Which company created the first widely recognized startup accelerator program?

Y Combinator created the first widely recognized startup accelerator program.

Founded in 2005, Y Combinator established a format in which a group of early-stage companies receives seed funding, mentorship, and a short, intensive program. The companies then present to investors at a Demo Day.

Earlier organizations supported entrepreneurs, and business incubators had existed for decades. However, Y Combinator’s batch structure, standard investment model, and focus on internet startups became the template most people now associate with accelerators. Techstars, founded in 2006, helped spread the model internationally.

The phrase “first accelerator” can be debated if it is used loosely, because incubators and startup-support programs predate Y Combinator. In standard startup-history accounts, Y Combinator is credited with pioneering the modern accelerator model rather than inventing every form of business incubation.