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.

AcceleratorFunderProgram hostEvent hostPublisher

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.

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Official 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

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

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.

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.

Next step

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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.