Learning from Mentors at Accelerators: Discerning a New Set of Dynamics and Players

Vázquez Ortiz, Eva Franchesca

Publication:
Learning from Mentors at Accelerators: Discerning a New Set of Dynamics and Players

dc.contributor.advisor	Bryant, Peter
dc.contributor.author	Vázquez Ortiz, Eva Franchesca
dc.contributor.ror	https://ror.org/02jjdwm75
dc.date.accessioned	2025-01-02T11:30:31Z
dc.date.available	2025-01-02T11:30:31Z
dc.date.defense	2023-05-20
dc.date.issued	2023-05-01
dc.description.abstract	Startup accelerators are amongst the most prevalent initiatives aiming to help entrepreneurs build and scale new ventures through training, mentoring and seed funding. Current literature defines accelerators as authentic learning experiences, fundamentally offering an education program reinforced by peer-to-peer and mentor-based learning. Yet it is unclear how this learning occurs at the accelerator and which experiences affect outcomes. While multiple learning experiences converge at startup accelerators, mentoring is their most salient and distinctive feature. Literature posits mentoring as a critical element driving an entrepreneur’s learning, self-efficacy and fundraising. Literature has also found that factors such as the mentoring functions exerted by mentors, trust, relationship intensity and the startup’s growth stage either influential on the mentee-mentor relationship dynamics or its outcomes. Nonetheless, little is known about the dynamics propelling founders’ learning processes under the distinctive conditions within accelerators. This research investigates the startup founder’s mentoring experiences at Gener8tor, a top-ranked accelerator in the United States that invests in high-growth ventures. Results confirmed mentoring as a critical learning experience influencing founders’ decisions. Qualitative data show how an accelerator’s compressed timeline urges founders to seek mentors with relevant expertise in immediate challenges facing startups when entering the program. Furthermore, unearthed new mentoring dynamics are only feasible when the accelerator uses a vast network of mentors rather than a dyadic approach. Thus, some of the most impactful mentors only form loose-tie relationships with founders, challenging the prevalent entrepreneurial mentoring definition. Among other novel findings, the accelerator managing directors were considered alpha mentors by founders. The study concludes with potential implications for theory and practice on these topics.
dc.description.peerreviewed	no
dc.description.status	Published
dc.format	application/pdf
dc.identifier.citation	Vázquez Ortiz, E. F. (2023) Learning from Mentors at Accelerators: Discerning a New Set of Dynamics and Players (Doctoral dissertation, IE University)
dc.identifier.uri	https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14417/3418
dc.language.iso	en
dc.publisher	IE University
dc.relation.entity	IE University
dc.relation.phd	PhD program
dc.relation.school	IE Business School
dc.rights	Attribution 4.0 International
dc.rights.accessRights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.rights.uri	https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode
dc.subject.keyword	Organization and management of startups
dc.subject.keyword	Entrepreneurship
dc.subject.keyword	Guidance and Mentoring for entrepreneurs
dc.subject.keyword	Startup Accelerators
dc.subject.keyword	Entrepreneurial Learning
dc.title	Learning from Mentors at Accelerators: Discerning a New Set of Dynamics and Players
dc.title.alternative	Aprendiendo de los mentores en las aceleradoras: discerniendo un nuevo conjunto de dinámicas y actores
dc.type	info:eu-repo/semantics/doctoralThesis
dc.version.type	info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
dspace.entity.type	Publication