Accelerator

An accelerator, also known as startup accelerator or seed accelerator, is a program that provides mentoring, training, and other support services to early-stage startups in exchange for equity.

Accelerators are time-limited, often lasting around 3-6 months, and culminate in a ""demo day"" where the startups pitch to potential investors. The goal of an accelerator is to help founders rapidly validate their business idea, build an initial product, gain traction with customers, and prepare to raise outside investment.

By compressing years' worth of learning into a few months, accelerators aim to reduce the risk and increase the startup success rate.

Prominent accelerators include Y Combinator, 500 Startups, Techstars, and Seedcamp.

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