Lair East Labs

Lair East Labs is a startup accelerator based in New York that empowers founders to expand internationally. The program offers investments up to $150,000, mentorship, and access to a network of investors and mentors with extensive experience navigating the U.S. and Asian markets. In the first five years of operation, portfolio companies have raised over $45 million in funding after completing the accelerator. The program is designed for early-stage companies in Pre-Seed or Seed stages, with a focus on founders with international backgrounds and innovative business ideas with global market potential. Lair East Labs emphasizes a tailored approach, providing bespoke mentorship and resources to each portfolio company. The accelerator program includes 1:1 coaching, community and alumni networks, founder AMA sessions, workshops, and access to U.S., Asia, and beyond markets. Demo Day is held at the end of the program, where startups pitch to a select audience of investors. The program also offers legal assistance for company formation and IP protection, as well as support in fundraising and growth strategies. Lair East Labs has been recognized as one of the 'Top 100 Accelerators Worldwide' by Crunchbase in 2019. The accelerator is located in New York City, with a team dedicated to supporting founders in building successful and sustainable ventures that solve global problems. The program is open to international teams, with support provided for visa processes if necessary. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, with a preference for early applications. The program is hybrid, requiring at least one core team member to be present physically in New York City for the duration of the program. The program fee is $25,000, covering associated operational costs and long-term support. Lair East Labs is committed to fostering diversity, innovation, and impact, supporting founders who actively pursue positive change to create a cleaner, fairer, and more sustainable future. The accelerator has a strong emphasis on cross-border acceleration, leveraging its international network to provide a truly global perspective. The team is devoted to building long-term partnerships with founders, offering continuous support beyond the accelerator program period. The tailored approach ensures that investors, mentors, and guidance are specifically suited for each portfolio company, with a focus on creating positive and valuable societal impact. Lair East Labs values diversity, innovation, impact, and a global perspective, seeking founders who see the world’s imperfections as opportunities to innovate and transform industries. The program is designed to support early-stage companies with visionary founders who have innovative business ideas with global market potential, aiming to build successful and sustainable ventures that solve global problems. The accelerator has a proven track record of helping startups raise significant funding and expand into new markets, with a strong network of mentors and investors with extensive experience navigating the U.S. and Asian markets. The program is open to founders from diverse backgrounds and industries, with a focus on those committed to creating impact through innovation and technology. The accelerator offers a comprehensive suite of benefits tailored to the specific needs of founders, including mentorship, seminars, masterclasses, fundraising and pitch preparation, product and market strategy, global network exposure, and future opportunities for outstanding participants. The program is free of charge to ensure equal access to resources for emerging and aspiring founders from underserved communities. Outstanding participants may receive an invitation to join Lair East Labs’ flagship accelerator program, gain matching funding from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), and access exclusive perks and resources provided by the accelerator. The program is virtual, allowing participation from anywhere, and is designed to complement other accelerator or incubator programs, offering additional resources, mentorship, and network. The program is open to all entrepreneurs with a vision for a startup, regardless of their formal tech background, and is committed to empowering diverse communities to thrive. Applications are open on a rolling basis, with a program kickoff in April 2025 and interview and admission on a rolling basis. The program is designed to support tech founders from underrepresented communities, particularly those facing systemic barriers, providing them with the mentorship, resources, and tools to overcome challenges and launch their businesses. The program is part of National ACE's Capital Readiness Program (CRP) and is supported by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA).