Observing Acceleration: Uncovering the Effects of Accelerators on Impact-Oriented Entrepreneurs

by Peter W. Roberts and Saurabh A. Lall (Foreword by Randall Kempner)

This book summarizes five years of learning from data collected as part of the Global Accelerator Learning Initiative. The authors present data describing impact-oriented ventures and accelerators that operate in both high-income countries and in emerging markets. Blending survey data with insights from sector experts, their various analyses shed light on the basic structure of accelerators, showing where they are having their most promising results. Unlike previous studies, this book does not focus on a few high-profile accelerators (like TechStars and Y Combinator) and startups (like AirBnB and Uber). Instead, it compares a range of accelerator programs that target specific impact areas, challenging regions, and marginalized entrepreneurs. Therefore, it serves as a valuable tool for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners interested in the effectiveness of accelerator programs as tools that unleash the economic potential currently trapped in entrepreneurial dead spaces.

Accelerating Youth-Led Enterprises in Nigeria
GALI

This knowledge brief seeks to capture information about incubators and accelerators in Nigeria and how they support youth-led enterprises. The brief was developed using Global Accelerator Learning Initiative (GALI) data alongside interviews and stakeholder meetings held in Lagos and Abuja with support from Oxfam in Nigeria.

Read the full report.

A Knowledge Brief of South Africa's Incubator and Accelerator Landscape
ANDE

The South African Business Development Services Provider (BDSP) space is active and growing. In an effort to deepen understanding of the incubator and accelerator landscape in South Africa, ANDE hosted a series of breakfast roundtables in Johannesburg and Cape Town in 2017 and 2018. Discussions focused on gathering qualitative information regarding key activities and services, programme structure and funding sources, as well as challenges and opportunities faced by BDSPs. This document presents an overview of the key findings from the roundtables and provides recommendations for further research.

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Acceleration in Mexico: Early Impacts on Mexican Ventures
GALI

With the support of Citibanamex Compromiso Social, GALI is working to increase understanding of acceleration and early-stage ventures in Mexico. This report includes application and follow-up information from 318 ventures operating in Mexico, contributed by 15 accelerator programs.

Data at a Glance:

• Ventures that participated in accelerator programs experienced greater growth in revenues, full-time employees, equity, and debt on average compared to rejected ventures.
• The majority of ventures reported no equity or debt growth at all, suggesting that a small number of strong performers are drawing up the average changes in equity and debt.
• The impact of participation is meaningful for ventures with no prior-year investment; participating ventures increased equity three times more than rejected ventures, and debt five times more.
• First-time accelerated ventures reported higher average revenue growth, while ventures that had been previously accelerated reported greater equity growth.
• Invention-based ventures reported greater average equity growth, while non-invention-based reported higher revenue growth.

Read the full report here. 

Entrepreneurship & Acceleration: Questions from the Field
Funding Accelerator Programs

December 2017

by the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs and Social Enterprise @ Goizueta, Emory University

The GALI team consistently hears questions from accelerators and others in the field about financial sustainability. In this brief, we ask:

How do accelerators fund their programs, and how do different funding profiles relate to different accelerator offerings?