Connectors Beacon by TBHE

Connectors Beacon by TBHE

By The Brutally Honest EcosystemBusinessEntrepreneurship
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Connectors Beacon by TBHE episodes

  • What founders bring in decides what your programme gives them

    Accelerators tend to multiply what founders bring in rather than level the field, a Strategic Management Journal study of 6,723 startups in 280 programmes across 147 countries suggests. This episode of Connectors Beacon is for accelerator, incubator and startup programme teams deciding how to design their next cohort.

    In this episode

    • Founders with extensive pre-entry knowledge grew revenue 188% on average one year after joining, four times the revenue growth of teams with low human capital
    • Knowledge complementarity, not knowledge compensation: the study found evidence that accelerators amplify what founders already know more than they fill gaps
    • Structured, generalist programmes offer novice teams some, albeit limited, chances to build foundational skills, while experienced teams gain more from flexible, specialised support
    • Designing for both: intake questions on pre-entry knowledge, multiple mentorship tracks, and assessment at the start and end of a programme

      • Sources

      • Knowledge at Wharton, Why Some Founders in Startup Accelerators Do Better Than Others (10 February 2026)
      • Melody H. Chang and Valentina A. Assenova, Founders' pre-entry knowledge and the heterogeneous returns to accelerator participation, Strategic Management Journal 47(3) (published online 30 October 2025)

        • Connectors Beacon is produced by The Brutally Honest Ecosystem for accelerator, incubator and startup programme teams.

        13 min
      • What to do with founders who are falling behind
        Section 1: The difference between a founder who is struggling and a founder who has stopped trying � and why that distinction matters for how you respond. Section 2: The one honest conversation � how to give a founder direct feedback without demoralizing them or pretending everything is fine. Section 3: How to support without carrying � what real help looks like for a struggling founder, where the program responsibility ends, and where the founder accountability begins. Section 4: When to stop investing program resources � how to make that call, how to communicate it, and how to treat the founder well even when you are stepping back.
        16 min

      About Connectors Beacon by TBHE

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      For accelerators, incubators and ecosystem programs looking to strengthen mentorship, training and founder tracking.