HP opens applications for 2026 Future of Work Accelerator
The U.S.-focused programme will fund and support organisations expanding access to technology, skills and economic opportunity, with applications closing on February six.
HP has opened applications for its 2026 Future of Work Accelerator, a United States-focused edition of the programme designed to help organisations broaden access to technology, skills and economic opportunities for future workers.
The initiative is run jointly by HP and the HP Foundation and, for the first time, will accept applications from both nonprofit organisations and mission-driven for-profit businesses. HP said five organisations will be selected to receive $100,000 in funding, $100,000 in HP technology and six months of virtual training.
The training programme will be delivered with support from partners MIT Solve and Global Impact Advisors, providing strategic guidance and technical expertise to help participants scale their solutions.
Since launching in 2022, the Accelerator has supported 35 nonprofit organisations across 13 countries and reached an estimated 11.3 million people. For the 2026 cohort, HP said the focus will shift specifically to solutions serving disconnected communities in the United States, including young people, on-demand workers and small businesses.
Eligible programmes must be beyond the idea stage and demonstrate scale, reaching an average of at least 25,000 people per year. Applications are due by 5 p.m. Pacific Time on February six.
Antonio Lucio, Chief Marketing and Corporate Affairs Officer at HP Inc., said the programme reflects growing evidence that access to digital tools and skills is essential for workforce success. He cited HP’s 2025 Work Relationship Index, which found that nearly one in three knowledge workers lack training in artificial intelligence.
External research supports that view. According to the National Skills Coalition, 92% of jobs in the United States now require some level of digital skills, increasing pressure on education providers and employers to close the gap.
HP said the Accelerator forms part of its wider social impact strategy, which includes the HP LIFE training programme and partnerships with organisations such as YMCA and Goodwall. The company has set a target to reach 150 million people by 2030 and said its programmes and partnerships had already reached 65 million people through 2024.
Further details and application materials are available on HP’s website.
The Recap
- HP opens applications for 2026 Future of Work Accelerator.
- Five recipients receive US$100,000 and US$100,000 in technology.
- Applications are due February 6 at 5 p.m. PT.
