A brief description of Accelerators, Incubators, and coworking spaces for Corporations considering this kind of Innovation program. We also discuss key features of good Accelerators and ways to measure them. This is a DRAFT and will be updated periodically!

1. DraftAccelerators, Incubators and Coworking
An Overview
June 2014

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…is an office environment shared by people or
small teams working on their own projects.
You’ll often find freelancers and contractors at Coworking spaces for
shared amenities (coffee, WiFi, conference rooms), to be part of a
community with similar values and style, or simply to avoid isolation.
Coworking spaces sometimes feature social and learning programs,
but this isn’t required or expected.
CoWorking Space

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… are places designed to help early-stage
companies achieve idea validation over a
longer period of time.
Incubators help build execution teams around an internally-sourced
idea in exchange for equity. Some Incubators are similar to cowering
spaces, with support staff and equipment made available to new
businesses at low rent.
Incubator

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…a program that takes small amounts of equity
in externally developed ideas in return for
small amounts of capital and mentorship.
Accelerator programs bring in batches (cohorts or classes) of
companies for an intensive period of product development and
professional mentoring over a limited timeframe (usually 90-120 days).
Accelerator

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Do you want Cultural change, Community
outreach, or Product Development? All three?
Clear goals and outcomes will help you choose the right program
structure, the right partners, and the right metrics/indicators.
What is your goal?

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Video Examples
01 Sprint Mobile Health
Based in Kansas City, Missouri and operated in
partnership with Techstars, this accelerator graduated
their first class in June 2014.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5iJCsudrDg
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02 Samsung Accelerator
Based in New York City and Palo Alto, CA, this
accelerator focuses on consumer electronics and is
operated entirely by Samsung.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fC9sXSQyxUE
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03 Microsoft Garage
Based in Seattle, WA, Garage is an incubator for the
development of internal ideas by Microsoft employees
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zIZ7_QAXN0
04 GE+Quirky
Quirky crowdsources ideas and brings them to market
with an IP and revenue share to inventors They have
partnered with GE to develop smart device concepts
in a unique take on a corporate incubator.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3EFecAEJe0
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05 Vegas Downtown Project
In effect, an incubator for Las Vegas downtown
focused on building a community with startup and
real estate investments, on a budget of $350M.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Q_OoRydObE
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Exploration is the engine that drives innovation.
Innovation drives economic growth. So let's all go
exploring. -Edith Widder
We recently met with our other partners to discuss what makes a great Accelerator
program. Together, we made several key observations:
• The best Accelerators build communities of alumni, mentors, community
organizers, and partner networks.
• They bring business units together and work across silos.
• They involve management as mentors to internal teams and external companies.
• They have clear succession planning, to help companies transition to business
units.
• They are measurable, and focus on key performance indicators.
Building an Accelerator Program?

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The Players
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Funding
Structure
Company Goals
Mentoring
Access to Partners
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Execution
Ideas & Innovation
New Capabilities
Cross-Training
Alumni network
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Mentoring
Ideas
Possibly, Leads
Entrepreneurs
Education
Role models
Management
(Executives)
Intrapreneurs Community
(Organizers and Entrepreneurs)
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Program Structure
(i.e.Techstars)
Mentoring
Customers
Connections
Partners

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Accelerator Inputs
Whys
•Capability Building
•Cultural Discovery
•Vetting Internal Ideas
•External Validation
•Develop External / Internal
Partnerships
Hows
•Empower Intrapreneurs with
permission & time
•Internal Recruitment (Roadshow)
•Mentor training and matching
programs
•Facilitate team formation & skills
development

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"If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to
go far, go together." #AfricanProverb
The accelerator is a chance for your company to learn from the startup
community, as well as a chance to grow companies. Create a clear
plan for how external entrepreneurs can get involved. Consider
attending/sponsoring events, inviting the community into shared
workspaces, and opening mentorship and resources to the community.
Have a playbook for community involvement. Most of all, remember to
lead with your actions, not your brand.
Community and Corporation, Together

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Post-Accelerator Support Systems
Company
•Transition plan to Business Unit or
outside of company, including
personnel transfer.
•Access to Sales, Distribution,
Customer Networks, and
Engineering Resources
•Access to additional capital
(internal and external)
•Post-accelerator KPI tracking and
follow-up
People
•“Halfway house” or development
sabbatical for entrepreneurs
between projects.
•Robust Alumni Network, with
regular communications and
networking opportunities.
•Coach and Talent management
program.
•Cross-training and community
engagement opportunities.

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Poll: What makes a good Accelerator?
Structure
•Builds real businesses, rather than
furthering niche projects.
•Operates within a Vertical interest
as opposed to a specific
technology or niche.
•Emphasizes idea validation with
a data-driven approach.
•Has a holistic vision for
community engagement. May
include multi-purpose space.
•Bring Business Units to the table.
People
•Provides exclusive access to
seasoned mentors and decision
makers. Also includes peer/
cohort mentoring.
•Builds a strong Alumni network
that gives back to current cohort.
•Has an infectious culture that
attracts talent.
•Ideally, started and operated by
entrepreneurs.

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Poll: What makes a bad Accelerator?
Structure
•Extracts value from companies,
instead of creating value for
them.
•Is an Accelerator in name only,
without programming or
scalability to back it up.
•Provides companies with In-kind
investments (equity for services)
•Is a Cultural mismatch with the
parent org or business units.
Lacks a management sponsor.
People
•Is not run by an entrepreneurial
team, such as a marketing or
strategy organization.
•Inexperienced or otherwise low-
quality mentors.
•Created by former business
people who are looking to make
angel investments and be close
to deal flow (doing it for profit).

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“Right-size your investment in innovation and
entrepreneurship.” - TA McCann
Accelerators can create company value by creating stakes in new
companies as well as new business units. The following framework will
help you measure the important factors when constructing your
innovation program, including an Accelerator. Ideas, validation,
people development, and community engagement should all be
measured. Each stage requires attention, evaluation, assistance, and
their own metrics.
Measuring Accelerator Performance

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Measurement Framework

16. DraftThanks!