Optimizing University Acceleration Programs. The Case of NKUA’s Multistage Model

Purpose: Business accelerators have rapidly emerged as prominent players in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. A key strategic decision in designing acceleration programs is whether to customize or standardize the new venture development program (Cohen et al., 2019). Recognizing a trade-off between customization and standardization, the paper presents a multistage acceleration model aiming to harvest benefits of standardization while keeping several advantages found in tailor-made acceleration programs.

Pathology of acceleration programs in corporate accelerators of Iran

PurposeThis study was designed to detect the failures in Iranian accelerators. This paper attempts to identify these effects from the perspective of accelerator managers and founders of startups. The main goals of this article are as follows: (1) What are the failures of Iran's acceleration programs from the perspective of accelerator managers? (2) What are the failures of Iran's acceleration programs from the perspective of startup teams? (3) What are some of failures of the acceleration programs that both groups agree on?Design/methodology/approachIt has been attempted to conduct semi-structured interviews with managers of corporate accelerators on the one hand and startups accelerated in these accelerators on the other. The interviewees were selected using snowball method and consisted of 9 accelerator managers out of 7 accelerators and 15 startups based on 5 accelerators. The analysis of the information extracted from the interviews and coding of the failure identified in the accelerators was performed using the thematic analysis method. In order to assess the validity of this study, an entrepreneurial doctoral student was asked to codify the interviews individually to compare the extracted codes.FindingsFinally, 34 problems have been identified that are divided into four main themes related to mentorship, acceleration program, acceleration structure and infrastructure and internal startup team problems. Overall, the greatest agreement among the failures identified as wrong orientation by untrained mentors, the lack of complementary in ability and skills of team members, the lack of knowledge of mentors, the lack of acceleration managers in entrepreneurship and the lack of a proper leader in startup teams.Originality/valueThis study aimed to investigate the failures of corporate accelerators in Iran as a developing country, which is the first survey in Iran. We have many researches about the pathology and identify failures of accelerators, but in corporate accelerators, little research has been done. The authors have a classification of failures in corporate accelerators by using thematic analysis. In this study, accelerators' managers and founders of startups were interviewed and 34 failures were identified.

A Business Acceleration Program Supporting Cross-Border Enterprises: A Comparative Study

Acceleration programs can have an effect on business advancement prospects by offering access to mentors and information, capacity building, connections and networks with corporates and startups, all of which contribute to increasing the chances of entrepreneurial success. This study explores the effectiveness of an acceleration program, implemented in the cross-border region of Greece–Albania, where there are limited similar business support initiatives. The survey conducted among participants in the acceleration program aimed at identifying key elements that can contribute to shaping entrepreneurial potential in the cross-border region offering preliminary insight to policy makers in designing relevant business support measures. There is common consensus among both cross-border populations that the acceleration program has helped them develop their business ideas. The study reveals the different types of business weaknesses the acceleration program helped to address in the two populations and key criteria perceived to be contributing to business development. However, acceleration programs effectiveness is affected not only by criteria internal to business and the markets but also by the entrepreneurial ecosystem conditions pertaining. In this respect, business acceleration program designs should be tailored to address particularities in the entrepreneurial environment so as to be effective and contribute to business growth.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND ACCELERATION MECHANISMS AS A DEVELOPMENT DIRECTION OF BUSINESS THINKING OF YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS

The purpose is on the example of the results of the study of the formation of the components of business thinking among students of the Kaluga branch of RANEPA, systematically engaged in project activities, involved by the university in the work of the All-Russian accelerator of social initiatives RAISE, to show the effects of introducing the project method into the educational process, the dynamics of the development of business thinking of young entrepreneurs. Research methodology: the practice, current trends and prospects for the development of acceleration programs in Russia and abroad are studied. The social effects of the introduction of project management and acceleration mechanisms for supporting young entrepreneurs' initiatives into the educational process are revealed, the analysis of the level of formation of the components of business thinking (entrepreneurial thinking) of 3-4-year students studying in the direction of training "Organization Management" participating in the All-Russian accelerator is carried out social initiatives of RAISE for at least a year, included in the implementation of social projects using an entrepreneurial approach. As a result, the main expectations of startups for the structure and content of modern acceleration programs are determined. The positive dynamics of the development of cognitive, operational, value-semantic components of the business thinking of students who implement social projects using an entrepreneurial approach through participation in the All-Russian accelerator of social initiatives RAISE are noted.

The digital platform features for managing acceleration programs and project activities research

The article is devoted to the study of the essence of digital platforms and their main advantages. Digital platforms are now perceived as one of the most effective tools for conducting acceleration and project management programs. These digital platforms include such platforms that support projects, support work within teams, remind of important events and inform about other opportunities. The following advantages are highlighted: possible participants, availability of accelerators, availability of project showcases, project support, support for work within the team, event reminders, information about support systems, a platform engagement strategy. The main digital platforms for carrying out acceleration and project management programs, which are used in Russia, analyzed their main advantages for startups, investors, experts, ecosystem partners, infrastructure institutions and other stakeholders. There are digital platforms that provide the maximum number of services for program acceleration and project management. Opportunities for the development of digital platforms for conducting acceleration and project management programs have been identified. The research was carried out with the financial support of the Perm Government as part of a research project by the regional research group of agreement SED-26-12-10-5.

Implementing Acceleration Programs

In a complex business world, startups need to quickly test their value propositions and go to business development as soon as possible with the best strategic fit to the market. Startups that start their journey at academic business incubators are mostly knowledge based or technology based and need adaptable acceleration programmes that allow them to improve their management capabilities at the same time as they achieve market fit and technology development until revenue. This chapter aims to explore some frameworks for acceleration programmes adjustable to academic business incubators and their incubatees, attending best practices already published. In addition, it draws some possible strategies and reflections for a framework as a proposal for acceleration programme at academic business incubators.

Evaluation of the Impact of Open Innovation and Acceleration Programs on Research and Development Performed by Universities

Commonly-known for their sophisticated and robust results, and some lack of time-to-market orientation, the universities are reviewing their roles to be more competitive in the innovation ecosystems. The actual context is large growing of acceleration programs to promote Open Innovation in startups, as well as traditional corporations, interested in the development of innovation across organisational boundaries. Although recent studies emphasise that startups developed or supported by universities have more expectations of success than non-academic startups, the movement of acceleration programs with an emphasis on open innovation is not always connected to universities and supported for research and development. This fact indicates that there are opportunities to encourage the work of universities with companies and other actors for the development of market-oriented proposals and innovative solutions that cover different fields of knowledge through transdisciplinary research. This study has as main objective to identify practices and impacts of acceleration programs for open innovation and its relationship with Research and Development in universities. This study is conducted in two phases in order to analyse the impacts: the first is a systematic review of the literature to identify state of the art of the studied themes in a combined manner. The second phase of the article consists in study two application cases of acceleration programs at the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná. The work aims to analyse the impacts of the open innovation and acceleration programs found in the literature and in the case study in order to identify opportunities for improvement for the programs of acceleration of open innovation which universities propose or participate. The expected result is to provide subsidies for universities to increase their participation and contribution in programs, to accelerate innovation and open innovation, supported by transdisciplinary and excellent research.

A Framework for Designing Business-Acceleration Programs: A Case Study from Egypt

Business acceleration services are gaining popularity around the world. In this study, we put forward a framework and an iterative process for the design of acceleration programs. Based on literature from around the world and a case study of an acceleration program in Egypt, we develop a model that considers the process for designing, monitoring, and adjusting an acceleration program based on both internal and external considerations. In this study, we find that aspects such as the analysis of the external environment in the surrounding entrepreneurship ecosystem, and of the internal environment in the host institution’s capabilities, resources, and limitations, are important in guiding the design process. We also illustrate a comprehensive set of design parameters to be considered in the development of the acceleration program, including the program’s value proposition, sector focus, duration, service offering, resource intensity, partnerships, as well as the profile of the startups supported. In presenting this model, we aim to fill an important gap in research on how accelerators are designed and offer a framework substantiated by academic review that helps practitioners and policymakers avoid “copying and pasting” acceleration programs without careful attention to the local contexts and needs.