Join an accelerator

Why this step matters

An accelerator is a fixed-length programme, usually around three months, that invests a small amount in a batch of startups in exchange for equity, then pushes them hard with mentors, peer founders and a demo day in front of investors. The best ones compress a year of learning into a season, open doors to investors who would not otherwise reply and come with large perk packages of cloud, AI and software credits.

The cost is real equity, so it is a financing decision, not a course. A strong programme can be worth it; a weak one gives away part of your company for advice you could have got free.

How to do it

1. Decide whether you need one. Accelerators help most when you are early, want to raise venture capital and lack a network of investors and experienced founders. If you are bootstrapping a profitable niche business, you may not need one.
2. Compare programmes on facts. Look at the investment amount and instrument, the equity taken, programme length, whether it is remote or in person, sector focus and the follow-on funding record of recent batches. Browse /accelerators and the ranked list at /best/accelerators.
3. Understand the main models. Y Combinator states on its own deal page that it invests $500,000 in every company: $125,000 on a post-money SAFE for 7% and $375,000 on an uncapped SAFE with a most favoured nation (MFN) provision. Techstars describes its accelerators as three months of mentorship-driven support; check the current investment terms on each programme's page, because they change. Incubators and university or corporate programmes may take no equity at all.
4. Talk to alumni. Find three founders from recent batches and ask what they actually got: investor introductions, partner time, useful perks, and what they would change.
5. Prepare a tight application. Answer each question plainly. Show who the founders are, what you have built, real numbers (users, revenue, growth week on week), why now and what you have learned from customers. Record a short, unpolished founder video if asked.
6. Prepare for the interview. Expect fast, sharp questions about the problem, users, competition and your progress. Know your metrics without looking them up.
7. Read the terms with a lawyer. Check the instrument, any pro rata rights, information rights and how the equity interacts with your other SAFEs or your cap table.
8. Use the programme fully. Ship every week, attend office hours, ask for introductions and prepare a clear demo day story with traction.

What it costs and how long it takes

Reputable accelerators do not charge application fees; the price is the equity. Applications take a few days to write well; decisions arrive within weeks; the programme itself is usually around three months. Count the opportunity cost of relocating if the programme is in person.

Free credits, perks and services that help

Accelerator membership often unlocks the top tier of cloud and AI credit programmes, which need a partner code; see /best/cloud-credits, /best/ai-credits and /perks. Programmes that take no equity, such as incubators and investor programmes, are listed in /best/incubators and /best/investor-programs.

How to judge an offer

Put each offer in one table: cash invested, instrument (SAFE, equity, convertible note), equity percentage or valuation cap, programme length, location, sector focus and the share of recent companies that raised a follow-on round. Then add the soft factors from alumni calls: how much partner time you really get, how strong the investor network is in your sector and region, and whether the peer batch is ambitious. A programme that gives less cash but has the right investors and customers in your market can be the better deal. If an offer arrives with a deadline, ask for a few days to speak to alumni and a lawyer; good programmes allow it.

Common mistakes

• Joining a pay-to-play programme. Charging fees and taking equity is a warning sign.
• Choosing by brand alone. A smaller programme with a strong network in your sector can beat a famous general one.
• Ignoring dilution. Work out what the equity costs at your expected next valuation.
• Coasting after acceptance. The batch and demo day reward momentum; the work is still yours.
• Treating perks as the goal. Credits are a bonus, not a reason to give up equity.

Go deeper

PRList covers how to get the most from demo day and launch publicity, including PR methods and media lists: prlist.net.