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Jason, in your newsletter in November you said: As these programs have expanded, I’ve found that the level of intensity and savvy of the founders has come down

Jason, in your newsletter in November you said: As these programs have expanded, I’ve found that the level of intensity and savvy of the founders has come down a notch. Basically, there are a lot of open seats in these programs, so some of the B-level students are getting in. With the addition of more programs will come the placement of C-level founders, which are basically in the category of “not fundable.” So with that said, what's the point of starting 500 accelerators when only the about the top 5 matter. I understand the education aspect, but with 500 accelerators the majority of the "mentors" will just be wantrapreneurs.

jasonmcalacanis 16y ago
What I've come to realize is that the "B-level" folks are really close to A-level, and if you look at the incubators not as a replacement for VC-fundable companies, but as a training system for YC/TechStars/Fundable startups then they are a huge success. For example, Founders Institute isn't the same level as TechStars or YCombinator overall, but the progress the individuals make over 12 weeks is STUNNING. Like really STUNNING. I look at this 500 accelerators as a training program for the top 25! In other words, go the Founders Institute and then apply to techstars. Thanks for pointing out my change of heart... I put myself out there and 50% of what i say is wrong.... then i get fact-checked and smarten up! :-p
- kirinkalia 16y ago
  In the research process we also found an interesting program called FastTrac from the Kauffman Foundation (http://fasttrac.org/ http://fasttrac.org/), known for its dedication to entrepreneurship. The program has been around since the late 1980s/early 1990s. Now, there is a cost ($700 to $1200), but FastTrac is available in 49 states and Puerto Rico, making it a much more realistic option for folks of all ages who want to get their own business launched. The FastTrac TechVenture program, which started in 2006 and is meant for tech and science-oriented businesses, is in 25 states. FastTrac President Alana Muller shared the following in an email to me: <<FastTrac TechVenture is not a competitor to incubators/accelerators. Instead, it is complementary to incubators/accelerators and provides the requisite ecosystem – information, resources, networking contacts, frameworks, etc. that an entrepreneur needs in order to know how to get a business started.>>

jasonmcalacanis 16y ago

What I've come to realize is that the "B-level" folks are really close to A-level, and if you look at the incubators not as a replacement for VC-fundable companies, but as a training system for YC/TechStars/Fundable startups then they are a huge success. For example, Founders Institute isn't the same level as TechStars or YCombinator overall, but the progress the individuals make over 12 weeks is STUNNING. Like really STUNNING. I look at this 500 accelerators as a training program for the top 25! In other words, go the Founders Institute and then apply to techstars. Thanks for pointing out my change of heart... I put myself out there and 50% of what i say is wrong.... then i get fact-checked and smarten up! :-p

kirinkalia 16y ago
In the research process we also found an interesting program called FastTrac from the Kauffman Foundation (http://fasttrac.org/ http://fasttrac.org/), known for its dedication to entrepreneurship. The program has been around since the late 1980s/early 1990s. Now, there is a cost ($700 to $1200), but FastTrac is available in 49 states and Puerto Rico, making it a much more realistic option for folks of all ages who want to get their own business launched. The FastTrac TechVenture program, which started in 2006 and is meant for tech and science-oriented businesses, is in 25 states. FastTrac President Alana Muller shared the following in an email to me: <<FastTrac TechVenture is not a competitor to incubators/accelerators. Instead, it is complementary to incubators/accelerators and provides the requisite ecosystem – information, resources, networking contacts, frameworks, etc. that an entrepreneur needs in order to know how to get a business started.>>