU’RE READY TO BE CHALLENGEDHAE Accelerator copy, revised (2026-09-11)

You want candid feedback, sharper thinking, and people who will push you.HAE Accelerator copy, revised (2026-09-11)

YOU’LL DO THE WORKHAE Accelerator copy, revised (2026-09-11)

You’re prepared to participate fully and apply what you learn directly to your company.HAE Accelerator copy, revised (2026-09-11)

YOU’RE PART OF HAEHAE Accelerator copy, revised (2026-09-11)

Every Harvard alumni founder on the founding team must hold an active HAE membership by the application deadline.HAE Accelerator copy, revised (2026-09-11)

FAQHAE Accelerator copy, revised (2026-09-11)

Frequently asked questions.

Does HAE take equity?

No. The HAE Accelerator is equity-free.HAE Accelerator copy, revised (2026-09-11)

Is the program virtual?

Yes. The 11-week program is fully virtual, making it possible for founders to participate from around the world.HAE Accelerator copy, revised (2026-09-11)

How much traction do we need?

You should be beyond the idea stage, with meaningful evidence such as product development, customer validation, demonstrated need, or early revenue.HAE Accelerator copy, revised (2026-09-11)

How many people from our company can participate?

Up to four team members may participate.HAE Accelerator copy, revised (2026-09-11)

When do applications for the 2027 cohort open?

Applications open in October 2026.HAE Accelerator copy, revised (2026-09-11)

An event venue at golden hour: a small lit stage, rows of chairs, the city skyline filling the glass wall behind. Placeholder — HAE's own photography portfolio is being assembled. — Subject brief for this slot

HIGH-ENERGY COHORT / DEMO DAY IMAGE

The brief prohibits, by name:
large posed groups
staged stock photography

Subject rules from the creative brief §8. This is the brief for the image that belongs in this slot, and it is shown to reviewers only.

2027 HAE ACCELERATORHAE Accelerator copy, revised (2026-09-11)

Ready to accelerate what you’ve already started?HAE Accelerator copy, revised (2026-09-11)

Join the interest list to receive 2027 cohort dates, eligibility information, and application updates.HAE Accelerator copy, revised (2026-09-11)