The Startup Selection Process in Accelerators: Qualitative Evidence from Turkey


Beyhan B., AKÇOMAK İ. S., Cetindamar D.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP RESEARCH JOURNAL, cilt.14, sa.1, ss.27-51, 2024 (SSCI) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 14 Sayı: 1
  • Basım Tarihi: 2024
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1515/erj-2021-0122
  • Dergi Adı: ENTREPRENEURSHIP RESEARCH JOURNAL
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, ABI/INFORM, Business Source Elite, Business Source Premier, EconLit
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.27-51
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: accelerators, startup selection, selection criteria, signaling, startups, VENTURE CAPITALISTS, BUSINESS PLAN, INVESTMENT, CRITERIA, PREPAREDNESS, LEGITIMACY, MODEL, ANTECEDENTS, INCUBATION, DECISIONS
  • Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Startup selection is an essential mechanism of how accelerators create value. Through in-depth case studies of 10 accelerators in Turkey, our research explores the selection process in accelerators. Our findings indicate that accelerators overcome their context's extreme uncertainty by involving various actors in the selection process and reducing the information asymmetries for investors and startups. Accelerators tend to select effortlessly coachable startups, willing to collaborate with accelerators, mentors, or other actors, and passionate enough to overcome the pressure of creating a business at a fast pace. Our research also exhibits that the selection process serves startups by directing and training them to transmit the right signals to receivers, primarily investors. Accelerators prefer to work with entrepreneurial teams that are coachable, passionate, and collaborative to vibrate the right signals. Similarly, the accelerators' selection process helps investors by decreasing signaling noise and mitigate information asymmetry. By doing so, accelerators contribute to a well-functioning and more effective entrepreneurship ecosystem.