A recent PitchBook study that surveyed founders from top accelerators found that they are generally interested in just three things:
. Learning how to operate a startup
. Networking with potential customers
. Getting warm intros to VCs
But now that so many venture capital firms provide these services — along with marketing boot camps, personal coaching, founder/investor retreats and other value-adding activities — is getting accepted into an accelerator still as important as it once was?
“Starting a tech company today costs 99% less than it did 18 years ago when Y Combinator was started,” says Brett Calhoun, managing director and general partner at Redbud VC.
As a result, he says the accelerator model must evolve, as “nearly every early-stage VC will have a ‘platform’ component to support early-stage founders.”
We don’t run many columns that promote basic best practices: Advice like “find product-market fit” and “nail down your messaging” is just not worth paying for.
Unless, of course, someone can explain exactly how to do it.
In his latest TC+ column, growth marketer Jonathan Martinez describes the process he used to lead his last startup from zero to $1 million ARR in Year One.
“I do not pretend to have a silver bullet,” he says, “but I do have a tried-and-true framework you can use to help you achieve your first million.”
