This comprehensive work provides a detailed analysis of the organizational models, operational approaches, and critical roles of leading technology accelerators within Silicon Valley. Drawing on extensive primary interviews conducted with founders and leaders from over 20 top accelerators, the author examines their structures, programming, funding mechanisms, mentorship philosophies, and track records of success. Specific areas of focus include the missions, startup selection processes, technology specializations, targeted demographics, curriculum design, and showcase events that empower innovative enterprises to scale globally.
Recommended for: Entrepreneurs, startup founders, policymakers, researchers, and students interested in understanding the inner workings and impact of startup accelerators in Silicon Valley. This book provides valuable insights for those looking to learn from the pioneering accelerator ecosystem in the world’s leading technology hub.
You will:
- Gain an in-depth understanding of how Silicon Valley accelerators operate, including their mission, selection policies, technology focus, target groups, program features, funding models, mentoring, and startup showcasing.
- Explore the key factors that contribute to the success and influence of these “schools of startup entrepreneurship” in empowering startups to grow into successful companies.
- Discover the unique insights and best practices gleaned from the author’s interviews with over 20 Silicon Valley accelerators, providing a comprehensive overview of this thriving ecosystem.
- Learn how the Silicon Valley accelerator model can be applied or adapted to foster entrepreneurship and startup growth in other regions and countries, drawing lessons that can inform policymaking and support initiatives.
- Develop a deeper appreciation for the role of accelerators in shaping the startup landscape and driving innovation, and how this ecosystem continues to evolve.
- Enhance your understanding of the key factors that contribute to the unique dynamics and success of the Silicon Valley entrepreneurial ecosystem.
- Gain practical knowledge and actionable strategies that can be applied to strengthen startup support programs and accelerate the growth of new ventures in your own local or regional context.
Detailed Overview
Drawing on in-depth interviews with leaders from over 20 top Silicon Valley accelerators, the author provides rare primary insights into various accelerators’ organizational structures, operational workflows, funding mechanisms, mentorship approaches, programming curricula and showcase event activities. Ester examines aspects such as mission statements signaling priorities, application selection processes evaluating startup competitiveness, technology focus areas supported, targeted participant demographics recruited, detailed programming schedules and curricula administered, and amounts/sources of seed capital funding provided. The book identifies best practices and evolutionary trends across the accelerator landscape over time. Ester discusses strategic lessons that can be distilled for innovation hubs globally seeking to optimize their own accelerator models for empowering high-growth entrepreneurial ventures. The rigorous empirical analysis grounds discussions while a nuanced transatlantic comparative perspective contextualizes strategic considerations. By illuminating the inner dynamics that underpin Silicon Valley’s accelerator ecosystem prowess, the work provides policymakers, entrepreneurs, investors and scholars with valuable insights for developing accelerator frameworks within their own regions capable of fostering prosperous startup cultures and economies.
Citation and Licensing
Ester, P. (2017). Accelerators in Silicon Valley. Amsterdam University Press. https://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/45642. Open Access under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (CC-BY-NC-ND) 4.0 license. The license can be viewed at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.
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