SHRM Labs has opened applications for its 2026 WorkplaceTech Accelerator program, targeting high-growth technology startups that address workplace challenges. The application window runs from Sept. 1 through Nov. 1, 2025.
The 12-week program offers participating startups a $200,000 equity investment and access to SHRM’s network of human resources professionals. SHRM is the world’s largest HR organization with nearly 340,000 members in 180 countries.
Program delivers strong results
Since launching, the accelerator has supported more than a dozen companies that now generate more than $150 million in annual recurring revenue and have achieved a combined valuation of $1.2 billion, according to SHRM Labs. Startups in the 2024 cohort saw a 44 per cent increase in annual recurring revenue from pre-program to six months after graduation, SHRM said.
“The WorkplaceTech Accelerator is designed to find and foster the next generation of technologies shaping the future of work,” said Andy Biladeau, chief transformation officer at SHRM. “We provide founders with the connections, capital, and deep industry insights necessary to tackle some of the biggest business challenges organizations are facing today.”
Alumni success stories
Sparrow, a leave management solution from the 2022 cohort, recently raised $35 million in Series B funding, bringing its total investment to $64 million, according to SHRM Labs. TransCrypts, a blockchain-based employment verification platform that graduated in 2025, also highlighted the program’s impact.
“Participating in the SHRM Labs Workplace Accelerator was one of the most transformative experiences for Transcrypts,” said Zain Zaidi, co-founder and CEO of TransCrypts. “The program not only connected us with visionary HR leaders and mentors but also gave us the tools, insights, and community to sharpen our product and accelerate our impact.”
Program structure
The accelerator combines virtual and in-person events over 12 weeks. Each startup works with a curated advisory council of HR and business executives tailored to their specific needs, according to SHRM Labs. The program ends with showcases at SHRM’s major conferences.
Graduates join the SHRM Labs alumni network, which provides continued access to SHRM resources and visibility within the HR community, the company said.
