IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/kap/sbusec/v62y2024i4d10.1007_s11187-023-00817-8.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Corporate accelerators: design and startup performance

Author

Listed:
  • Nikolaus Seitz

    (University of Augsburg)

  • Erik E. Lehmann

    (University of Augsburg and CCSE (Augsburg/Bergamo, Italy))

  • Patrick Haslanger

    (University of Augsburg)

Abstract

Corporate accelerators (CAs) have emerged as a key component of entrepreneurship ecosystems, offering startups corporate guidance, industry connections, and resources for accelerated venture creation. Although their proliferation is evident, we still know little about the value they produce for startups across different contexts. This study investigates the organizational setup and program design of 15 CAs in Germany using a unique and hand-collected dataset of 223 alumni startups. Our findings reveal a tradeoff: Specialized and integrated programs positively impact startups’ speed to market and growth, while specialization and rising corporate control may hinder follow-up venture capital financing. This research contributes to our understanding of CAs and the startup acceleration process and provides insights for corporate and accelerator managers and startups alike. Startups can use these findings to identify the most suitable CA for their needs. Program managers and designers gain insights into the strategic orientation and organizational setup that positively impact startup acceleration.

Suggested Citation

  • Nikolaus Seitz & Erik E. Lehmann & Patrick Haslanger, 2024. "Corporate accelerators: design and startup performance," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 62(4), pages 1615-1640, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:sbusec:v:62:y:2024:i:4:d:10.1007_s11187-023-00817-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s11187-023-00817-8
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11187-023-00817-8
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11187-023-00817-8?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Gustavo Manso, 2011. "Motivating Innovation," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 66(5), pages 1823-1860, October.
    2. Kohler, Thomas, 2016. "Corporate accelerators: Building bridges between corporations and startups," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 59(3), pages 347-357.
    3. Mitze, Timo & Strotebeck, Falk, 2019. "Determining factors of interregional research collaboration in Germany's biotech network: Capacity, proximity, policy?," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 80, pages 40-53.
    4. Margarida Madaleno & Max Nathan & Henry Overman & Sevrin Waights, 2022. "Incubators, accelerators and urban economic development," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 59(2), pages 281-300, February.
    5. Gary Dushnitsky & J. Myles Shaver, 2009. "Limitations to interorganizational knowledge acquisition: the paradox of corporate venture capital," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(10), pages 1045-1064, October.
    6. Belderbos, René & Jacob, Jojo & Lokshin, Boris, 2018. "Corporate venture capital (CVC) investments and technological performance: Geographic diversity and the interplay with technology alliances," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 33(1), pages 20-34.
    7. John Stayton & Vincent Mangematin, 2019. "Seed accelerators and the speed of new venture creation," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 44(4), pages 1163-1187, August.
    8. Max Nathan & Neil Lee, 2013. "Cultural Diversity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship: Firm-level Evidence from London," Economic Geography, Clark University, vol. 89(4), pages 367-394, October.
    9. Cohen, Susan & Fehder, Daniel C. & Hochberg, Yael V. & Murray, Fiona, 2019. "The design of startup accelerators," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(7), pages 1781-1797.
    10. Bernd Wurth & Erik Stam & Ben Spigel, 2022. "Toward an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Research Program," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 46(3), pages 729-778, May.
    11. David B. Audretsch & Erik E. Lehmann & Nikolaus Seitz, 2021. "Amenities, subcultures, and entrepreneurship," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 56(2), pages 571-591, February.
    12. Shankar, Raj K. & Shepherd, Dean A., 2019. "Accelerating strategic fit or venture emergence: Different paths adopted by corporate accelerators," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 34(5), pages 1-1.
    13. André Cherubini Alves & Bruno Brandão Fischer & Nicholas S. Vonortas, 2021. "Ecosystems of entrepreneurship: configurations and critical dimensions," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 67(1), pages 73-106, August.
    14. Sandy Yu, 2020. "How Do Accelerators Impact the Performance of High-Technology Ventures?," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 66(2), pages 530-552, February.
    15. Tobias Gutmann & Cornelius Maas & Dominik Kanbach & Stephan Stubner, 2020. "Startups in a corporate accelerator: what is satisfying, what is relevant and what can corporates improve?," International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 24(6), pages 413-442.
    16. Thomas J. Chemmanur & Elena Loutskina & Xuan Tian, 2014. "Corporate Venture Capital, Value Creation, and Innovation," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 27(8), pages 2434-2473.
    17. Katja Hutter & Anne Gfrerer & Bettina Lindner, 2021. "From Popular To Profitable: Incumbents’ Experiences And Challenges With External Corporate Accelerators," International Journal of Innovation Management (ijim), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 25(03), pages 1-30, April.
    18. Lee, Ryeowon & Lee, Jong-Ho & Garrett, Tony C., 2019. "Synergy effects of innovation on firm performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 507-515.
    19. Maria Urbaniec & Agnieszka Żur, 2021. "Business model innovation in corporate entrepreneurship: exploratory insights from corporate accelerators," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 17(2), pages 865-888, June.
    20. Fei Qin & Mike Wright & Jian Gao, 2019. "Accelerators and intra-ecosystem variety: how entrepreneurial agency influences venture development in a time-compressed support program," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 28(4), pages 961-975.
    21. Lydia Cánovas-Saiz & Isidre March-Chordà & Rosa Maria Yagüe-Perales, 2020. "New evidence on accelerator performance based on funding and location," European Journal of Management and Business Economics, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 29(3), pages 217-234, April.
    22. Parker, Simon C., 2008. "The economics of formal business networks," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 23(6), pages 627-640, November.
    23. Silvio Vismara, 2016. "Equity retention and social network theory in equity crowdfunding," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 46(4), pages 579-590, April.
    24. Ana Venâncio & João Jorge, 2022. "The role of accelerator programmes on the capital structure of start-ups," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 59(3), pages 1143-1167, October.
    25. Gary Dushnitsky & Zur Shapira, 2010. "Entrepreneurial finance meets organizational reality: comparing investment practices and performance of corporate and independent venture capitalists," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(9), pages 990-1017, September.
    26. Jérôme Gonthier & Gabriel M. Chirita, 2019. "The role of corporate incubators as invigorators of innovation capabilities in parent companies," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 8(1), pages 1-21, December.
    27. Benjamin L. Hallen & Susan L. Cohen & Christopher B. Bingham, 2020. "Do Accelerators Work? If So, How?," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 31(2), pages 378-414, March.
    28. J. P. Coen Rigtering & M. Ayelen Behrens, 2021. "The Effect of Corporate — Start-Up Collaborations on Corporate Entrepreneurship," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 15(8), pages 2427-2454, November.
    29. Emil Lucian Crișan & Irina Iulia Salanță & Ioana Natalia Beleiu & Ovidiu Niculae Bordean & Raluca Bunduchi, 2021. "A systematic literature review on accelerators," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 46(1), pages 62-89, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Bańka Michał & Salwin Mariusz & Waszkiewicz Aneta Ewa & Rychlik Szymon & Kukurba Maria, 2022. "Startup Accelerators," International Journal of Management and Economics, Warsaw School of Economics, Collegium of World Economy, vol. 58(1), pages 80-118, March.
    2. Brian J. Bergman & Jeffery S. McMullen, 2022. "Helping Entrepreneurs Help Themselves: A Review and Relational Research Agenda on Entrepreneurial Support Organizations," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 46(3), pages 688-728, May.
    3. Alexander Kramer & Dominik K. Kanbach, 2023. "Relationship-building in the post-acceleration phase of corporate accelerators: empirical evidence from Germany," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 19(2), pages 755-779, June.
    4. Michal Banka & Mariusz Salwin & Dariusz Masłowski & Szymon Rychlik & Maria Kukurba, 2022. "Start-up Accelerator: State of the Art and Future Directions," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(1), pages 477-510.
    5. Navid Mohammadi & Shaghayegh Sakhteh, 2023. "Start-up accelerator value chain: a systematic literature review," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 73(2), pages 661-694, June.
    6. Farzana Chowdhury & David B. Audretsch, 2024. "Paradoxes of accelerator programs and new venture performance: Do varieties of experiences make a difference?," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 62(1), pages 381-409, January.
    7. Fink, Alexander A. & Klöckner, Maximilian & Räder, Tobias & Wagner, Stephan M., 2022. "Supply chain management accelerators: Types, objectives, and key design features," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    8. Michał Bańka & Mariusz Salwin & Roman Tylżanowski & Ireneusz Miciuła & Monika Sychowicz & Norbert Chmiel & Adrian Kopytowski, 2023. "Start-Up Accelerators and Their Impact on Entrepreneurship and Social Responsibility of the Manager," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-32, May.
    9. Gonzalez-Uribe, Juanita & Hmaddi, Ouafaa, 2022. "The multi-dimensional impacts of business accelerators: what does the research tell us?," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 115461, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    10. Michał Bańka & Mariusz Salwin & Maria Kukurba & Szymon Rychlik & Joanna Kłos & Monika Sychowicz, 2022. "Start-Up Accelerators and Their Impact on Sustainability: Literature Analysis and Case Studies from the Energy Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-30, October.
    11. Patrick Haslanger & Erik E. Lehmann & Nikolaus Seitz, 2023. "The performance effects of corporate venture capital: a meta-analysis," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 48(6), pages 2132-2160, December.
    12. Jeon, Euiju & Maula, Markku, 2022. "Progress toward understanding tensions in corporate venture capital: A systematic review," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 37(4).
    13. Thomas Ulmer & Ulrich Pape, 2022. "Streamliners, Switchmen and Bridge Builders: About the Mechanisms and Uniqueness of Accelerator Programs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-25, November.
    14. Berna Beyhan & Derya Fındık, 2022. "Selection of Sustainability Startups for Acceleration: How Prior Access to Financing and Team Features Influence Accelerators’ Selection Decisions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-23, February.
    15. Benjamin L. Hallen & Susan L. Cohen & Sung Ho Park, 2023. "Are seed accelerators status springboards for startups? Or sand traps?," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 44(8), pages 2060-2096, August.
    16. Avnimelech, Gil & Rechter, Eyal, 2023. "How and why accelerators enhance female entrepreneurship," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(2).
    17. Nicola Del Sarto & Giulio Ferrigno & Vinit Parida & Alberto Minin, 2023. "Do start-ups benefit from coworking spaces? An empirical analysis of accelerators’ programs," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 17(7), pages 2471-2502, October.
    18. Sohail, Kanza & Belitski, Maksim & Castro Christiansen, Liza, 2023. "Developing business incubation process frameworks: A systematic literature review," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    19. Wang, Tao, 2023. "The ownership structure of corporate venture capital financing and innovation," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 123(C).
    20. Yongwook Paik & Heejin Woo, 2017. "The Effects of Corporate Venture Capital, Founder Incumbency, and Their Interaction on Entrepreneurial Firms’ R&D Investment Strategies," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 28(4), pages 670-689, August.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Corporate accelerators; Startup support; Accelerated programs;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • G24 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Investment Banking; Venture Capital; Brokerage
    • L25 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Performance
    • L26 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Entrepreneurship
    • M13 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - New Firms; Startups
    • M21 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Economics - - - Business Economics

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:kap:sbusec:v:62:y:2024:i:4:d:10.1007_s11187-023-00817-8. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.