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