Creative Startups
Creative Startups is a Santa Fe-based accelerator founded in 2007 that supports early-stage creative and cultural entrepreneurs through cohort-based programming, operating with 11-50 employees under co-founder and CEO Alice Loy.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersSanta Fe, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Creative Startups does
Creative Startups is a privately held accelerator founded in 2007 and headquartered in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Its stated mission is to accelerate the success of creative and cultural entrepreneurs, positioning the organization in a differentiated niche relative to general-purpose startup accelerators. The firm operates with a small team of 11-50 employees and is led by co-founder and CEO Alice Loy alongside co-founder Thomas H. Aageson.
The organization's core product is accelerator programming targeting creative economy founders; however, detailed program structure, curriculum, cohort cadence, and alumni outcomes are not disclosed in the available data, and the company's public website currently renders only an anti-bot verification page, further limiting insight into its service surface. No underlying technology stack, proprietary platform, or AI/ML components are referenced anywhere in the input.
The revenue model is not explicitly disclosed. The single funding event recorded is a 2019-12-02 non-dilutive grant ($0 disclosed) from the NM Outdoor Recreation Division, suggesting the organization operates predominantly on grants, sponsorships, and possibly program fees rather than equity upside or commercial SaaS revenue. No customer logos, segment mix, pricing, or distribution channels are disclosed, leaving the commercial mechanics largely opaque. Geographic footprint is limited to a Santa Fe base with no documented multi-market expansion.
Creative Startups firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Creative Startups
- Website
- https://creativestartups.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Creative Startups is a Santa Fe-based accelerator founded in 2007 that supports early-stage creative and cultural entrepreneurs through cohort-based programming, operating with 11-50 employees under co-founder and CEO Alice Loy.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Creative Startups industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Startup Accelerator Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Business Planning, Pitching & Competitions (Pitch Decks, Demo Days) (EDAMAHAB)
Keywords
Where Creative Startups is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Santa Fe
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Creative Startups business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Creative Startups product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Creative Startups operates a startup accelerator and founder community for early-stage creative and cultural entrepreneurs. Its core deliverable is structured programming — including mentorship, cohort-based support, and ecosystem connections — designed to help creative-industry founders launch and scale their ventures. The organization was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Product overview
Creative Startups is an accelerator and community focused on supporting early-stage startups. The company website at http://creativestartups.org/ displays only a verification/anti-bot challenge page, which does not contain accessible product or service information.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Startup Accelerator for Creative and Cultural Entrepreneurs Cohort-based accelerator program providing mentorship, programming, and community support to early-stage founders building businesses in creative and cultural industries, delivered out of Santa Fe, New Mexico since 2007.
Companies that use Creative Startups
Customer profileIdeal customer profiles1 record
Creative Startups technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Creative Startups partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves3 records
Expansion highlights2 records
Creative Startups competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Idealab: Long-standing technology venture studio that builds and launches companies from inception. Comparable as a structured environment for launching new ventures, though operates a build-with model rather than the external-cohort accelerator format.
- MassChallenge: Large global no-equity accelerator running multiple vertical programs including creative economy tracks. Comparable as a multi-cohort accelerator supporting early-stage founders, though at significantly larger scale and broader geographic reach.
- Techstars: One of the world's largest global accelerator networks, running vertical-specific programs including creative, media, and entertainment. Comparable as a multi-cohort startup accelerator supporting early-stage founders, but operates at vastly greater scale and with a broader portfolio.
- 500 Global (formerly 500 Startups): Large global accelerator and venture fund with regional programs and vertical-specific tracks. Comparable in providing accelerator infrastructure for early-stage founders, though at a much larger scale and broader geographic footprint.
Direct peers
- Fractured Atlas: Nonprofit organization providing business services, funding access, and community support specifically to artists and creative entrepreneurs. Directly comparable in its targeted mission to support creative/cultural entrepreneurs, though delivers services rather than cohort-based acceleration.
- Creative Capital: Nonprofit organization that provides direct grants and advisory support to individual artists and creative entrepreneurs. Comparable in its targeted focus on creative and cultural practitioners, though operates via grants rather than equity-based accelerator cohorts.
- Founder Institute: Pre-seed accelerator and founder development program operating cohorts across multiple geographies and verticals. Directly comparable as a structured, cohort-based accelerator serving early-stage founders, though Founder Institute is generally larger and broader in scope.
- gener8tor: US-based accelerator running multiple cohort-based programs annually across geographies and verticals. Closely comparable operating model to Creative Startups (cohort-based, accelerator-format) but with stronger institutional backing and larger cohorts.
- Village Capital: Impact-focused accelerator running cohort programs for early-stage ventures across multiple verticals. Directly comparable as a cohort-based accelerator with mission orientation, though Village Capital operates more broadly across impact themes.
Emerging players
- Camelback Ventures: Accelerator and fellowship program focused on underestimated founders building ventures in education, health, and community. Comparable in cohort-based accelerator model and mission-driven orientation, though differs in target founder demographic.
Market position
Strengths3 records
Weaknesses3 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights4 records
Customer concentration
Creative Startups social profiles
Digital presenceCreative Startups financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Creative Startups leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Creative Startups funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Creative Startups M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments10 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Creative Startups
What does Creative Startups do?
Creative Startups operates a startup accelerator and founder community for early-stage creative and cultural entrepreneurs. Its core deliverable is structured programming — including mentorship, cohort-based support, and ecosystem connections — designed to help creative-industry founders launch and scale their ventures. The organization was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
When was Creative Startups founded?
Creative Startups was founded in 2007. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Creative Startups based?
Creative Startups is headquartered in Santa Fe, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Creative Startups's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Idealab, MassChallenge, Techstars and 500 Global (formerly 500 Startups). Direct peers are Fractured Atlas, Creative Capital, Founder Institute, gener8tor and Village Capital. Camelback Ventures is listed as an emerging player.
Does Creative Startups have an API?
No public API is recorded for Creative Startups.
What industry is Creative Startups in?
Creative Startups's product category is Startup Accelerator Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAAAM, Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated), with a secondary code of EDAMAHAB, Business Planning, Pitching & Competitions (Pitch Decks, Demo Days).