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🛎️ OFF THE RADAR ALERT: 500 Global’s Flagship Accelerator. Apply by Oct 17

500 Global’s flagship accelerator is taking founders until Oct 17. here’s what’s inside.

Author

Sebastian Vidal
October 13, 2025

One of Silicon Valley’s most iconic accelerators is open for applications. 500 Global’s Flagship Accelerator in Palo Alto accepts startups until October 17, 2025 for its Batch 37 program. flagship.aplica.500.co

If you’re riding the AI wave or scaling something bold, this might be one of your best opportunities to be where it counts.

I remember visiting 500 in Palo Alto around 2012: Dave McClure and Bedy Young leading the programs. Incredible energy of founders hacking features at midnight just blew me away. I think the reason I was so impressed was that Latam was so different in those days, and we were working hard to import the global builder mindset, which was music to my ears.

Fast forward: 500 Global has matured, but its culture remains intact. The power isn’t just in the cash, they’ve built a dense network of alumni, mentors, exits, and ecosystem intel.

What the Flagship Accelerator Offers

Here’s what this flagship batch includes:

Feature

Detail

Location & Length

In-person, hosted at 500 Global headquarters in Palo Alto, California

Program Duration

Four months (Batch 37 starts Q1 2026)

Investment

$150,000 investment for ~6% equity

Program Fee

$37,500 (deductible from the funding)

Curriculum & Mentors

Intensive hands-on curriculum: fundraising, growth, product, GTM, partnerships, founder coaching, mentors, and guest speakers.

Network & Community

Access to 500’s global network (5,000+ founders, 400+ mentors) and ecosystem across geographies

Who It’s For

Early-stage tech startups with global ambition

Important: You’ll need to relocate (or spend significant time) to the Bay Area’s program period. Many accelerator programs assume on-site commitment for this reason.

Why This Opportunity Matters Now

  • The $150K for 6% equity is a substantial capital boost. It's not just money—it’s leverage into networks.

  • The community and alumni are among the densest in the industry: you’ll trade notes with founders who have done exits, IPOs, and global scaling. (Reddit, Twilio, Canva, Mercury, and so many others)

  • For international founders, being part of a flagship U.S. accelerator still carries cache and signal, especially when your business model is global.

What You Need to Do

  1. Mark your calendar — applications close October 17, 2025 

  2. Gather materials: pitch deck, traction metrics, team bios, global vision

  3. Be ready to commit full energy: relocation, time, execution

  4. Apply early so you can get feedback and revise (many founders do multiple rounds)

If you want help nailing your application, or want me to connect you with alumni, coaches, or insiders in 500, I’m happy to do that. Just reply “500 INTRO” and I’ll make it happen.

Sebastian

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