
Organization · Accelerator
Plug and Play Tech Center
Plug and Play Tech Center is an accelerator based in Silicon Valley, California, that connects startups, corporations, investors, and governments to drive innovation across various sectors.
Overview
What Plug and Play Tech Center does
What Plug and Play Tech Center is
Plug and Play Tech Center is an accelerator based in Silicon Valley, California, that connects startups, corporations, investors, and governments to drive innovation across various sectors.
How it participates in the startup ecosystem
The current public profile supports funder and program host and event host and publisher capabilities. Each capability below is shown separately so organization identity and role-specific information do not get conflated.
Operational profile
Organization status and context
Organization status describes the entity itself. Funding and program availability appear within the relevant capability profile.
- Operational status
- Active
- Organization type
- Accelerator
- Founded
- Founded in 2006
- Approximate age
- About 20 years
- Structured capabilities
- Funder · Program host · Event host · Publisher
- Last reviewed
- March 16, 2026
What Accelerator means
An accelerator is a structured, short-term program designed to speed up a startup's progress toward product-market fit, traction, fundraising, or scale.
Open the glossary entryOfficial channels
Find Plug and Play Tech Center elsewhere
Open the official website or a supported primary organization account.
Capability profile
Plug and Play Tech Center as a funder
Investment thesis
Plug and Play invests in early-stage startups across multiple geographies, emphasizing technology, healthcare, and financial services. They aim to foster innovation and growth through their accelerator programs and corporate innovation services.
Focus narrative
Plug and Play invests in various sectors, including technology, healthcare, and financial services. Their investment thesis emphasizes early-stage startups across multiple geographies, aiming to foster innovation and growth through their accelerator programs and corporate innovation services.
Focus and fit
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed · Seed+ · Series A
- Regions
- Latin AmericaNorth America
Availability
- Currently deploying
- Yes
Portfolio and track record
- Recorded notable exits
- PayPal and Dropbox
Portfolio context
Plug and Play has a diverse portfolio that includes notable companies such as PayPal, a widely recognized online payment system; Dropbox, a file hosting service that offers cloud storage and file synchronization; and Rappi, a Colombian on-demand delivery startup.
Capability profile
Plug and Play Tech Center as a program host
Program thesis
Corporate-startup matchmaker. Connects startups to 500+ corporate partners for pilots, customers, and investment. No equity required for program participation. Invests separately through PNP Ventures.
Focus narrative
PNP operates 60+ industry-specific vertical programs annually spanning 19+ sectors: fintech, insurtech, health, mobility, IoT, supply chain, retail, enterprise AI, energy, food & beverage, deeptech, real estate, travel, agtech, maritime, sustainability, and more. The platform is technology-agnostic and stage-agnostic. 40% of portfolio is in fintech/insurance/health. 25% in smart cities (mobility, IoT, real estate). Recent batches are heavily AI-weighted (107 of 112 startups in the September 2025 Silicon Valley batch focused on AI).
Value and support
PNP's core value proposition is access to its network of 500+ corporate partners. The program is free to participate in and requires no equity. Weekly 20-minute dealflow sessions match startups with corporate partners for pilots, POCs, and commercial deals. Startups get direct paths to enterprise customers rather than just investor pitching. Investment is separate through PNP Ventures ($100K-$150K pre-seed/seed via SAFE or convertible notes). $4M+ in perks and credits. Global expansion support through the International Landing Pad Network (ILPN, launched November 2025).
Terms and economics
- Indicative investment
- $150,000
Format and cadence
- Typical duration
- 12 weeks
- Typical cohort
- 20 companies
- Format
- In Person
Availability
- Application state
- Accepting
Focus and fit
Alumni and track record
- Last recorded cohort
- September 1, 2025
Alumni context
35 unicorns and 22 IPOs. PayPal was famously headquartered in the original Plug and Play building. Notable portfolio companies include Dropbox, Lending Club, N26, Honey, SoundHound, Zero Hash (unicorn 2025), Nota (KRX listing November 2025), API.ai (acquired by Google), Matcha (acquired by Apple), Milo (acquired by eBay), AddThis (acquired by Oracle), and Vudu (acquired by Walmart). 206+ acquisitions total.
Capability profile
Plug and Play Tech Center as an event host
Event focus
Plug and Play Tech Center is an open innovation platform that connects startups, corporations, investors, governments, and universities to drive technological advancements and foster innovation. They invest in a wide range of sectors including technology, healthcare, finance, and sustainability, providing services such as accelerator programs, corporate innovation partnerships, and venture capital investments.
Format narrative
Plug and Play hosts numerous events including expos, summits, and networking events, facilitating connections between startups and industry leaders. They also offer various accelerator programs focused on specific sectors.
Participant value
Plug and Play provides startups with access to a vast network of over 100,000 startups across more than 60 countries, along with resources and partnerships that can help drive their growth and innovation.
Format and cadence
- Event types
- summit and meetup
- Recurrence
- annual
- Modality
- in-person
- Typical attendance
- 800
- Startups can present
- Yes
Availability
- Registration state
- Accepting
- Next recorded event
- May 19, 2026
- Next event location
- Silicon Valley
Audience and fit
- Selection criteria
- open
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed · Seed+ · Series A · Series A+ · Series B · Series B+ · Series C · Series C+ · Series D · Series E · Growth Equity
- Audience
- Founders · Investors · Corporate Innovators
- Sectors
- Healthcare
- Regions
- Global
Capability profile
Plug and Play Tech Center as a publisher
Editorial focus
Plug and Play Tech Center, founded in 2006 in Silicon Valley, focuses on driving innovation by connecting startups, corporations, investors, governments, and universities. The organization facilitates collaboration and technological advancement across various sectors, investing in areas such as advanced manufacturing, agtech, fintech, health, mobility, and sustainability. They provide services including startup acceleration, corporate innovation programs, and venture capital investments, working with startups at various stages of development.
Audience value
Plug and Play offers a unique platform for startups to connect with industry leaders and gain access to resources that can accelerate their growth and innovation.
Format and cadence
- Content formats
- podcast and newsletter
Availability
- Guest pitch state
- Not currently accepting
Audience and focus
- Audience
- Founders · Investors · Corporate Innovators
- Regions
- Global · North America
Flagship work and coverage
Flagship properties
Plug and Play produces podcasts discussing innovation and technology trends, and newsletters providing updates on their activities and insights into the startup ecosystem.
Notable coverage
Plug and Play has a diverse portfolio that includes notable companies such as PayPal, Dropbox, and Rappi.
Connected ecosystem
Continue from Plug and Play Tech Center
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Structured sector focus
Structured regional focus
Common questions
What to know about Plug and Play Tech Center
Upseed classifies Plug and Play Tech Center under the Accelerator organization type. Its current public profile includes funder, program host, event host, and publisher capabilities.
Source and update disclosure
Know what this page is based on
Source basis
Public organization and program material, official websites, and structured Upseed records.
Last reviewed
March 16, 2026
Known limits
Capability profiles appear only when a structured public profile also contains decision-useful role evidence. Terms and availability can change.
Upseed is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the organization described on this page.