SMARTstart Included in TIME’s America’s Best Incubators & Accelerators 2026 List

The announcement was made on August 18, 2026

August 19, 2026 michele525 BUSINESS, BUSINESS BRIEFS, BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT, IN THE LOOP 0

SMARTstart Entrepreneur Roundtable — Photo courtesy Pasco Economic Development Council

Media Release | August 19, 2026
Pasco Economic Development Council

PASCO COUNTY, FLORIDA (August 19, 2026) — SMARTstart has been awarded on TIME’s list of America’s
Best Incubators & Accelerators 2026. This prestigious award is presented in collaboration with Statista, the
world-leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider. The award list was announced on August 18th,
2026, and can be viewed on TIME.com.

The America’s Best Incubators & Accelerators 2026 ranking awards the top 80 incubators and accelerators
across the United States based on three key dimensions:

Alumni Evaluations: Feedback from more than 2,000 founders who participated in incubator and
accelerator programs between 2020 and 2025. Alumni rated their overall experience through a
general recommendation and assessed six key aspects, including mentoring and training,
infrastructure, legal assistance, funding opportunities, networking, and business development
advice.
Track Record: An evaluation of each incubator’s and accelerator’s measurable founder outcomes,
based on the top five startups they reported from their programs. These startups were assessed
using information provided by the organizations, complemented by Statista’s desk research
drawing on publicly available sources such as official websites, presentations, and media coverage.
Expert Recommendations: Endorsements from startup investors and seasoned entrepreneurs, who
recommended the incubators and accelerators they know and regard most highly.
Based on the results of the study, SMARTstart is honored to be recognized on TIME’s list of America’s Best
Incubators & Accelerators 2026!
Statista publishes hundreds of worldwide industry rankings and company listings with high-profile media
partners. This research and analysis service is based on the success of statista.com, the leading data and business intelligence portal that provides statistics, relevant business data, and various market and consumer studies and surveys.

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“We are honored that SMARTstart has been recognized as one of the best incubator programs in the United States,” shared Bill Cronin, President/CEO, Pasco EDC. “Since its founding in 2012, SMARTstart has helped more than 600 businesses get started. Through three entrepreneur centers across the county, SMARTstart offers resources and space for businesses at different stages, including a commercial kitchen, tech hub and makerspace.”

About Pasco Economic Development Council

The Pasco Economic Development Council is committed to developing Florida’s most competitive climate for business growth by providing businesses that seek to start, move, or grow in the North Tampa Bay area a comprehensive suite of programs that can help them to reach their full economic potential. Since 1987, Pasco EDC has fostered a strong partnership funded by corporate and public investors focused on the economic vitality of Pasco County. Discover more at www.pascoedc.com.