The Accelerator Conundrum: Missing Research Framework

The Accelerator Conundrum is 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!

Academic research on startup accelerators has undeniably provided valuable insights into the traditional model, largely defined by fixed-term, cohort-based, mentorship-driven programs culminating in a demo day and typically involving seed investment for equity. However, the pioneering model of 1Mby1M highlights significant gaps in this established academic framework.

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1Mby1M Entrepreneur Bootstrapping an AI Deep Learning Venture to over $5M ARR: Bharath Gaddam, CEO of Data Poem (Part 2)

Sramana Mitra: Did you try it inside of Omnicom?

The Accelerator Conundrum: Academic Research

The Accelerator Conundrum is 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!

Academic research on startup accelerators has grown significantly since the emergence of the model in the mid-2000s, with scholars seeking to understand their effectiveness, design principles, and impact on entrepreneurial ecosystems. The research largely focuses on understanding what makes accelerators successful, for whom, and under what conditions.

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The Accelerator Conundrum: How to Evaluate a Virtual Accelerator

The Accelerator Conundrum is 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!

Evaluating a virtual accelerator like 1Mby1M requires a comprehensive framework that considers its unique characteristics as a virtual, long-term, and bootstrapping-focused program, as well as its stated goals of helping a million entrepreneurs reach a million dollars in annual revenue.

The Accelerator Conundrum: How to Evaluate an Accelerator

The Accelerator Conundrum is 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!

Evaluating a startup accelerator, whether it’s a traditional program or a unique model like 1Mby1M, requires a structured framework that aligns with a founder’s specific goals and the stage of their business. The key is to compare what each offers against what you truly need.

July 10 – 693rd 1Mby1M Mentoring Roundtable for Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs are invited to the 693rd FREE online 1Mby1M Mentoring Roundtable on Thursday, July 10, 2025, at 8 a.m. PDT / 11 a.m. EDT / 5 p.m. CEST / 8:30 p.m. India IST.

If you are a serious entrepreneur, register to Pitch and sell your business idea. You’ll receive straightforward feedback, advice on next steps, and answers to any of your questions. Others can register to Attend to watch, learn, and interact through the online chat.

You can learn more here and and REGISTER TO PITCH OR ATTEND HERE. Register and you will receive the recording by email, even if you are unable to attend. Please share with any entrepreneurs in your circle who may be Interested.

692nd 1Mby1M Entrepreneurship Podcast with Amir Kabir, Overlook Ventures

Amir Kabir, Founding Partner at Overlook Ventures, discusses his new firm’s investment Thesis around Risk. In addition, we had a great discussion on what younger aspiring entrepreneurs should do: jump into entrepreneurship right away, or learn a domain in a job.

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1Mby1M Entrepreneur Bootstrapping an AI Deep Learning Venture to over $5M ARR: Bharath Gaddam, CEO of Data Poem (Part 1)

It is always thrilling for me to listen to 1Mby1M entrepreneurs achieving great things. This interview capture’s Bharath’s 6-year journey of bootstrapping to over $5M ARR. At this point, I am fairly confident that Data Poem can blitzscale to become a legitimate Unicorn. Not fluff, not fumes, clear, concrete ROI-driven revenue growth that is set up for repeatability and velocity. 

This is a text book case study of the 1Mby1M Bootstrap first, raise money to Blitzscale later philosophy. I have no doubt that VCs are going to salivate to get into this rocket.