I graduated from 2 accelerators...
I graduated from 2 accelerators (Blue Startups, Boost VC) before I graduated college. That is a weird and unique statement. Compared to the mass number of people who have a college degree, the number of people who have graduated from 2 accelerators is much lower. Some people say that accelerators are a broken model, but I beg to differ. I saw value in both and am happy to share my experiences with you.
What is it like to go through 2 accelerators? It depends on which one you go to. Every program is different and every tribe, cohort, batch, etc. is different. Here is a list of takeaways I got.
- Know who to listen to. There will be a ton of feedback and advice. You want this. You also have to know when you should listen to yourself and your team. You are a founder for a reason and will be the person making the final decision at the end of the day.
- Networking. Sounds basic, but take advantage of every networking opportunity the accelerator offers. Alumni, investors, other teams, staff, anyone who you’ve met while in the program is valuable. The concept of “you are only as valuable as your network” stands true in startups. Accelerators usually have a large network that you can tap into. A great place to start is the founder network. Our network of founders at Boost VC and Blue Startups is growing by the day as more founders go through the accelerator. By nature, founders are also more likely to help other founders.
- You don’t know til you ask. The startup world is a small world. Silicon valley is an even smaller world. Everyone knows everyone. There is a high chance someone can help you or can intro you to someone who can. Ask for help. A request for an introduction should include a pre-written paragraph to be forwarded. This includes name, position, need, one-liner of your startup, and best way to contact you.
What’s next for VRCHIVE? Keep moving forward and survive. Whether that means fundraising, another accelerator, crowdfunding, or bootstrapping. We will get there. Was this helpful? Are you thinking about applying to an accelerator? Did you just graduate from an accelerator?