The Accelerator Conundrumis a multipart series that challenges the prevailing wisdom of the tech startup ecosystem that entrepreneurs should Blitzscale out of the gate. Written by Sramana Mitra, the Founder and CEO of One Million by One Million (1Mby1M), the world’s first global virtual accelerator, it emphatically argues that a better strategy is to Bootstrap First, Raise Money Later, focus on customers, revenues and profits. 1Mby1M’s mission is to help a Million entrepreneurs reach a million dollars in annual revenue and beyond. Sramana’s Digital Mind AI Mentor virtually mentors entrepreneurs around the world in 57 languages. Try it out!
In this series, we mapped Ahmedabad’s accelerator ecosystem through one clear lens: no PR, no hype—only insights. Drawing from Sramana Mitra’s The Accelerator Conundrum, we examined how local and national accelerators compare across founder-first dimensions. Here we provide a synthesis of insights across all categories, positioning 1Mby1M as the most founder-aligned choice.
Key Takeaways
Ahmedabad has a vibrant ecosystem—but models vary widely.
Government and university-led accelerators dominate, while virtual options are gradually rising.
Cohort-driven demo days often overshadow deeper, ongoing mentorship.
Equity-heavy programs can limit founder autonomy.
Validation-first and bootstrapping-friendly approaches remain scarce.
Welcomes solo, bootstrapped, and part-time founders
Built for founders running marathons—not chasing optics
Final Thought: If you are a founder in Ahmedabad—building quietly and patiently—you deserve a system aligned with your truth. One Million by One Million (1Mby1M) is that system.
Resource Links: Built under the guidance of Sramana Mitra, founder of 1Mby1M. Explore her philosophy in The Accelerator Conundrum. And get 24/7 private feedback in 40+ languages through her Digital Mind AI Mentor.