Frequently Asked Questions

The NTU Accelerator is designed for growth-stage startups that have completed an MVP or achieved early revenue. It runs for ten months (March–December) and provides one-on-one deep mentorship, corporate resource connections, and investor-facing preparation — open to any team regardless of NTU affiliation. The NTU Garage is designed for early-stage teams at the concept validation to MVP stage. It offers virtual residency and community support, with priority given to NTU students, alumni, and faculty; exceptional external teams may be considered case-by-case.

Neither NTU Garage nor NTU Accelerator charges a program fee or takes equity. Startup operating costs, travel, third-party tools, and external professional services remain each team's responsibility. NTUTEC's mission is to foster NTU's entrepreneurship ecosystem; donations to NTU are welcome but not required for program participation.

Both the NTU Accelerator and NTU Garage run one cohort per year, from March to December — ten months total. Applications typically open from December through January, with results announced around the end of February.

No. Both programs use a virtual residency model — there are no dedicated desks and no daily attendance requirements. Participants primarily join scheduled mentorship sessions and center activities. Meeting rooms and event spaces are available by reservation, keeping the program flexible around your startup's rhythm.

Graduates remain connected to the center's alumni network, mentor consultations, and NTUTEC Angels Club discussion opportunities when fit is clear. NTU Garage graduates may use their Garage progress as preparation for the NTU Accelerator. NTUTEC maintains ongoing relationships with alumni and may facilitate introductions to venture capital and corporate partners when relevant.

The Corporate Vertical Accelerator is a specialized program run in partnership with major corporate partners — 27 batches to date. Corporations define real business challenges; startup teams respond with solutions. Teams that succeed can access corporate resources, real-world validation environments, and potential co-development opportunities. Partner companies change each year based on industry trends, spanning technology, finance, telecommunications, manufacturing, and more.

NTUTEC's four focus areas in 2026 are: AI Software (enterprise AI, SaaS, data infrastructure), Biotech & Healthcare (AI diagnostics, precision medicine, medical devices), Hard Tech (semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, robotics, display technology), and Innovative Business Models (ESG, circular economy, FinTech, social innovation). High-potential teams from other industries are also welcome to apply — assessed case by case.