Whither Accelerators? The COO of Startupbootcamp IoT, one of their three London-based Accelerator programmes contemplates the future
Programmes are now commonly run with several different corporate backers, often providing substantial inputs to the programme
Programmes have become longer: once 12 weeks, now often 16 weeks
There is an increasing pre-occupation with after-care
Programmes are increasingly focused on specific fields eg Fintech, Insuretech, IoT etc
‘Office hours’ as weekly meetings with each participant – about their progress, their problems and their plans – remain at the heart of Accelerator programmes
Mentoring (by experts, unpaid and voluntary) remains a major element in Startupbootcamp programmes [as it does in Seedcamp and Techstars programmes; but is often vague or minimal on some programmes]
Programmes are tending to take less equity in their deal with participants.
Programmes are increasingly focusing on later stage businesses
Leaving space for pre-accelerator programmes, such as I-Corps, The Oxford Foundry, The Accelerator Network, (and online programmes) as contributors to early-stage startups, sometimes now offered in Incubators.
Development Labs are appearing – that facilitate the development of technology (Startupbootcamp and Imperial among recent examples)
Programmes are increasingly available in many parts of the UK
Startupbootcamp [and Techstars] run programmes all over the world – SBC now runs 22 programmes in 14 countries
The field remains a collection of independent programmes, with little interaction between them.
John Whatmore, October 2018