The Qualcomm Scaler Program (also referred to as the Qualcomm Startup Accelerator Program) is a global accelerator designed to support early‑stage startups (Pre- Series-A) as they develop products using Qualcomm Technologies’ platforms and technologies. The equity free program provides access to development platforms, technical support, and optional incentives, without requiring payment to participate.

Startups may apply if they:

• Are legally registered (or a legally valid sole proprietor or equivalent entity, where permitted) in a participating territory
• Meet the program’s eligibility criteria as set forth in the Program Agreement on the program website
• Are typically pre‑seed through Series A in funding stage

Eligibility is subject to verification by Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. (QTI).

The Qualcomm Scaler™ Startup program is supported in the following countries:

• Africa (All 54 countries) 
• Brazil 
• Canada 
• France 
• India 
• Italy 
• Japan 
• Korea 
• Mexico 
• Portugal 
• Saudi Arabia 
• Singapore 
• Sweden 
• Taiwan 
• UAE 
• United Kingdom 
• USA 
• Vietnam

No. There is no application fee, participation fee, or purchase requirement to apply or participate in the program.

• Applications are submitted through the program website
• The program operates on a rolling application basis 
• There is no fixed application deadline and applications can be submitted at any time.

• Proposals are reviewed on a quarterly basis. 
• Applications are evaluated by a review panel comprising Qualcomm personnel from both business and technical functions.
• Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Submissions received within 30 days of quarter-end are reviewed in the following quarter. Reviews follow a three month cadence beginning one month before each quarter and concluding in month two of the quarter.
• Application Timeline
  
  
  
  
• Selected startups are typically notified by email approximately 30 days after the start of the quarter in which they are reviewed.
• Startups that are not selected may reapply, restarting the review process.

Applicants must submit a proposal that:

• Is an original work created by the applicant
• Describes the intended solution and use case
• Complies with all program guidelines and applicable laws
• Does not infringe third‑party intellectual property or include prohibited content

A sample proposal template may be provided on the program website.

Accepted startups may receive:

• Assistance selecting an appropriate Qualcomm development hardware platform
• Access to Qualcomm software, hardware, or infrastructure under applicable license terms
• Program support aligned to the startup’s proposed use case

There are no mandatory development milestones or delivery obligations imposed on startups.

Yes. Startups retain ownership of all intellectual property they create as part of their proposal and participation in the program, subject to:

• Qualcomm’s ownership of its own products and technologies
• Limited licenses granted to Qualcomm solely to support the program and the startup’s participation

Startups grant Qualcomm a non‑exclusive, royalty‑free license to use submitted materials only as necessary to provide program support and related services.

This does not transfer ownership of the startup’s intellectual property.

Eligible startups may receive up to USD$2500 in reimbursement for filing one full utility patent application with their local authority, the USPTO, or via the PCT, subject to program eligibility and submission of required filing documentation. Startups retain full ownership of their intellectual property

Eligible startups may qualify for a Patent Incentive if they:

• Use a law firm designated or approved by Qualcomm
• Meet all program and documentation requirements

The incentive may reimburse up to $2,500 USD toward one patent filing, subject to availability on a first‑come, first‑served basis within Qualcomm’s fiscal year.

The patent incentive fund operates within a fixed annual allocation, which will be depleted as participating startups draw from it. As a result, funding is subject to availability over time. 

We recommend that selected startups submit their receipts early to QCScaler@qti.qualcomm.com to maximize the likelihood of receiving this incentive.

No. Qualcomm reserves the right to:

• Accept or reject applications
• Disqualify participants that do not meet eligibility requirements
• Modify, suspend, or terminate the program at its discretion, subject to applicable law

Yes. By participating, startups grant Qualcomm permission to:

• Use the startup’s name, logo, and location
• Include the startup in marketing, publicity, case studies, and program‑related promotions
• Record and use photos or videos related to the program, without additional compensation

The program does not create a confidential or fiduciary relationship.

Personal data is handled in accordance with Qualcomm’s privacy policy and applicable laws.

The program agreement is governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, USA.

Disputes are resolved through confidential arbitration in San Francisco, California, under ICC Rules.

No. A designated representative may register and submit the application on behalf of the entire team. All information provided must accurately represent the company and proposed solution.

There is no restriction on team size. As long as your company meets the eligibility criteria and submits a strong product proposal or idea, teams of any size may apply.

No. Only one proposal is accepted per company per application period. If your application is not selected, you may submit a new or revised application in a future review cycle.

Once your proposal is successfully submitted, you will receive an email acknowledgment confirming receipt.

If additional information is required or if there are issues with your submission, follow up emails will be sent to the registered contact.

After submission, changes are not guaranteed. If updates are necessary, you may email the program team at QCScaler@qti.qualcomm.com with the requested changes.

Requests are reviewed on a case by case basis, and eligibility to continue in the process will be determined by Qualcomm.

If you need to update company or contact information after submitting your application, please email QCScaler@qti.qualcomm.com with the corrected details.

For selected proposals, Qualcomm may provide access to appropriate development platforms, hardware kits, and related technologies based on your approved use case and proposal requirements. Availability and access are subject to applicable license terms and program guidelines.

Each proposal is evaluated on its merits and a range of factors, which may include:

• Innovativeness and technical differentiation
• Utility and real world applicability
• Market relevance and business potential
• Design compatibility with Qualcomm chipsets and solutions
• Robustness of product design
• Expected time to market advantages

No single criterion guarantees selection.

Applications are reviewed by a cross functional panel consisting of experienced professionals from Qualcomm’s engineering and business organizations with relevant technical and market expertise.

If you experience technical issues during submission, please contact the program team at QCScaler@qti.qualcomm.com for assistance.

Note that depending on timing, your application may be moved to the next quarterly review batch.