About the AuthorsAcknowledgmentsAbout the WebsitePrefaceIntroductionChapter 1 The Emergence of Startup AcceleratorsEmergenceAscendanceExpansionImpactFutureChapter 2 What Happens in an AcceleratorAccelerator ProgramsAccelerator CurriculumsAccelerator Coworking SpacesAccelerator MentorsAccelerator Program ManagersAccelerator Weekly Check - In SessionsAccelerator AdvisorsDemo DayCase Study 1: LEAPIN Digital Keys and the H-Farm Deutsche Bank IoT Accelerator Program (Italy)Chapter 3 Is Your Startup Ready for An AcceleratorWhat it Takes to Get into an AcceleratorAccelerator Acceptance CriteriaCommon Accelerator TurnoffsWhen are you Ready for an Accelerator?Can you be too Early or too Late for an Accelerator?What if you are not Ready?Case Study 2: BroZone Inc and the Founders Frontier Accelerator* [USA]Chapter 4 How to Prepare the Accelerator ApplicationAccelerator Acceptance Criteria vs. The Accelerator ApplicationThe Accelerator Application ProcessThe Accelerator Application QuestionnaireCompany Overview SectionThe Founders / Team SectionThe Product / Idea SectionThe Progress / Traction SectionThe Equity SectionOther Common Accelerator Specific CriterionHow Accelerator Applications are EvaluatedCase Study 3: LEAPIN Digital Keys' Journey Through 3 Different Accelerator Applications [Italy, USA and Germany]Chapter 5 How to Handle the Accelerator InterviewWhat is an Accelerator Interview and Why is it Important?The Interview Process and Interview QuestionsAccelerator Interview QuestionsWhat can go Wrong in the Accelerator Interview?Common Tips and TrapsCase Study 4: Listen Notes' Y Combinator Interview [USA]Chapter 6 Should you Give up Equity to Get into an AcceleratorEquity as a prerequisite to Getting into an AcceleratorWhat else Founders Give up in Accelerator Term SheetsKey Elements of Accelerator Term SheetsTypes of Securities (or Types of Shares)ValuationAnti-Dilution ProvisionsFounder VestingLiquidation PreferenceVoting RightsDividendsBoard of DirectorsVeto Rights or Protective ProvisionsNegotiating Accelerator Term SheetsCase Study 5: Impact of Signing Multiple Accelerator Agreements on a Startup's capital raising roundsChapter 7 Choosing an Accelerator ProgramSignificance of the Decision to Participate in or Forego Accelerator ProgramsSignificance of the Accelerator Choice DecisionWhat makes choosing an Accelerator so Challenging?What makes a good accelerator?What makes an Accelerator Right for a Startup?How to Choose the Right AcceleratorCase Study 6: An Unexpected Accelerator ExperienceChapter 8 How to Get the Most out of an AcceleratorPlan AheadClarify Priorities and Plan your TimeShow that you are committedGo FastGet Customer Discovery and Customer Validation RightGet Strategy RightGet Legal RightGet Investment Ready or Raise InvestmentPerfect your pitching, storytelling and business communicationBuilding your Network within the NetworkResolve any difficult issuesMaximize LearningCase Study 7: One Co-founder's Approach to Making the Most of the Techstars Accelerator ExperienceChapter 9 What to Expect After the Accelerator EndsWhat Happens After the Accelerator Ends?The need to maintain momentumWhat to do After the AcceleratorAppendices: Founder Resource DirectoryFounder Accelerator Experience ReflectionsFounder Reflection #1 [Oceania]Founder Reflection #2 [Europe]Founder Reflection #3 [Asia, Europe]Additional Founder Reflections [USA]Accelerator Program Manager and Entrepreneurship Educator ReflectionsAccelerator Program Manager Reflection #1Accelerator Program Manager Reflection #2Entrepreneurship Educator Reflection #1Entrepreneurship Educator Reflection #2Resources to Help Founders Choose the Right AcceleratorResources to Help Founders Prepare Accelerator Applications and Plan for the Start of an AcceleratorResources to Help Founders Navigate Key Stages of the Accelerator ExperienceExamples of Leading Accelerators Globally by RegionIndex
RICHARD BUSULWA (PHD, MBA, M.Innov) is a researcher in the Business School at Swinburne University of Technology, home to the Australian Graduate School of Entrepreneurship. His research focuses on startup evolution, entrepreneurial learning, entrepreneurial well-being, and strategy for startups. He is co-author of Strategy Execution and Complexity: Thriving in the Era of Disruption. Richard is a startup co-founder and seed investor in cloud, IoT, AI, blockchain, property, and niche professional service firms.NAOMI BIRDTHISTLE (PHD, MBS, BA Hons) is Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation at Griffith University and is a visiting academic to Aalto University-Mikkeli campus. Naomi has published research on entrepreneurship education, entrepreneurial ecosystems, and family business management issues. Her research has received numerous awards including Emerald Literati awards, a best Doctoral Dissertation Award from the Family Firm Institute, and the Institute of Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ISBE) best paper in a conference track. Naomi has run her own consulting business and has worked in her family business in Ireland.STEVE DUNN (MBA, BA) is CEO and cofounder of LEAPIN Digital Keys, a startup that delivers NB IoT smart access control solutions. Since its founding, Steve has led the startup through a number of different accelerators within Asia Pacific, USA, and Europe. He has also led the startup through several iterations and pivots with a variety of IoT technologies, to finally find product-market fit. Steve is a mentor and coach in university-based accelerators and incubators.