The entrepreneur’s guide to startup accelerators

The growing popularity of accelerators is an encouraging sign, as it supports a growing startup ecosystem and gives entrepreneurs more chances to succeed. Today’s corporates are becoming significant players in this market with their corporate accelerator programs – motivated by keeping up to pace with innovation.

The first seed accelerator, Y Combinator, started in the US in 2005. As with many stories in the startup world, what happens in Silicon Valley rapidly spreads around the world. Today Europe sees a rapid increase in startup accelerators including top-rated seed accelerators such as Seedcamp (London), Startupbootcamp (Europe) and Startup Sauna (Helsinki).

What is a startup accelerator?
While traditional business incubators often are government-funded and generally take no equity, startup accelerators can be either privately or publicly funded and often comes with an investment. Accelerators “graduate” startups by a given deadline, typically after 3-6 months. During this time, they receive intensive mentoring and training, and they are expected to iterate rapidly. Startup accelerators typically end their programs with a “Demo Day” when the startups present their business to investors.

Most startup accelerators are highly competitive – Fast Track Malmö last year received 400+ applications and accepted only six companies. Here’s a great post on how to get accepted to an accelerator (in this case Y Combinator).

Startup accelerators in Southern Sweden
Here’s a compiled list of accelerators in Southern Sweden or close by that you as a Scanian can benefit from. Best of luck with your startup acceleration!

More useful links
F6S – Accelerators in Sweden and Denmark
An up-to-date database of Corporate Accelerator programs around the world

Do you know more accelerators for entrepreneurs in Southern Sweden (or close by)? Help us complete the list – send an email to anna.wilkens@innovationskane.com and we’ll keep the list up-to-date.