What NetApp Excellerator does

NetApp Excellerator is a corporate startup accelerator program operated by NetApp, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTAP) and launched in 2017 from its Bengaluru, India campus. The program runs four-month cohort-based sessions targeting early- to growth-stage deep-tech and AI startups working in cloud, hybrid cloud, AI and analytics, data management, storage, and security. Through 14 cohorts it has supported 90+ startups, with alumni collectively raising over $600 million and recording 11 exits and 29 proof-of-concept engagements with NetApp customers.

The program is non-dilutive — NetApp takes no equity in participating startups — and delivers value through structured mentorship from NetApp engineering and business leaders, access to NetApp's product stack (including NetApp SPOT for hybrid cloud cost optimization), co-working space at the NetApp Bangalore campus, investor introductions, and POC opportunities with NetApp's enterprise customer base. A dedicated sub-brand, NetApp ExcellerateHER (launched 2020), provides tailored support for women-led startups, with 20+ ventures supported to date. Application intake is event-driven via the program website and F6S platform, with alumni spanning India, the United States, Israel, Germany, the United Kingdom, Botswana, Singapore, Turkey, South Korea, and Canada.

The program is not a standalone revenue-generating entity; it functions as a strategic innovation and ecosystem investment funded by NetApp, Inc. Its economics sit within NetApp's broader corporate innovation and R&D envelope, with measurable returns expressed in pipeline of partnerships, customer co-sell opportunities, and brand engagement rather than program-level revenue.

Name

NetApp Excellerator

Legal name

NetApp, Inc.

Website

https://startup.netapp.in

Company type

Public

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NetApp Excellerator is a Bengaluru-based, non-dilutive corporate accelerator run by NetApp, Inc. that runs four-month cohorts supporting deep-tech and AI startups in cloud, data, and security, having mentored 90+ startups across 14 cohorts since 2017.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Corporate Startup Accelerator Program

NAICS

Computer Training (611420), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Tools & Platforms Training (Jira, Azure DevOps, MS Project, Smartsheet, etc.) (EDABAHAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Model Development & Training Platforms (AutoML, Notebooks, Feature Stores) (HDAEANAB)

Keywords

• Startup accelerator program
• Corporate venture accelerator
• Deep-tech startup mentorship
• AI startup incubation
• Non-dilutive startup program

Headquarters

HQ city

Bengaluru

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Ecosystem Investment (Strategic): NetApp operates the Excellerator as a strategic investment in the innovation ecosystem rather than a direct revenue-generating program. The company does not take equity in startups and provides non-dilutive support including mentorship, resources, and access to customers and investors. Benefits include strengthened customer relationships with innovative startups building on NetApp's data infrastructure.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

NetApp Excellerator is a 4-month cohort-based startup accelerator program that provides business and technology mentorship, customer access for proof-of-concept projects, investor connections, coworking space at NetApp's Bangalore campus, and non-dilutive financial grants to selected deep-tech and AI startups. The program is supplemented by the ExcellerateHER track for women-led startups and operates as a non-dilutive, equity-free strategic ecosystem investment of NetApp, Inc.

Product overview

NetApp Excellerator is a single unified accelerator program (not a platform-plus-modules architecture) that offers comprehensive startup mentorship and support services. The main program provides business mentorship, technology mentorship, customer access, and investor connects over a four-month period. It is complemented by ExcellerateHER, a dedicated sub-brand initiative for women-led startups that provides additional tailored support. The program has supported 90 startups across 14 cohorts, with alumni having collectively raised over $600 million.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NetApp ExcellerateHER: A dedicated initiative under NetApp Excellerator focused on empowering women-led startups by providing tailored support, mentoring, and resources to address the unique challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in the tech ecosystem.

Products and services

• NetApp Excellerator A flagship four-month cohort-based startup accelerator program for early-stage to growth-stage deep-tech and AI startups, offering business and technology mentorship, customer access for proof-of-concept projects, investor connects, coworking space at NetApp's Bangalore campus, and non-dilutive financial grants. Aligned with NetApp's core technology areas of cloud, hybrid cloud, AI and analytics, data management, storage, and security.
• NetApp ExcellerateHER A dedicated sub-brand initiative under the NetApp Excellerator that promotes women entrepreneurs by providing tailored support, personalized coaching, VIP access to resources, workshops, mentoring, and networking events specifically for women-led startups. Has supported 20+ women-led startups.

Quantifiable outcome

• Alumni have collectively raised over $600 million in funding
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered supporting.

• NetApp SPOTsupportingTechnology or IntegrationStartups are offered access to NetApp products like SPOT to help them thrive in the hybrid cloud environment. With SPOT and its added features, cloud-native startups can cut their cloud costs significantly.
• F6SsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorF6S platform partnership for hosting and managing applications for the accelerator program cohorts.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Intel Ignite: Intel's corporate accelerator for early-stage deep-tech startups in AI, data, and infrastructure — a direct comparator given both programs are run by large tech incumbents targeting similar deep-tech founder profiles.
• Y Combinator: Premier global accelerator offering seed funding, mentorship, and Demo Day exposure — competing with NetApp Excellerator for top-tier AI and deep-tech applicants despite a different funding model.
• Techstars: Global accelerator network running 50+ programs with structured mentorship and investor access. Comparable as a competing application-driven accelerator targeting early-stage tech founders.
• Cisco Launchpad: Cisco's corporate accelerator provides mentorship, technology access, and enterprise introductions to startups in networking, cloud, and security — a near-direct peer given the enterprise-data and infrastructure overlap with NetApp's themes.
• Oracle Startup Cloud Accelerator: Oracle's corporate accelerator program targeting enterprise-tech startups with cloud credits, mentorship, and customer access — directly comparable in structure, target segment, and enterprise-channel value proposition.
• SAP.iO: SAP's corporate venture and accelerator program supports enterprise-focused startups with mentorship, SAP platform access, and customer intros — closely comparable in mission and structure to NetApp Excellerator.

Broad incumbents

• Microsoft for Startups: Microsoft's global corporate startup program offering cloud credits, enterprise distribution, and go-to-market support — directly comparable to NetApp Excellerator's enterprise-channel-driven value proposition for cloud and AI startups.
• AWS Startups: Amazon's startup program provides cloud credits, technical mentorship, and enterprise customer introductions — competing head-to-head for the same deep-tech and AI infrastructure founders NetApp targets.
• Google for Startups: Google's global accelerator network offers mentorship, cloud credits, and AI/ML tooling to early-stage startups, overlapping with NetApp Excellerator's AI/data-management focus and global cohort model.

Regional players

• Surge (Sequoia India): India- and SEA-focused accelerator operated by Sequoia Capital, offering seed capital, mentorship, and investor intros — overlapping with Excellerator's India-based cohort model and target founder geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments83 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NetApp Excellerator