📖 Read Time: 4 minutes
📩 What you’ll get out of this newsletter: the right accelerator can change your company’s trajectory… if you pick well and know how to squeeze every drop of value from it.
💡 Thanks for being here! Know someone who would love Ordinary Genius? Don’t forget to forward this.
Here’s the story…
After running seven cohorts at Techstars, I’ve seen every flavor of founder: the ones who came for the money, the ones who came for the network, and the ones who weren’t sure why they came at all.
Before that, I’d spent years in tech, building products, raising capital, and making the same rookie mistakes I now warn founders about.
Accelerators are one of the most misunderstood tools in the startup toolkit. Done right, they can 10x your trajectory. Done wrong, they can eat up equity, time, and focus you’ll never get back.
Wether you are looking at accelerators, in one right now, or just a little curious on if you should apply to one, below is everything you need to know.
Also, if you’re not sure where to start, read to the end for a list of accelerator programs in all different fields 😎
1. Accelerator vs. Incubator — Know the Difference
Accelerator
Fixed-term program (often 3–6 months)
Offers investment (usually in exchange for equity)
Intensive mentorship, workshops, and investor intros
Goal: Rapid growth and fundraising readiness
Incubator
Open-ended engagement (can be months or years)
Usually doesn’t invest directly
Focus on ideation, early prototypes, and business model discovery
Goal: Help you become a startup worth accelerating
Think of it this way: Incubators grow seeds. Accelerators turbocharge saplings.
2. How to Pick the Right Accelerator
You’re not just choosing a program… you’re picking a business partner who’ll be on your cap table for life. Based on the two breakdowns in the attached posts:
Equity vs. Cash
If the accelerator takes >8% equity, be sure the capital + network is worth it.
Less equity often means less capital, so know your burn rate before signing.
Network vs. Brand
Some programs (like Techstars, YC) have brand power that can open any door.
Others have niche industry networks (like SKU which is only for CPG products) perfect if you’re building in a specialized vertical.
Follow-on Funding Rates
Look at alumni stats. Do grads actually raise after Demo Day, or just post LinkedIn wins?
Values Fit
Spend time with the MDs (Managing Directors) and the rest of the program team before committing. You’ll be working closely with them… if you don’t click, it’s probably not a good fit.
3. How to Make the Most of an Accelerator
Act Like the Clock is Ticking
Your access to the program directors, MDs, mentors, and speakers is finite. Once the cohort ends and the next cohort start…assume doors close. Eventually you will not be the cool kid on the block anymore, so squeeze every drop of value now.
Be Proactively Annoying (in a good way)
Ask questions. Send follow-ups. Build relationships. People remember founders who keep the energy high.
Use the Buzz to Raise Capital
Getting in should be a PR moment… signal to investors, partners, and talent that you’re on a rocket trajectory.
Invite Outside Perspective
Use mentors to pressure-test your business model. Listen… but keep your founder instincts intact.
Show Up
By my third Techstars co-hort I could predict which companies would survive post program based on one thing: if they showed up. There was a direct correlation between the amount founders showed up to things, and their companies survival rate.
Build A Support System
Accelerators are hard. If your spouse, family, or whomever aren’t on board with you being heads down or MIA during it, it’s going to be very difficult. Make sure you communicate expectations to the people around you ahead of time.
🧠 Genius Tips (TL;DR considerations before doing an accelerator):
Don’t apply to accelerators just because you can, apply because you know what you need from them
In the interview process, treat them like you’re vetting them. Ask tough questions like what are the expectations of the MD’s during program, what does involvement look like after program ends, and what resources do they have for alumni.
Keep every mentor relationship warm post-program, you’ll thank yourself later.
An accelerator is a force multiplier, not a silver bullet; don’t let Demo Day be the first time you think about your raise or the future.
The right program is about fit, not just prestige.
You’ll never have this much concentrated access to high-value connections again. Wasting it only hurts you and your business.
Here are some of the best early-stage accelerators + what they can offer (of course, always double check!):
Y Combinator ($500k for ~7%)
Techstars ($220k for 5–7%)
a16z Speedrun ($750k–$1M for 7–10%)
Antler ($200k–$250k for 8–9%)
South Park Commons ($400k for 7% + $600k follow-on)
OpenAI Converge ($1M equity investment)
500 Global ($112.5k for 6%)
Boost VC (up to $500k for 15%)
MassChallenge (zero-equity, non-dilutive grants)
Sequoia Arc ($1M)
HFO Residency ($1M uncapped for 5% or $500k for 3%)
PearX ($250k–$2M)
Plug and Play ($50k–$250k + corp access)
Entrepreneur First ($250k for ~9%)
LAUNCH ($125k for 6–7%)
ERA (Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator) ($150k for ~6%)
AngelPad ($120k for 7%)
Conviction Embed ($150k uncapped MFN SAFE)
Pioneer ($20k for 1%)
Greylock Edge (SAFE note + $500k+ in credits)
Alchemist Accelerator (~$25k for B2B / enterprise)
Google for Startups (up to $100k)
AI Grant ($250k uncapped)
AI2 Incubator ($50k–$150k)
Afore Capital ($100k–$500k)
Soma Capital ($100k)
Berkeley SkyDeck ($200k)
NEO ($600k via uncapped SAFE w/ $10M floor)
FoundersBoost (equity-free pre-accelerator)
Accel Atoms (up to $500k–$1M)
Intel Ignite ($200k–$500k range, corp-backed)
SOSV (HAX, IndieBio, etc.) ($150k–$250k for hardware, biotech)
Seedcamp (€100k–€200k for 7–7.5%)
Startup Wise Guys (up to €65k for equity)
APX (typically €50k for 5%)
Founder Institute (equity-based program)
I’ve watched founders walk into Demo Day with shaky pitches and walk out with oversubscribed rounds. I’ve also seen the opposite; startups who let the opportunity pass them by.
If you’re lucky enough to get into an accelerator, treat it like the once-in-a-lifetime sprint it is.
I’d love to hear your accelerator stories, good, bad, or ugly. Or reach out anytime with questions! Reply here or DM me.
— alex 💭 (@heyalexfriedman)
P.S. interested in how your content strategy impacts your personal or company growth?
We made this short form to help (it’ll take about 90 seconds). Fill it out and let’s chat :)
