It’s no secret that startups require a lot of grit and fortitude to kick-start their business journey and generate some revenue. Some are successful, while others lose their spark almost immediately due to the lack of funds and business management skills. Startup accelerators are offering a helping hand to empower entrepreneurs and help their business grow by certifying; they have a solid foundation to move forward.
Startup accelerators provide startups with mentorship and sufficient funding to get them started and help materialize their vision. But, to get selected by an accelerator, your business must have a strong plan, show considerable growth potential, and offer something unique and worthwhile. If you fail to deliver a robust picture of your business goals, then you might never make it big.
Once you have developed a marketable business plan, you need to get it to the right startup accelerator, and we are going to help you do that. In this post, we’ve outlined the top global startup accelerators in detail for your consideration.
They are:
Y Combinator
Y Combinator is a forerunner in the startup accelerator community and offers incomparable results for opportunists that wish to drive success in the business world. Every year a group of capable startups receives an investment of $125k to jump-start their business journey, and YC takes a 7% cut from their equity.
It’s dedicated to helping entrepreneurs climb the ladders of success and achieve their business bottom line by working collaboratively with startups for three months. If that’s not enough to convince you, then perhaps we should shed some light on their portfolio – YC has partnered with some renowned startups that became instant hits such as Airbnb, Coinbase, Dropbox, Heroku, and more.
500 Startups
With more than 2400 startup projects in approximately 75 countries, 500 Startups is considered to be the most active global accelerator due to its massive pool of networks and connections across the globe. Some of the notable firms that it has funded include Udemy, Canva, and Credit Karma. 500 Startups has curated an impressive portfolio over the years and is part of several fast-emerging tech firms around the world.
Techstars
Techstars stands out from the other players in the accelerator community due to its highly praiseworthy and enlightening mentorship resources. It aims to drive growth and excellence in the business community by acknowledging diverse individuals across the globe and has become a beacon of hope for underrepresented societies.
Techstars is determined to help these diverse groups bolster innovation and results, whether micro, small or medium, their mission is to elevate and amplify your initiatives, so they’re guaranteed to outperform others in the market. The company has connections with valuable resources across the globe to provide specialized mentorship to startups.
A financial management company, project management advisory, software development company, marketing agency, and more are just some of the resources that Techstars collaborates with to help you out in succeeding!
Plug and Play
Plug and Play have been a champion in nurturing innovation and helping connect startups with esteemed corporations to build their client pipeline. It invested in 250 new startups in 2019 and raised a whopping $7 billion from portfolio companies. With connections in over 30 locations worldwide, their accelerator programs can help startups penetrate the competitive market and gain meaningful associates.
MassChallenge
Situated in the United States, MassChallenge has programs across the globe and specializes in accelerating qualified startups to augment out-of-the-box innovation and strategies. Their programs are profoundly based on Fintech and Health Tec, so entrepreneurs can immerse themselves in nourishing interactions and seasoned businesspeople to grow their links. As of now, it has generated over $3 billion in revenue and created around 157,000 jobs.
SSOV
SOSV is insanely popular for its seed accelerator programs in Food tech and biotech and has real-time lab setups to make way for product design and invention. They invest in 150 companies annually, and through intensive three to six months incubation programs, they empower entrepreneurs to unpack their full potential. SOSV is also a top contributor to female-owned companies and proudly claims to implement the UN’s sustainable development goals to their business model.
Startupbootcamp
Startupbootcamp goes far and wide, from Amsterdam to Dubai; it offers aspiring entrepreneurs’ direct access to a global network of corporations, advisors, mentors, and revolutionists that can help transform your business strike gold. To sum it up, they’ve funded over 800 startups of which, 42% are female-led and created over 4000 jobs. They’re readily available to extend their expertise and accelerate both early and established startups that wish to refine their internal operations and gain new leads.
Internet Initiatives Development Fund (IIDF)
This Russian venture capital offers investments 2.5 million to 324 million rubles to early-stage tech corporations to provide them definite financial support and industry expertise. IIDF has helped many Russian startups find their position in the market and maximize their potential by offering exceptional business knowledge to enhance their operational strategies. Every year, more than 4000 startups partake in their pre-accelerator program online, and over 20,000 attend their workshops, conferences, and other events to learn about their projects.
Wayra
Wayra is known to scale up startups and is very good at it too. It provides an unparalleled opportunity for business development through connections, funding, and in-depth business advice. This leading accelerator firm is connected with Telefonica, which has an ecosystem of contacts and partners in 15 countries. On top of that, Wayra prides itself on the fact that 45% of its projects are led by women.
Start-Up Chile
Start-Up Chile is recognized as one of the largest and most diverse accelerator programs in the world. It was formed by the Chilean government to empower talented entrepreneurs and take their business to the next level. Start-Up Chile is accepting businesses that show potential, and its large portfolio attracts 200 to 250 companies every year. Today, this leading accelerator establishment is working to preserve Chile as an exemplary hub of technological modernization to nurture the local economy.
In A Nutshell
When applying to an accelerator program, there are several factors on which your application and business idea are reviewed to see if there’s a potential of seizing success in the next few months. The accelerator community is highly-competitive; hence entrepreneurs must have a solid and attention-grabbing business concept that can scale up rapidly. The above-mention accelerators are exceptional at what they do and possess the power to revolutionize startups by providing them a combination of vital ingredients that can elevate their business potential.
Author Bio:
Arslan Hassan is an electrical engineer with a passion for writing, designing, and anything tech-related. His educational background in the technical field has given him the edge to write on many topics. He occasionally writes blog articles for Dynamologic Solutions
