Accelerate (Run an Accelerator)

To get started, navigate to Products > Ecosystems and select the Accelerate app.

Once you create your new Accelerate initiative, you will be brought to your Accelerate site home page.
Here, you can update the site hero image, change your submission form, and more!

For more suggested edits, refer to our Accelerate App - Launch Playbook here.
Review this list of user roles that are recommended for the Accelerate app here.

After successfully creating your Accelerate app, you will see that it comes with preconfigured stages and steps.
To navigate there, select Admin > Manage Pipeline

For a quick recap on the overall Accelerate process, refer to this process overview here.

Program Initiation
- Register Teams
- Kick Off Program
- Find Mentors
Startup Development
- Review Progress - 1st Meeting
- Review Progress - 2nd Meeting
- Review Progress - 3rd Meeting
Presentation Development
- Review Presentation - 1st Meeting
- Review Presentation - Final Meeting
Demo Day
- Present at Demo Day
- Review Demo Day Checklist
- Conduct Final Meeting
Investment Management
- Monitor and Support
Program End
- Record Results

Program Initiation

Participating Startup Team lead registers their team into the Accelerator Program in this first step.
- This step is preconfigured as a "Review" tool type
By default, the Submitter will be defaulted as the Startup Team lead.
- A ‘Review’ action item is triggered to the Accelerator Manager to check for accuracy, record their ‘initial investment’, and more.
- Once the action item is complete, the Startup advances to the next step.

Kick Off Program
- After the team registration step, startups will be put into the "Kick Off Program" step.
  - This step reflects the beginning of the Startup’s orientation with the Accelerator Process.
  - This step comes pre-configured as a "Development" tool type
- A ‘Development’ action item must be completed by the Startup Team to move to the next step. Note: the action item will include relevant information, and links to helpful resources (i.e. how to use their ‘Team Workspace’.)
- Once completed and the Startup Team has all their tools and resources, the Accelerator Manager moves the Startup to the next step.

Find Mentors
- Once "Startups" are submitted, they will be put into the "Find Mentors" step.
  - The Startup Team is now searching for ‘Mentors’ to help guide decision making for their Startup. Note: The Accelerator Manager may recommend potential Mentors.
    - This step comes pre-configured as a "Development" tool type
- The Startup can advance once their ‘Development’ action item is completed (to add their Mentors) by the Startup Team lead.

Startup Development

After the Mentors, Accelerator Manager, and Startup Team conduct a meeting to review progress to date.
This includes iterative updates, and any notes. A ‘Development’ action is triggered to the Accelerator Manager to record findings.
- This step comes pre-configured as a "Development" tool type

Review Progress - 2nd Meeting
- Based on feedback, and any updates requested, a second meeting occurs. The team continues to go back and forth, via their ‘Team Workspace.’
  - This step comes pre-configured as a "Development" tool type

Review Progress - 3rd Meeting
- A similar, final meeting is conducted.
  - This step comes pre-configured as a "Development" tool type

Presentation Development

Review Presentation - 1st Meeting
- This is the first meeting to start preparation for the upcoming Demo Day.

The Accelerator Manager and their team, complete their ‘Scorecard’ action item to capture impressions of each presentation.

Review Presentation - Final Meeting
- Another meeting to review for Demo Day takes place, the Startup Team incorporates feedback from the first evaluation.
  - Another Scorecard action item is triggered.

Demo Day

Review Demo Day Checklist
- The Startup Team Lead receives a checklist for their upcoming ‘Demo Day’.
  - This step is preconfigured as a "Development" tool type
- The team reviews their check-list of ‘to-dos’ and considerations, prior to their big presentation.
Present at Demo Day

Any Startups in this step are conducting live demonstrations of their products with the Accelerator Manager, External Investors, and members of the media.
The Startup moves into the next step when the Demo Day has happened.
- There is no tool type pre-configured to this step

Conduct Final Meeting
- A final meeting happens with the Startup Team, Mentors, Accelerator Manager and other Accelerator representatives.
- The Startup Team is tasked to add their final pitch deck. Decisions on funding most likely will happen at this point.
  - This step is also preconfigured as a "Development" tool type

Investment Management

The Accelerator Manager ‘keeps tabs’ on the progress of the Startups after exiting their Process, and provides any needed assistance along the way.
- There is no tool type pre-configured to this step

Exits

Record Results
- Lastly, startups are can be moved into the "Record Results" step.
  - The Accelerator Manager, in partnership with the Innovation Manager, records all business impact.
  - There is no tool type pre-configured to this step

Please comment below with any questions or feedback, Happy Innovating!