"What I Wish I Had in an Accelerator" - A Founder's Perspective
- Demi Radeva, MSc
- May 12
- 3 min read
When I joined my first startup accelerator, I thought I was getting a blueprint for success—access to top investors, world-class mentorship, and a step-by-step plan to take my company from idea to scale.
But here’s the truth: Not all accelerators are created equal.
Yes, I got a polished pitch deck. Yes, I met a few investors. But when the program ended, I was left with more questions than answers: How do I actually close my first enterprise contract? How do I price my product in a way that makes sense for my customers? What do investors actually want to see beyond my pitch?
Like many founders, I realized too late that most accelerators focus on surface-level growth, not real commercialization strategy.
So, if you’re a founder considering an accelerator, ask yourself this: Will this program help me build a sustainable, scalable business—or just make me a better storyteller?
What Startups Actually Need in an Accelerator
If I could go back, here’s what I’d look for:
Less Pitch Coaching, More Revenue Strategy
Investors don’t fund companies because they love a founder’s pitch—they fund companies that know how to make money. If your accelerator isn’t forcing you to validate your pricing and business model, you’re wasting time.
Industry-Specific Commercialization Support
One-size-fits-all accelerators don’t work. A SaaS company, a biotech startup, and a healthcare marketplace have entirely different paths to scale. If your business is in a complex, highly regulated space like healthcare, you need guidance from people who’ve actually navigated those challenges. A generalist mentor telling you to “just get traction” isn’t helpful. A healthcare reimbursement expert showing you how to get payer contracts? Game-changer.
I spent months spinning my wheels trying to figure out how to sell into health plans. I wish I had access to the right experts earlier.
Real Customer & Market Validation (Not Just Theory)
Most accelerators tell you to “talk to customers.” But very few actually teach you how to run structured customer interviews that lead to real insights. You'll want to learn:
How to ask the right questions (and avoid biased feedback).
How to spot patterns that actually indicate demand.
How to know if a customer will actually pay for your solution.
I thought I had product-market fit—until I learned how to actually validate it.
Go-To-Market Execution: What Happens After the Accelerator?
Once the program ends, you should know:
Who your first 10 paying customers will be.
What your next 90 days of sales & GTM strategy looks like.
How you’ll hit key milestones before raising your next round.
Most accelerators don’t give founders a post-program roadmap—so when Demo Day ends, founders scramble trying to figure out their next move.
The startups that scale fast? They leave an accelerator with a clear action plan, not just a slide deck.
The Solution: What I Wish I Had—Akademy by Akros
If you’re reading this thinking, “I need this kind of support now”, let me introduce you to Akademy by Akros.
Akademy is designed for founders who need real, commercialization-focused support—not just generic startup advice.
Expert-Led Workshops – Learn from industry operators, not just investors.
Go-To-Market Playbooks – Get step-by-step guidance tailored to your industry.
Exclusive Expert Network – Access healthcare, enterprise sales, and regulatory experts who can answer the questions most accelerators can’t.
Fundraising & Scaling Support – Work with people who have successfully closed payer and enterprise deals—and can help you do the same.
No fluff. No surface-level mentorship. Just real execution support.
Final Thoughts: Don’t Just Be a Better Pitcher—Be a Better CEO
If you’re a founder thinking about joining an accelerator, make sure it’s setting you up for success beyond Demo Day.
And if you need real help on GTM strategy, pricing, and commercialization—Akademy was built for you.