journal article·2023-02-28Open access

Supporting Tech Founders—A Needs-Must Approach to the Delivery of Acceleration Programmes for a Post-Pandemic World

Tanya Suárez, Andrés Iborra, Diego Alonso, Bárbara Álvarez

Applied Sciences· Volume 13· Issue 5

Abstract

Along with most economic sectors, the COVID-19 crisis has had a strong impact on start-up accelerators, forcing them to seek urgent and imaginative solutions to quickly adapt to a new environment. The enforced change brought challenges that have been exacerbated by the sudden slowdown in economic activity. Despite these difficulties, it has become clear that the accelerated digital transformation that emerged through a needs-must approach to engage with start-ups through remote means has also presented new opportunities for accelerators to improve their programmes. This article analyses the impact of the COVID crisis on the organisation and results obtained by a European accelerator, which delivers programmes for growth stage technology start-ups. For this purpose, two very similar programmes have been analysed and compared: one focused on industrial technologies (delivered in 2019–2020) and another one focused on products and services built on space technologies (2020–2021). The research has been undertaken using observational techniques, reinforced through the collection of primary and secondary data throughout the study duration. The result of the analysis point to a possible post-COVID accelerator model that blends online and remote delivery as a new way of improving the experience of start-ups and optimising the use of scarce resources.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Entrepreneurship Studies and Influences · Economic and Technological Innovation · Firm Innovation and Growth

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

BluSpecs S.L., 28043 Madrid, Spain

Cloud Incubator HUB, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, 30202 Cartagena, Spain

Funding

European Commission

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