Everyone in Silicon Valley is bullish about the future of startups. Incubators address the most challenging aspects of building a successful startup.

This post is about top Incubators in the US.

1. TechStars

• TechStars founded in 2006 is a mentorship-driven seed stage investment program. TechStars run a 3-month long program in Boston, Boulder, New York City and Seattle.

• Leaders : David Cohen, Brad Feld, David Brown, and Jared Polis

• How much equity they take?
6 % equity stock

• How much cash they put in?
US $ 6000 dollars per team-founder up to a maximum of 3 founders (US $18,000 max contribution).

• Big successes:
DailyBurn, Socialthing, Intense Debate, Brightkite, Filtrbox, MadKast.

• What is their strategy?
TechStars succeeds in accelerating startups by providing small amounts of seed capital combined with huge amounts of intellectual capital in the form of mentoring.

1. Y Combinator

• Y Combinator is an American seed-stage startup funding firm founded in March 2005. Y Combinator primarily invests in software and web services.

Y Combinator runs two 3-month funding cycles a year, one from January through March and one from June through August. They ask the founders of each startup to move to the Bay Area for the duration of their cycle.

• Leaders:
Paul Graham, Robert Morris, Trevor Blackwell, and Jessica Livingston.

• How much equity they take?
6 % equity stock

• How much cash they put in?
US $17000 for startups with 2 founders and $20000 for those with 3 or more.

• Big successes
Scribd, reddit, Justin.tv, Dropbox, Disqus and Posterous

• What is their strategy?
Y Combinator’s strategy is to stay in the Startup for the long term. YC does not pressure the founders to sell. Instead, they want the Startup to do whatever they want.

1. Excelerate Labs

• Excelerate Labs is an intensive summer accelerator for startups driven by proven entrepreneurs and investors. Excelerate Labs is Chicago’s technology startup incubator.

• Leaders:
Sam Yagan and Troy Henikoff

• How much equity they take?
6 % equity stock

• How much cash they put in?
US$ 25,000 for each company

• Big successes:
Give Forward, EduLender and Tap Me.

• What is their strategy?
Excelerate invests in the best Startups and help them reach the next level by providing capital, connections, community, and delivering on promises.

1. LaunchBox Digital

• LaunchBox Digital is a seed-stage investment program helping entrepreneurs maximize their chance of success through hands-on mentorship.

LaunchBox Digital hosts an accelerator program every fall. Those chosen will receive a 12-week business building program in Durham where they will refine their ideas with the help of mentors and advisors.

• Leaders:
John McKinley, Mark McDowell

• How much equity they take?
6 % equity stock

• How much cash they put in?
US$ 20,000 in seed funding

• Big successes:
Unblab

• What is their strategy?
LaunchBox Digital focuses on web and mobile businesses and all digital platforms.

1. Kicklabs

• KickLabs is a technology accelerator for very early-stage (2-8 team members) digital media companies. Most Kicklabs companies will be at the pre funding stage or may have received an initial round of small angel funding.

• Leaders
Chris Redlitz

• How much equity they take?
Kicklabs gets equity from the participating Startups based on the stage of the company, term of their tenancy and the number of employees.

• How much cash they put in?
NA

• Big successes
Kick Tag, Metricly

• What is their strategy?
Start ups thrive in collaborative environment where resources are readily available to help develop brilliant ideas into successful companies.

1. Tech Wildcatter

• TechWildcatters is a mentorship-driven microseed fund and startup accelerator. The 12-week accelerator “boot camp” runs every spring and fall. Founders should re-locate to Dallas for the program.

• Leaders
Gabriella Draney, Jon Feld, Brad Taylor, John Reed

• How much equity they take?
2-10% of common stock

• How much cash they put in?
US$ 25,000

• Big successes
Mobestream Media

• What is their strategy?
Wildcatter success comes from low operating costs and the ability to mobilize quickly.

1. DreamIt Ventures

• DreamIt Ventures is a Philadelphia-based venture capital firm specializing in incubation and seed investments. You can apply for a 3-month program.

• Leaders
David Bookspan, Michael Levinson, Steven D. Welch

• How much equity they take?
6% equity stake

• How much cash they put in?
Up to US $25,000

• Big successes
Sleep.FM, Mind Snacks

• What is their strategy?
Startups today need only a little funding, but they need more help and support than ever before. They need a community of entrepreneurs, technologists, Mentors and opportunities to meet angel investors and venture capitalists.

1. The Brandery

• The Brandery is a seed stage consumer marketing venture accelerator. They run a 3-month program in Cincinnati, Ohio. You need to be in Cincinnati for the full 12 week period.

• Leaders
J.B. Kropp, Dave Knox, Bryan J. Radtke, Robert W. McDonald

• How much equity they take?
6% diluting warrant

• How much cash they put in?
US$ 20,000

• Big successes
Giftiki, Idea Rally

• What is their strategy?
Startups should focus on building a great brand and product, while Brandery will worry about all the little stuff.

1. Capital Factory

• Capital Factory is a seed-stage mentoring program for startups. The Capital Factory program runs for approximately 10 weeks during the summer, from the end of May to the beginning of August.

• Leaders
Bryan Menell

• How much equity they take?
5% equity stake

• How much cash they put in?
US $20,000

• Big successes
Hurricane Party, Keepstream

• What is their strategy?
Invest in lean Startups that can get to profitability quickly and can scale rapidly.

1. NYC SeedStart

• NYC Seed funds seed-stage technology entrepreneurs in New York City. They fund small teams that want to express their original ideas through software and web-oriented technologies.

NYC Seed offers a 12-week summer program designed to provide seed funding to technology companies. Startups should spend the summer in New York City.

• Leaders
Adam Erlebacher, Greg Neichin, Owen Davis

• Size
US$ 2 million under management.

• How much equity they take?
5% Equity

• How much cash they put in?
US $20,000

• Big successes
Introspectr

• What is their strategy?
NYC Seed fund small teams that want to express their original ideas through software and web-oriented technologies.

1. Betaspring

• Betaspring is a mentorship-driven Providence-based startup accelerator program for technology entrepreneurs. The teams go through a competitive application process and agree to locate themselves in Providence for the 12 week program.

• Leaders
Allan Tear, Owen Johnson, Jack Templin

• How much equity they take?
6%-10% of common stock

• How much cash they put in?

• Big successes
NuLabel, GreenGoose, and Diavibe.

• What is their strategy?
Betaspring takes teams with ideas and turns them into functional, fundable companies.

1. BoomStartup

• BoomStartup is a mentorship-driven investment program for software, web, SaaS, or mobile applications. Summer Mentorship Program is throughout the summer months, from May through August.

• Leaders
Robb Kunz, John Richards, Jon Bradshaw

• How much equity they take?
6% common stock

• How much cash they put in?
US $ 15,000 in cash investment.

• Big successes
KarmaKey, IActionable, TaleSpring

• What is their strategy?
BoomStartup adheres to the notion that startup web, software, and mobile companies do not need a lot of capital to begin their quest for a viable business model. In fact, adhering to the principles of the lean startup process is essential for long-term success.

1. AlphaLab

• Pittsburgh-based AlphaLab accelerates the growth of innovative software, web services, mobile, and gaming startups. Startups are selected for an intensive 20-week program. Startups are expected to remain in Pittsburgh after the end of the AlphaLab program.

• Leaders
Jim Jen, Mike Woycheck, Rebecca Selah

• How much equity they take?
5% common stock

• How much cash they put in?
US $25,000 investment

• Big successes
Wawadoo, GenevaMars

• What is their strategy?
AlphaLab helps capital-efficient startups to launch quickly and successfully.