Choosing the Right Accelerator

TLDR: Accelerators are service providers. Like all service providers, the most important thing is the service provided and outcomes achieved. Working with certain service providers may provide a badge of completion, but startup success is about making tangible progress fast, not about collecting badges.

What Do You Need to Know About Accelerators?

Startup accelerators, in their modern form, are less than 20 years old and have evolved rapidly in that time to provide support for founders in an increasing variety of forms. The initial model consisted of funding, mentorship, and resources in exchange for equity. More recently, aspects of the initial model have been unbundled and rebundled into different configurations, some available for equity, some for cash, and some for free. Additionally, as general startup knowledge has become more accessible, specialized programs have spun up to focus on unique industries, regulatory pathways, and founder profiles.

Regardless of their configuration, accelerators are service providers to startups and should be considered as such. Working with particular service providers may give you a sense of completion and progress but the most important thing is the outcomes you achieve from participating. The service accelerators provide is acceleration, that means progressing your business more quickly! You shouldn’t assume your startup needs to join an accelerator nor should you work with multiple accelerators if they won’t all independently contribute to accelerating your business.

Additionally, a lot of accelerators market themselves along very similar lines: make progress, be successful, get access to investors/networks/experts, level up, etc. but how that’s delivered can vary significantly. While one accelerator might have an embedded expert-in-X available daily for questions and high touch support, another might bring in said expertise once during their program for a 45m talk and 15m Q&A.

How Do You Determine if an Accelerator is a Good Fit for Your Startup?

Here’s a breakdown of things to consider in an accelerator’s offering and if it maps well to your current stage and any gaps in knowledge, network, or resources:

• Cost – The vast majority of accelerators are for-profit service providers and need to make money somehow. Whether you’re paying with equity, cash, or just your time ensure that what you’re receiving is worth it. Funding for equity can be very appealing but remember that your equity, if successful, is your most precious asset. Make sure you’re getting something equally precious in exchange for it.
• Time commitment – Time is nearly as precious as equity in the early stages. Programs range from completely at your own pace to intensive weeks/months of 100% focus. Don’t participate in program after program without actually making progress on your business!
• Resources provided – Often certain resources will be ‘out of reach’ for startups until they have much more capital, but certain accelerators can make those available earlier. Focus on the unique, limited-in-supply kinds of resources provided. Some provide physical space, lab access, manufacturing deals for physical product companies, or unique partner opportunities with agencies or corporations. Almost all accelerators now provide a grab-bag of discounts and offers from a very similar group of companies and service providers so don’t weigh those too heavily.
• Location – In-person, hybrid, or fully remote are the most common. If considering relocating for an in-person program, be sure what you’ll take away is durable for your long term plans. Many in-person programs are intended to have a regional impact so if you’re not going to stay in the area after the program is over, you might spend a lot of time and your own money building out access and connections that evaporate when you leave. Virtual programs are great for flexibility but you often have to keep yourself accountable.
• Quality of expertise – The dizzying amount of bona fides on almost every accelerator’s staff/mentors/experts page can be impressive but it is very hard to know, from the outside, what’s actually delivered and how. Does a household name just have a pre-recorded intro video? Are experts available on a regular basis to provide actual 1:1 feedback? The best way to be sure is to find other founders who have been through the program and learn about their experience.

The world of accelerators is changing and innovating just as fast as the world of startups so don’t be surprised if you see new versions and approaches but the fundamental evaluation principle will likely remain: does what they offer move your business forward in real, tangible ways?

Find the right kind of acceleration for your startup

If you’re looking for expert guidance without the equity cost or time commitment of traditional accelerators, that’s exactly what Mission Control is designed to provide. You get direct access to startup experts, real-time feedback on your strategy and pitch, and practical tools to solve the problems that matter most—all while maintaining full control of your equity and schedule.

And when you’re ready to establish that solid Delaware C Corp foundation? Gust Launch makes the whole process streamlined and straightforward—plus Mission Control members get a significant discount. We can even help convert eligible existing entities to our platform; check out our free Corporate Diligence Review tool to see if your set up matches investor expectations, and get in the queue for a conversion/onboarding evaluation to Gust Launch if it fits.

The right acceleration is about targeted expertise applied to your specific challenges, not generic programs that treat all startups the same. Good luck out there!