Saint Petersburg's 10 Best Startup Accelerators & Incubators [2024]

Updated: January 20th, 2022

Are you looking for an accelerator program in Saint Petersburg?

Saint Petersburg stands as a major trade gateway, financial and industrial center, connecting Russia to the European Union.

According to SBP investment, Saint Petersburg is one of the largest Russian Federation and European megacities. In addition, the city has shown a positive trend thanks to the St. Petersburg Government support and socio-economic strategy development implementation of 2031.

A 2018 report, showed that the investments volume in St. Petersburg companies amounted to about 747.4 Billion rubles, and increased by 4.3% compared to 2017.

Going by these statistics, Saint Petersburg is one of the most promising European cities to invest in.

If you're starting a startup in Saint Petersburg, you might be wondering what startup accelerators or incubators exist in the area. Here's the full list:

Best Startup Accelerators & Incubators In Saint Petersburg

# Accelerator/Incubator Funding Location Apply
1 SUMIT +InnoCamp Up to $5K Saint Pet... Apply
2 Internet Initiatives Development Fund (IIDF) $100k - $3M Russia Apply
3 PwC Venture Hub RUB 100K Moscow & ... Apply
4 MTS Startup Hub RUB 150K Moscow, R... Apply
5 SmartUp Accelerator Not disclosed Countries... Apply
6 PRUE Accelerator G.V. Plekhanov Not disclosed Moscow, R... Apply
7 Severstal SteelTech Accelerator Not disclosed Moscow, R... Apply
8 Synergy Accelerator Not disclosed Russia Apply
9 StudyNomad Not disclosed Saint Pet... Apply
10 Women Startup Competition Not disclosed Global Apply

1. SUMIT +InnoCamp

  • Location: Saint Petersburg, Russia
  • Industry: Sector Agnostic
  • Investment Size: Up to $5K
  • Program Length: Not Disclosed
  • Equity Taken: 0-10% equity

SUMIT +InnoCamp Accelerator program seeks to help startups compete globally. The Accelerator program involves project work and workshops by professionals in the IT, mobile, internet, and business development fields.

Besides, the participants are taken through webinars and meetings with guest speakers and subject matter experts. Each team is accompanied by a tracker, whose role is to provide support and guidance throughout the program.

SUMIT accelerator program provides startup founders and entrepreneurs connections to Venture Capitalists for project pitching and possible funding. Each company receives up to $5K funding from the program for 0-10% equity.

Apply to SUMIT +InnoCamp , or learn more ➜

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2. Internet Initiatives Development Fund (IIDF)

  • Location: Russia
  • Industry: Technology.
  • Investment Size: $100k - $3M
  • Program Length: 3-Months program
  • Equity Taken: Equity-Free

The Internet Initiatives Development Fund (IIDF) is a three months equity-free accelerator program investing up to, $100K in technology companies.

The accelerator program targets firms with investments between 2.5Million rubles and 25 million rubles, and finished products. The IIDF accelerator program includes coaching and mentorship from experts, who help the founders and their business teams upgrade their business management skills.

Apply to Internet Initiatives Development Fund (IIDF), or learn more ➜

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3. PwC Venture Hub

  • Location: Moscow & Saint Petersburg, Russia
  • Industry: Technology
  • Investment Size: RUB 100K
  • Program Length: 3 Months
  • Equity Taken: Not Disclosed

The PWC venture hub program offers technology companies the opportunity to work closely with PWC and meet global business leaders in the consulting and audit market.

The program targets founders who have shown business and technology competencies the startups do not receive upfront funding, but instead, they get the opportunity to compete for a zero-equity cash grant of up to 100,000 Rubles.

Apply to PwC Venture Hub, or learn more ➜

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4. MTS Startup Hub

  • Location: Moscow, Russia
  • Industry: Sector Agnostic
  • Investment Size: RUB 150K
  • Program Length: 3 Months
  • Equity Taken: *Not disclosed *

The MTS Startup Hub accelerator program targets startups with a finished product, providing solutions for a wide target audience.

The 3 months accelerator program provides a typical investment of $200K, while the startups receive top-notch coaching from the leading financial and management experts.

Apply to MTS Startup Hub, or learn more ➜

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5. SmartUp Accelerator

  • Location: Countries around the Baltic Sea
  • Industry: Consumer Cleantech
  • Investment Size: Not disclosed
  • Program Length: Not Disclosed
  • Equity Taken: *Not disclosed *

SmartUp Accelerator program focuses on companies within the Baltic Sea region. Ideally, the startup accelerator program targets companies working towards building a Cleantech ecosystem.

The SmartUp accelerator program aims at implementing action and models for networking and cultural cooperation. Funded by Interreg Baltic Sea as part of the European Regional Development Fund, the smart Accelerator program undertakes a series of national and international events as well as boot camps targeting the founders and entrepreneurs who show high growth potential.

Apply to SmartUp Accelerator, or learn more ➜

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6. PRUE Accelerator G.V. Plekhanov

  • Location: Moscow, Russia
  • Industry: Sector Agnostic
  • Investment Size: Not disclosed
  • Program Length: Not Disclosed
  • Equity Taken: *Not disclosed *

PRUE Accelerator G.V. Plekhanov program targets young entrepreneurs who have ideas and have proven the ability to monetize the ideas. The program provides participating startups access to experienced experts from renowned education institutions. Besides, the participating startups have access to the PRUE knowledge base, while they met teachers and participants from other countries.

The participating startups get financial support for the development of their projects as well as constant consultations from experienced investors and business people.

Apply to PRUE Accelerator G.V. Plekhanov, or learn more ➜

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7. Severstal SteelTech Accelerator

  • Location: Moscow, Russia
  • Industry: Technology, industrial
  • Investment Size: Not disclosed
  • Program Length: 8 months
  • Equity Taken: *Not disclosed *

Severstal SteelTech Accelerator is a full-scale industrial accelerator program for startups within the metallurgical industry.

The accelerator program aims at supporting innovative startup founders within the industrial field. They link startups to a network of customers and like-minded entrepreneurs for likely partnerships.

Moreover, the 8 months program provides direct contact with the direct product or solution consumers.

Apply to Severstal SteelTech Accelerator, or learn more ➜

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8. Synergy Accelerator

  • Location: Russia
  • Industry: Sector Agnostic
  • Investment Size: Not disclosed
  • Program Length: 3-Months program
  • Equity Taken: *Not disclosed *

Synergy Accelerator is a three months accelerator program targeting entrepreneurs and startup founders. The accelerator program aims at accelerating business development skills by working with mentors and trackers, who monitor the progress of each participant.

The startup founders and entrepreneurs access the best-proven education tools, solutions, and business essential skills. Finally, the networking opportunity provides exposure to venture capitalists for potential business funding. Ideally, top investors and funds review the best projects and take them for investment or loans on favorable terms.

Apply to Synergy Accelerator, or learn more ➜

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9. StudyNomad

  • Location: Saint Petersburg, Russia
  • Industry: Sector Agnostic
  • Investment Size: Not disclosed
  • Program Length: Not Disclosed
  • Equity Taken: Not disclosed

StudyNomad accelerator program targets startups that have an innovative disruptive idea in technology.

Their accelerator program offers startups business mentoring and consultancy, as well as access to experienced mentors and advisors. Besides, the incubation program connects startup founders and entrepreneurs to funding providers.

Typically, the startup accelerator program helps entrepreneurs with innovative disruptive ideas and those that show a strong commitment to working on their business idea.

Apply to StudyNomad , or learn more ➜

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10. Women Startup Competition

  • Location: Global
  • Industry: Sector Agnostic
  • Investment Size: Not disclosed
  • Program Length: Not Disclosed
  • Equity Taken: Equity-Free

Women Startup Competition is an independent incubation program targeting female entrepreneurs in the critical early stage.

The accelerator program acts as a catalyst for building a supportive ecosystem and empowering women with skills, visibility, and important connections. The independent nonprofit organization provides support for female founders free of charge.

Apply to Women Startup Competition , or learn more ➜

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meet the author
Pat Walls

I'm Pat Walls and I created Starter Story - a website dedicated to helping people start businesses. We interview entrepreneurs from around the world about how they started and grew their businesses.