What is a business accelerator?

Accelerator: A type of organization or program designed to quickly boost the growth of start - ups that have already surpassed the first stages of development and have a more defined business model. Its main objective is to help these companies to scale quickly , providing them with the necessary support to improve their performance, accelerate their expansion and access investments.

Unlike incubators , which focus on helping startups from the early stages (building the idea, developing the product, etc.), accelerators typically work with companies that already have a minimum viable product (MVP) or some traction in the market, and seek to optimize their growth at a faster pace. They have a more focused approach to helping later-stage companies grow quickly through resources, mentoring, and funding.

 Accelerators offer fixed-duration programs, typically between 3 and 6 months , in which startups receive focused support. These programs are designed to accelerate company growth through specialized mentoring, intensive training, and access to key resources. Accelerators help startups scale quickly , focusing on aspects such as process optimization, customer acquisition, internationalization, and improving operational efficiency, with the aim of generating rapid growth in a short time .

At the end of the program, many accelerators organize a Demo Day or presentation program where startups have the opportunity to present their business in front of an audience of investors, mentors and other key players in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. This allows companies to obtain more funding and establish crucial connections for their growth. There are different types of accelerators:

Corporate accelerators : These are run by large companies looking to collaborate with startups to access innovations or expand their business horizons. Examples of this include programs such as Wayra by Telefónica or NVIDIA Inception in the technology sector.

Public accelerators : These are programs sponsored by governments, universities or public entities to promote entrepreneurship and innovation in certain regions or sectors.

Private accelerators : Managed by investors or private entities, they generally aim to obtain a return on the investment made in the accelerated startups.

In short, a business accelerator is a support platform that offers startups the resources they need to grow quickly, through mentoring, financing and access to a key network of contacts. It is designed to help companies scale quickly and establish themselves in the market.