Plug and Play Tech Center

Plug and Play Tech Center is a global innovation platform that connects startups, corporations, and investors. Founded in 2006 by Saeed Amidi, the organization emerged from a family real estate business that had been leasing office space to early tech giants like Google and PayPal. Recognizing the potential in fostering a collaborative ecosystem, Amidi transformed the property into a hub for innovation. Plug and Play's mission is to empower the world's most innovative companies by facilitating meaningful connections and driving technological advancement. Their investment thesis is broad, focusing on early-stage startups across numerous industries that demonstrate strong potential for disruption and scalability, often aligning with the strategic interests of their corporate partners. They operate a unique model where corporate partners pay to participate in industry-specific programs, gaining access to curated startups and potential solutions to their business challenges.

Notable programs include their various industry-specific accelerators such as Mobility, Fintech, Health, Supply Chain, and Sustainability, each designed to connect relevant startups with leading corporations in those sectors. Plug and Play has a significant global footprint, with headquarters in Sunnyvale, California, and over 50 locations across the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia, making them one of the most geographically diverse innovation platforms. Their portfolio boasts a wide array of successful companies, including Dropbox, PayPal, Lending Club, N26, and Honey. What makes Plug and Play stand out is its extensive global network of corporate partners, its unique business model that leverages corporate engagement to fund and support startups, and its sheer volume of programs and investments, creating a vibrant and interconnected ecosystem for innovation worldwide.