The Accelerator Conundrum: 1Mby1M vs Other Asia Pacific Accelerators

Gemini: Give me an overview of the startup accelerators in APAC and how they compare with 1Mby1M.

The Asia-Pacific (APAC) region is a vast and incredibly diverse landscape for startups, encompassing mature markets like Singapore, Australia, and Japan, rapidly growing economies like India and Indonesia, and emerging ecosystems across Southeast Asia. Accelerators in APAC reflect this diversity, often specializing in local market nuances, leveraging strong government support, and acting as bridges to global capital.

Overview of Startup Accelerators in APAC

Key Characteristics and Examples:

1. Major Hubs:
   • Singapore: A leading hub for FinTech, Deep Tech, AI, and SaaS, often serving as a gateway to Southeast Asia. Examples include Antler Singapore, Plug and Play Singapore, and various government-backed initiatives like those under Enterprise Singapore.
   • Sydney/Melbourne, Australia: Strong in FinTech, AgriTech, and MedTech. Accelerators like Startmate, Antler Australia, and various university-linked programs.
   • Tokyo, Japan: Growing innovation in robotics, AI, and enterprise tech. Accelerators like Plug and Play Japan, Startupbootcamp Japan.
   • Seoul, South Korea: A hub for gaming, AI, and deep tech, with significant corporate and government support.
   • Jakarta, Indonesia: A booming market for e-commerce, FinTech, and logistics. Google for Startups Accelerator: Southeast Asia often focuses on Indonesia.
   • Beijing/Shanghai/Shenzhen, China: While often having their own unique ecosystem (sometimes less integrated with global accelerators outside of specific partnerships), cities in China have massive internal accelerators, corporate innovation labs, and venture capital activity. Examples include Tsinghua University’s TusStar.
2. Diverse Funding Models:
   • Equity-for-Investment: The most common model, with accelerators providing seed funding ($20K – $250K+, sometimes up to $1M-$2M for Accelerating Asia) in exchange for equity (typically 5-10%). Examples: Antler, Techstars, 500 Global, Accelerating Asia, Plug and Play.
   • Government/University Grants & Support: Many APAC governments are proactive in supporting startups with non-dilutive grants, tax incentives, and dedicated programs (e.g., various schemes in Singapore, Australia, South Korea).
   • Corporate Accelerators: A very strong presence, where large regional and international corporations run programs to find innovative solutions, partner with startups, and potentially invest (e.g., telcos, banks, manufacturing giants).
   • Venture Builders: Some entities function as venture builders, actively co-founding and incubating companies with operational support and capital.
3. Strong Focus on Local Market Needs & Regional Expansion:
   • Accelerators often cater to the specific needs of diverse APAC markets (e.g., digital payments in Southeast Asia, AgriTech in Australia, e-commerce solutions for fragmented markets).
   • Many programs also aim to help startups expand across the region or even globally, leveraging their networks in multiple countries.
4. Deep Tech & Emerging Technologies: Given the strong research and development capabilities in some APAC countries (e.g., South Korea, Japan, Singapore), there’s a growing focus on AI, blockchain, IoT, biotech, and sustainability.

How APAC Accelerators Compare with 1Mby1M

1Mby1M’s model stands out in APAC due to its completely virtual, non-equity, and long-term strategic guidance approach, offering a distinct alternative to many regional programs.

1. Equity vs. Non-Equity:

• 1Mby1M: Non-equity. It operates on a subscription model, allowing founders to retain 100% ownership for its core program.
• APAC Accelerators (General):
  • Equity-taking is dominant: Most traditional accelerators (e.g., Techstars, 500 Global, Antler, Accelerating Asia, Plug and Play) take equity in exchange for initial seed funding.
  • Non-equity options are present, especially with corporate/government backing: Google for Startups Accelerator: APAC (across various countries like Australia, Korea, SEA) is a notable example of an equity-free program. Some government-backed incubators/accelerators or corporate programs might also offer support without taking direct equity. MassChallenge also has a presence in APAC (e.g., MassChallenge Israel, which sometimes includes APAC startups), offering equity-free support.

2. Virtual vs. Physical:

• 1Mby1M: Fully Virtual. This makes it highly accessible to founders across the vast and geographically diverse APAC region, eliminating the need for relocation.
• APAC Accelerators (General): A strong mix, leaning increasingly towards hybrid and virtual models.
  • Many established programs still maintain a physical presence in major hubs (Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo) and often encourage or require founders to be on-site.
  • However, due to the region’s vastness and the impact of recent global events, hybrid and fully virtual models have become very common. This allows them to attract a wider pool of talent from across the diverse countries within APAC.

3. Exclusive vs. Inclusive:

• 1Mby1M: Generally Inclusive through its subscription-based structure, designed to be widely accessible to a broad range of entrepreneurs globally.
• APAC Accelerators (General): The top-tier, well-funded programs (Techstars, 500 Global, Antler, Accelerating Asia) are highly exclusive, with competitive application processes and low acceptance rates, mirroring global top-tier accelerators. Even non-equity programs from major tech companies can be very selective.

4. Global vs. Local/Specific Category:

• 1Mby1M: Global. Its curriculum and network are designed to be applicable and accessible to entrepreneurs worldwide.
• APAC Accelerators (General): Many have a regional APAC focus, aiming to connect founders across different countries within the region. Global brands like Techstars and 500 Global have dedicated APAC programs leveraging their global networks. There are also numerous country-specific or city-specific accelerators catering to local ecosystems and market dynamics.

5. Sector Focus:

• 1Mby1M: Broad/Agnostic. Focuses on universal principles of building a revenue-generating business.
• APAC Accelerators (General): While many are broad/agnostic, there’s a significant emphasis on sector specialization driven by regional opportunities:
  • FinTech: Addressing financial inclusion and digital transformation across diverse economies.
  • E-commerce/Logistics: Catering to the booming online consumer market and supply chain challenges.
  • AgriTech: Modernizing agriculture in major farming nations.
  • HealthTech: Improving healthcare access and efficiency.
  • SaaS: Developing enterprise software for various industries.
  • Deep Tech/AI: Leveraging strong R&D capabilities in countries like Singapore, South Korea, Japan.

6. Demo Day vs. No Demo Day:

• 1Mby1M: No formal Demo Day. Investor introductions are personalized and occur when a company’s metrics and readiness warrant it.
• APAC Accelerators (General): Most structured, cohort-based accelerators (Techstars, 500 Global, Antler, Accelerating Asia, Plug and Play) culminate in a Demo Day or Investor Day event to showcase their cohort to potential investors.

7. Long-Term Mentorship vs. Short-Term Sprint:

• 1Mby1M: Long-term mentorship/continuous engagement. It’s designed for sustained strategic guidance over a year-long (or longer) period.
• APAC Accelerators (General): The majority are short-term, intensive sprints (typically 3-6 months), focusing on rapid growth and achieving key milestones. While alumni networks and some ongoing support are usually provided, the core acceleration period is time-bound and very demanding.

8. Funding, Investor Introductions, or Just Education/Networking:

• 1Mby1M: Primarily Education, Mentoring and strategy consulting, with investor introductions when founders are prepared. It does not provide direct funding.
• APAC Accelerators (General):
  • Direct Funding (Equity-based) + Mentorship + Introductions: The most common model for private accelerators.
  • Non-Dilutive Funding + Mentorship + Resources: Provided by programs like Google for Startups Accelerator.
  • Corporate Partnerships + Pilots: Many corporate accelerators prioritize pilots, integration, and mentorship, with potential for follow-on investment.
  • Education + Networking + Community: Some platforms focus purely on these aspects for a fee.

In conclusion, the APAC accelerator landscape is vibrant and rapidly evolving, offering a wide spectrum of programs that often balance global best practices with local market specificities. While many programs provide direct funding in exchange for equity, there’s a growing presence of significant non-equity options, especially from large tech companies and government initiatives. 

1Mby1M distinguishes itself by offering a consistently virtual, equity-free, and long-term strategic guidance approach, appealing to founders in APAC who prioritize sustainable growth and strategic advice over immediate external capital.

Combining 1Mby1M with local programs is highly recommended to gain access to the US market in general and Silicon Valley in particular.

The level of expertise provided by 1Mby1M in building tech-enabled businesses is also off-the-charts superior to anything accessible through most local programs.

This segment is a part in the series : The Accelerator Conundrum