What it is
Halcyon is a Washington, DC nonprofit that describes its work as accelerating the impact-driven future of business. It was co-founded in 2014 by Dr. Sachiko Kuno and Kate Goodall and takes its name from Halcyon House in Georgetown, its original headquarters. It began as an incubator with arts programming and by 2021 had refocused on impact-driven businesses. It now concentrates on three verticals: Climate, Health and EquityTech.
What it offers founders
Halcyon's programs provide business training on product-market fit, capital strategy, leadership development and scaling. Programs use a hybrid format:
- A virtual kickoff day.
- A one-week in-person residency at the start and another at the end.
- Four monthly virtual meetings in between.
- Stipends distributed at multiple points during the program.
- Cohorts of up to 10 ventures each.
Founders also get access to an Expert Network of advisors, leadership coaches and skill series presenters. Halcyon also runs investment vehicles, Halcyon Fund I and II and the HVP Angels.
Who it is for
Ventures must be for-profit and scalable, with impact central to the business model and tied to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. They must be at least at the MVP stage with users or paying customers, and founders must work on the venture full time. Non-US founders can apply, though location requirements vary by program. Recent cohorts include a US Health Accelerator, a Global EquityTech Accelerator and several climate accelerators for Latin America, the Caribbean, Mexico and Africa. Past programs include the DMV Climate Innovation Fellowship (2025), the Future Builders Fellowship and a Residential Fellowship that ran from 2014 to 2023.
How to apply
Submit the year-round eligibility form on the Applicants page; Halcyon reviews it on a rolling basis. If your venture fits an upcoming program, you are invited to a second-round application during a multi-week open call and have two weeks to complete it. Finalists pitch to a Selections Committee of outside experts. The applicants page does not list an application or program fee. Halcyon is located at 1100 15th Street NW, Floor 4, Washington, DC 20005.
Why it matters in the DMV ecosystem
Halcyon is a DC-based accelerator focused on impact ventures, and it reports a global community of more than 650 entrepreneurs. Its programs are increasingly global and vertical specific, so DMV founders should check the current program list for a cohort that matches their sector and location before applying.
