Do Startup Programs Really Help You to “Think Different”?
Packed with clones and highly specialized, accelerators and incubators will always struggle to discover the big ideas that shape tomorrow.
In 1997 Apple captured the minds of innovators across the world with their “Think Different” advertising campaign. Almost 20 years later, Apple has shown that thinking differently is critical to innovation. However, Apple remains a unicorn and efforts to replicate similar successes by accelerators across the world are failing. Why is that? I’m sure there are many reasons, but ironically the main reason may be that accelerators are simply not set up to help us “think different”.
Same People, Same Mindset
Now, I want you to google “accelerator” and pick any accelerator you find. Next, I want you to look at 3 things. First, look at the companies they help, then look at the accelerator staff and finally the mentors. Notice anything? They’re all the same, right? The cohort companies come from the same industry and both the staff and mentors are generally specialists in that industry (and normally all come from the host country). It’s like the “attack of the clones”. This is the central premise of the conventional acceleration model — that specialization and domain expertise is the key to building successful startups.
The cohort companies come from the same industry and both the staff and mentors are generally specialists in that industry... It’s like the “attack of the clones”.
The Dangers of Specialization
Our reliance on specialization is dangerous as it limits our capacity to think differently. It prevents us from collaborating across disciplines to take advantage of an increasingly interconnected world. It limits our peripheral vision and exposes our companies to disruption. It also restricts our pivot potential because we simply don’t have the support network required to change direction. To stay ahead of the game we need more diverse accelerator programs, we need to reduce our reliance on specialization.
It’s a Tough Habit To Break
Ever since the Industrial Revolution, the benefits of specialization have been drilled into us. Our educational systems promote focus. Our work has been divided into smaller and smaller tasks. Vertical barriers have separated our industries. Take a look at your current LinkedIn network. Remove people from your industry (and personal friends) — the remaining connections probably account for less than 10% of your total network. Breaking free from the chains of specialization is going to be really tough, but those that do will reap the rewards.
[Accelerators] provide us with resources rather than ideas. They allow you to be LinkedIn not LinkedOut.
Where Do We Go From Here?
Accelerators are built around specialized industry networks — same cohorts, same staff, same mentors. They provide us with resources rather than ideas. They allow you to be LinkedIn not LinkedOut. If these programs are going to promote innovation, it’s time to rethink the conventional model. Let’s open up access to mentors in other domains and geographies. Let’s run cohorts with companies from different sectors. We don’t need to lose the benefits of domain expertise that staff and mentors can bring to the table, but surely we need to create a more diverse ecosystem if we are to truly innovate.
It’s time for accelerators to “think different”.
Originally published at www.thelatlabs.com on November 19, 2016.
