The Death of Accelerators: A Misguided Narrative

In the world of innovation, the accelerator model once shone as a beacon of hope—a fast track for startups to morph from fledgling ideas into investment-ready enterprises. But today, whispers of the "death of accelerators" are growing louder, and stakeholders seem to be succumbing to a misguided narrative. The notion that accelerators are becoming obsolete is a gross misunderstanding of their role. The real issue lies in our linear perception of innovation—a viewpoint that falsely suggests a straight path from idea to Series D, with the earlier stages gradually losing relevance. The truth is, accelerators are more critical than ever, but their purpose needs a radical rethinking.

The traditional view sees innovation as a funnel: ideas pass through various stages—incubation, acceleration, growth—eventually culminating in a successful exit. This linear perspective assumes that once startups move past early stages, accelerators become redundant. However, innovation doesn't progress in a straight line. It's a complex, iterative process, embedded within a larger ecosystem where every connection requires nurturing and acceleration.

Accelerators, in their classic form, promised to transform any startup into an investor-ready entity within a three-month bootcamp. This bold claim, perpetuated for decades, has contributed to their current predicament. The unrealistic expectation that a one-size-fits-all program can fast-track any startup to success has not only disillusioned stakeholders but also overshadowed the true potential of accelerators.

We need to shift our understanding of accelerators from being mere preparatory stages to integral components of a broader innovation ecosystem. Innovation happens in systems—networks of ideas, talents, and resources—where every link must be cultivated. To truly drive innovation, accelerators must evolve to focus on embedding startups within these ecosystems, fostering connections that enable sustained growth and development.

This means recognizing that different parts of the system require different types of acceleration. Rather than a generic model, we need specialized, dedicated accelerators that cater to specific needs within the innovation landscape. The potential for such programs is vast:

1.????? Educational Accelerators: Programs that transform teachers into entrepreneurship advocates, empowering them to inspire and guide the next generation of innovators.

2.????? Community Investment Programs: Initiatives that educate and equip average individuals to become savvy startup investors, democratizing investment opportunities and fostering grassroots support for innovation.

3.????? Specialized Group Accelerators: Programs that help transform pockets of specialized talent to participate in the innovation ecoystem, like military veterans, parents, silver agers, etc. Leverage their unique skills and experiences to become tech entrepreneurs, bringing fresh perspectives and discipline to the startup world.

4.????? Health Innovation Programs: Accelerators that focus on turning insights from patients and health professionals into startup ideas, bridging the gap between medical expertise, patient experiences and entrepreneurial spirit to drive advancements in healthcare.

5.?????Investment Readiness Acceleration: Programs that work on reducing investment barriers in regional ecosystems by creating trust in the startup process, offering tailor-made investment vehicles like crowdfunding or business angel syndicates and working on the reduction of friction.

6.?????Exit Markets Acceleration: Help established businesses to buy more startup companies as part of a well developed innovation process. Offer programs for executives to learn how they can strategically build an innovation portfolio and carefully purchase emerging startups.

7.?????Startup Policy Acceleration: Enable policy-makers to study and understand pre-conditions for startup success in their region and implement adequate reforms to allow startup growth in their regions.

These specialized accelerators address the unique challenges and opportunities within their respective domains, providing tailored support that goes beyond the generic three-month bootcamp. Rather than pretending to make startups investment-ready, they foster a deeper integration of innovation within various sectors, ensuring that we develop an overall support ecosystem in which startups can live to their fullest potential.

The role of accelerators must expand beyond just the startup founders. They should aim to create innovation champions across all facets of society. This includes turning educators into entrepreneurship advocates, enabling everyday citizens to invest in startups, and empowering professionals from various fields to venture into entrepreneurship.

In conclusion, the proclaimed "death of accelerators" is a misinterpretation. The problem is not that accelerators are obsolete, but that their role has been misunderstood. Innovation is not a linear journey but a systemic one, requiring continuous support at every juncture. By reimagining accelerators as specialized, ecosystem-integrated entities, we can harness their true potential. The future of innovation demands more accelerators, more variety, and a broader scope. Only then can we truly accelerate progress and maintain the momentum of innovation.

Learn more on how we revolutionize the Accelerator concept by accelerating “ecosystems” at www.deep-ecosystems.com