Welcome to QUAY Acceleration.
The best accelerators are built where access is the key to impact.
The accelerator model has become the keystone to startup ecosystems worldwide — there are 3,200+ just in the United States.
QUAY Acceleration is here to ensure that accelerators all over the globe are built to serve their communities through economic impact.
What we do
QUAY Acceleration is NYC’s premiere acceleration program for international startups expanding to the US.
QUAY Acceleration enjoys more than twenty years of experience introducing the world’s most promising startups to the world’s largest market. Since opening our NYC office in 2017, we’ve accelerated over 120 startups from 25 different nationalities, and counting!
Who we work with
Made to Partner for Economic Impact
At QUAY, we’re built to partner — it’s in our DNA. As a service-first accelerator, our sole focus is delivering results for our institutional partners and the entrepreneurs in our programs.
Innovation partnerships are often vague and unpredictable. We change that. The QUAY team is made up of dedicated operators who prioritize execution, accountability, and alignment — every day.
The result? Lower upfront costs, clear KPIs, and partnerships that actually work.
What we offer
QUAY Acceleration is NYC’s premiere acceleration program for international startups expanding to the US.
Formerly WEVE and Cela, QUAY enjoys more than twenty years of experience introducing the world’s most promising startups to the world’s largest market.
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Designed for international governments and their corporate partners.
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Designed to support US market entry for early and growth-stage international startups.
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Designed to for corporate leaders interested in tailored programming with industry experts.
600+ Alumni
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$1.18 Billion Raised by Startups
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750+ Mentors
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300+ Investors
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+150 Corporates
600+ Alumni • $1.18 Billion Raised by Startups • 750+ Mentors • 300+ Investors • +150 Corporates
ACCELERATOR PROGRAMS
The QUAY components of acceleration
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QUAY accelerator content is cutting edge because our speakers are operators adopting, creating, and implementing new technology every day. In addition to workshops, entrepreneurs access 1:1 time with our staff, a dedicated lead mentor, and a world-class Demo Day.
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Entrepreneurs selected to be part of a QUAY accelerator cohort conquer a selection process that includes interviews with our staff, custom challenges, and contact with our mentor network via the Selection Committee composed for each cohort.
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The key to impactful acceleration is access. Mentors are the most efficient part of any accelerator program, and QUAY accelerators have built a network of 700+ mentors who are part of a specific mentorship structure that ensures for entrepreneurs that any mentor they meet in-program is someone that can be followed up with and who can open doors.
QUAY accelerators offer 3 primary components that power the access behind innovation:
$1.18 Billion
raised by alumni startups.
Our portfolio companies have raised an average of approximately $2 million USD each.
Our Programs
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The Manhattan Chamber of Commerce Retail Storefront Accelerator
Ready to launch in Manhattan?
In partnership with QUAY and Wells Fargo, the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce is powering up SMBs with custom support to open their first storefront in the city that never sleeps. -
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The Element 46 Accelerator
Fueling Westchester’s Tech Future, Element 46, powered by QUAY Acceleration and supported by Westchester County, accelerates tech startups with a powerful 10-week program — transforming innovative ideas into impactful businesses.
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QUAY Flagship Program for International Founders
An 8-week, equity-free program designed for international B2B startups ready to grow in the US. Get a custom expansion plan, 1:1 mentorship, and direct access to NYC’s top investors, corporates, and founders.
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QUAY & SHOPLINE Retail Brand Accelerator
Powered by QUAY and SHOPLINE, this program helps high-growth retail and e-commerce brands scale faster with up to $50K in grants, mentorship from leading founders and investors, and access to SHOPLINE’s smart retail tools.
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QUAY x LOGISTIYA Accelerator
QUAY, in partnership with Logistiya and Innovest, is launching a 7-week hybrid accelerator for startups in Logistics, LogTech, FinTech, and PropTech to expand into Saudi Arabia. The program blends online and in-market sessions, helping founders refine their go-to-market strategy, boost investor readiness, and connect with key ecosystem stakeholders.
They’ve worked with us
“The meetings were fantastic and the companies praised it so much, I'm so grateful for QUAY Acceleration’s effort and commitment.”
Małgorzata Brodzicka
Senior Specialist, PARP
“More than a program, QUAY became a trusted partner we’re lucky to have in our corner.
At Smiirl, there’s a clear before and after QUAY. It gave us the high-level connections and clarity we needed to scale even faster, but most critically, build on solid ground.”
Gael Bergeron
Cofounder & CEO, Smiirl
“The programme was thorough and provided a huge amount of insight and network connections to help with Circulor's expansion into the US. In particular, the support does not stop at the end of the programme, there is continued ongoing support which is invaluable.”
Veera Johnson
CEO, Circulor
Want to partner with QUAY?
If you're interested in being a startup selected for our programs, mentoring, or a client that would like to build an accelerator, reach out to us and a member of the QUAY team will be in touch with you shortly.