Accelerator expertise: Understanding the intermediary role of accelerators in the development of the Bangalore entrepreneurial ecosystem
Accelerators are a new form of entrepreneurial support organization. These organizations typically focus on developing individual start-ups, but we find that they also help develop entrepreneurial ecosystems. They do so by acting as a bridge between start-ups and the broader entrepreneurial environmental resources by: (a) helping form connections, (b) helping develop individual start-ups, (c) helping coordinate the right match among the various players in the ecosystem, and (d) helping select mentors and founders with the appropriate motivation and knowledge. As these accelerators apply this expertise in this go-between role, they help build commitment to the broader ecosystem. Furthermore, they enable success (or fast failure) of individual start-ups and do so in a way that develops the overall entrepreneurial capacity of the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem.
