Startup accelerators are fixed-term, cohort-based programs meant to produce viable, investment-ready ventures through intensive mentorship, strategic planning, and training. By providing critical resources and community, accelerators level the playing field for early-stage startups to build and scale sustainably.

So what exactly do these programs do? We’ll look at six major offerings: funding, education, mentorship, networking, accountability, and resources.

Funding
Accelerators invest small amounts of capital (typically $10K-$150K) in each company in a startup cohort in exchange for equity. This key capital allows entrepreneurs to focus less on short-term fundraising needs and more on development.

Education
Accelerators provide structured opportunities for startup founders to learn quickly via workshops, seminars, and training programs. The curriculum covers topics like validating ideas, product development, marketing effectively, pitching investors, etc.

Mentorship
Extensive mentoring offers founders access to seasoned entrepreneurs, industry specialists, and investors who advise on overcoming obstacles. One-on-one coaching helps founders implement best practices while peer cohorts provide layered insights about real-time challenges.

Networking
Through mixers, conferences, and demo days, accelerators connect startups to influencers offering feedback plus potential partners and talent. Broadened social circles bring perspectives that can spark the evolution of ideas. Startups also build camaraderie and peer accountability.

Accountability
Accelerators employ clear objectives, benchmarks, regular touchpoints, and progress tracking to keep startups on target development trajectories designed for investment viability. Scheduled check-ins prevent distractions from milestones and demo day.

Resources
In providing workspaces, operational/administrative support, discounts, and deals, accelerators eliminate common headaches for founders focused on customer acquisition and product-market fit. The support system enables efficiency and adaption.

Overall, accelerators scaffold focus for startup teams through robust seed networks that promote building their entrepreneurial know-how and calibrating their product-market fit along the way. By providing the time and space to activate their business wisdom, these programs allow founders to gain several years of progress in weeks of intensive innovation. The ecosystem founders are introduced to often sustain their ventures well beyond program timeframes.

Slow-paced abstract hopes become healthy tangible businesses in successful accelerator programs.