140 startups from 20 countries join 13 programs, with AI moving deeper into industry-specific applications
SUNNYVALE, Calif., Sept. 29, 2026 — Plug and Play, the ultimate innovation platform that accelerates over 2,500 startups annually, has selected 140 startups across 13 programs for its Silicon Valley Fall batches of 2026. The founders will pitch to investors, corporations, and industry leaders at the Silicon Valley Summit, Nov. 3–5, 2026.
The participating programs include:
- Agtech
- Animal Health
- Brand & Retail
- Enterprise & AI
- Fintech
- Food & Beverage
- Global Overseas Acceleration & Learning (GOAL)
- Health & Longevity
- Insurtech
- New Materials & Packaging
- Travel & Hospitality
The batch also includes startups participating in the Mobility & Advanced Hardware: Korea to U.S. program and the XDC AI Agents & Blockchain Accelerator. View the full list of participating startups here.
Startups were selected based on program fit, traction, and direct interest from Plug and Play’s partners, many of whom participated in the final screening process. Across programs, that demand increasingly centers on technologies that can move beyond experimentation and into real industry workflows.
“A year ago, founders came to us with AI products that companies wanted to test. Now they arrive with customers already in production,” said Saeed Amidi, founder and CEO of Plug and Play. “That changes what our partners need from us. The work is less about proving the technology and more about moving fast enough to deploy it.”
AI is the strongest industry theme in this batch, but its applications vary significantly by sector. Startups are developing autonomous systems for enterprise workflows, financial services, insurance, commerce and travel, while others are applying AI to physical systems in agriculture, mobility and advanced hardware.
The shift reflects changing priorities among Plug and Play’s partners. Insurers are exploring AI agents for claims, customer service, and policy administration, as well as new approaches to insuring autonomous vehicles, robotics, and drones. Financial institutions are looking at agentic finance, payments, and commerce, while retailers are exploring agentic commerce, in-store intelligence, and automated creative operations. In travel, the focus is increasingly on putting agentic AI into production, improving operational efficiency, and identifying new revenue streams.
Other programs reflect industry-specific priorities beyond AI. Food and beverage startups are working across crop nutrition, athlete recovery, and emerging ingredient platforms, while new materials and packaging companies are developing technologies to improve the performance and sustainability of materials used across industries.
The batches also reflect Plug and Play’s global network. The 140 startups come from 20 countries, with 55% based outside the United States. South Korea represents the largest group outside the U.S., accounting for approximately 30% of the companies in the batches. Other startups join from markets across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North America, and South America.
For founders, the programs provide direct access to corporations seeking technologies that address their priorities. Jerold Zwas, CEO of PakItGreen, joins Plug and Play’s New Materials & Packaging Batch 21. The Michigan-based company develops eco-friendly coating technologies for packaging.
“The Plug and Play team went above and beyond to facilitate highly targeted introductions, connecting our cohort with invaluable partners and industry leads,” Zwas said.
Over three months, participating startups receive mentor-led workshops, private dealflow sessions and curated introductions to corporate partners. Plug and Play’s accelerator programs are equity-free, offering startups opportunities to pursue pilots, proofs of concept, and potential investment from its in-house venture arm.
The programs will culminate at the Silicon Valley November Summit, where founders will pitch to investors and corporate partners across industry sessions. The three-day event will also feature keynotes, expos, and dealflows facilitated through Plug and Play’s global network.
Plug and Play will also use the Summit to announce new developments across its global platform, including corporate partnerships and locations.
To meet the startups and attend the Silicon Valley November Summit, visit the website or contact Plug and Play at [email protected].
About Plug and Play
Plug and Play is the leading innovation platform, connecting startups, corporations, venture capital firms, universities, and government agencies. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, we’re present in 60+ locations across 25+ industries. We offer corporate innovation programs, helping our partners in every stage of their innovation journey, from education to execution. We also run startup acceleration programs and have built an in-house VC where we’ve invested in hundreds of successful companies including Dropbox, Guardant Health, Honey, Lending Club, N26, PayPal, and Rappi. For more information, visit Plug and Play.
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