Unveiling the Impact of Accelerator Program Designs on Startup Success

The rapid proliferation of startups has become a cornerstone of modern economic growth and innovation. As the engines driving technological advancements and job creation, startups often face significant challenges in their early stages, including limited resources, market uncertainty, and the need for rapid scaling. Accelerator programs have emerged as critical support systems designed to mitigate these challenges by providing mentorship, funding, networking opportunities, and structured guidance. Despite their growing popularity, the impact of various dimensions of accelerator program designs on startup success is still to be explored as an area in academic research. This study aims to fill this gap by conducting a narrative literature review to synthesize the understanding in the way different characteristics of accelerator programs design influence the performance and growth of startups in terms of success. Findings collectively indicate that a nuanced approach to program design, considering sector, geography, culture, and startup-specific needs, is crucial for maximizing the impact of acceleration programs. The main contribution of the paper is highlighting the critical role of effective program design in ensuring the success of economic initiatives, particularly for start-ups in accelerator programs. By offering a nuanced construct of success and identifying key components such as mentorship and ecosystem engagement, it advances both academic understanding and practical strategies for optimizing acceleration outcomes. A key limitation is the absence of a systematic literature review, which may narrow the scope of insights and limit the comprehensiveness of its conclusions. Future research could focus on developing a standardized success construct, enforceable as a curriculum to guide and assess start-ups in accelerator programs. This framework could be contextualized within theoretical paradigms like the Competence-Based View to explore competencies and contextual variables critical to entrepreneurial success sustainability.