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A horrifying startup accelerator story

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Re: A horrifying startup accelerator story

#81

Post by accelanon »

jedc wrote: post #74

I'd just like to say that the reason I created Seed-DB ( http://www.seed-db.com ) is because the world of seed accelerators should be more transparent. I've currently got a list of 170+ accelerators around the world, and the list makes it pretty clear which ones get results and which don't. (Or don't care enough about publicizing results). If you have any feedback for me as to what would be useful to you when choosin…

Oh, this is great. I'm going to look through it more deeply through the lens of my experience and give some feedback via email.

Thanks for sharing!

Re: A horrifying startup accelerator story

#82

Post by brandnewlow »

accelanon wrote: post #62
OnyeaboAduba wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I understand urge for anonymity in these stories but I think it would be really helpful If the names of these accelerators where disclosed so people don’t fall into the same situations. I know "clues" are provided in both scenarios but there are literally dozens of accelerators out there (four alone in La area that I know of) some of which a couple of my friends have applied too. Avoiding these type landmines should…

I agree, but I'm not sure I'm in a position to do much were I to disclose the name. A comment or a story on HN! We'll all guffaw and shake our heads; then we'll move on. Your buddies a year from now probably won't know any difference. And if I'm remembered, at best, I'll just be perceived as a disaffected applicant. I don't know that there's a good solution to this. I wish pud's fuckedcompany still existed, and there…

Don't listen to advice from folks with nothing to lose if you adopt it. There's zero good that could come from naming names and being outed as an outer. It sucks but that's the way the world works. Always best to sever all ties and just move on to the next opportunity.

Re: A horrifying startup accelerator story

#83

Post by RougeFemme »

fizx wrote: post #42

A word of warning: these personality types are incredibly common in the startup world, for a number of reasons: Driven, strong personalities are valued. It's easier to hide in a small company. As a founder, it's relatively easy to build a team that will tolerate your excesses. Don't be afraid. Moving on after one month is ok. It won't irrevocably stain your resume. The self-aware hiring managers know this dynamic exi…

I think a fair number of those personality types hide in larger companies, too. They don't have the clout/vision/cult-leader personna of a founder with that personality type. After a number of years of observing people like that who should be marched out the door - but aren't - I've concluded they must be blackmailing someone powerful within the company.

Re: A horrifying startup accelerator story

#84

Post by fizx »

RougeFemme wrote: post #83
fizx wrote: post #42

A word of warning: these personality types are incredibly common in the startup world, for a number of reasons: Driven, strong personalities are valued. It's easier to hide in a small company. As a founder, it's relatively easy to build a team that will tolerate your excesses. Don't be afraid. Moving on after one month is ok. It won't irrevocably stain your resume. The self-aware hiring managers know this dynamic exi…

I think a fair number of those personality types hide in larger companies, too. They don't have the clout/vision/cult-leader personna of a founder with that personality type. After a number of years of observing people like that who should be marched out the door - but aren't - I've concluded they must be blackmailing someone powerful within the company.

"I think a fair number of those personality types hide in larger companies, too."

You're right, of course. A difference when you're stuck near one is that it's generally easier to switch teams than companies.

Re: A horrifying startup accelerator story

#85

Post by quanticle »

RougeFemme wrote: post #83
fizx wrote: post #42

A word of warning: these personality types are incredibly common in the startup world, for a number of reasons: Driven, strong personalities are valued. It's easier to hide in a small company. As a founder, it's relatively easy to build a team that will tolerate your excesses. Don't be afraid. Moving on after one month is ok. It won't irrevocably stain your resume. The self-aware hiring managers know this dynamic exi…

I think a fair number of those personality types hide in larger companies, too. They don't have the clout/vision/cult-leader personna of a founder with that personality type. After a number of years of observing people like that who should be marched out the door - but aren't - I've concluded they must be blackmailing someone powerful within the company.

It doesn't have to be blackmail. It could be that the person has so entrenched himself or herself in his or her role that even their boss can't really fire them. This is especially true in companies that tend to hire top management from outside or do a lot of lateral transfers. It's entirely possible that the middle manager here knows more about that part of the business than his or her boss, and so the boss can't let this person go, because the boss doesn't know enough about the requirements of the position to hire a replacement.

Re: A horrifying startup accelerator story

#86

Post by dudurocha »

kfury wrote: post #57
throwaway98765 wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

https://angel.co/socraticlabs seems to fit the bill. Of course, keep in mind that this could very well not be the accelerator.

Their 'Mentors' page is... interesting: http://socraticlabs.com/Mentors.html

The mentors have no name, and they have a bunch o anons, strange

Re: A horrifying startup accelerator story

#87

Post by rdl »

accelanon wrote: post #39

My experience was not nearly this bad, but still horrifying for me, my co-founder, and our families. We had been talking off and on with an accelerator for about a month. We had pitched them, had a few calls, but lived on the other side of the country. They wanted to meet in person which was really not feasible for us. We worked at full-time jobs while hacking away on the side and scraping together whatever money we…

If you sold the company and then backed out, the company still should have remained sold even if you decided to quit. If you were still doing the same thing in the accelerator, it would probably be reasonable for the acquirer to raise the issue.

Re: A horrifying startup accelerator story

#88

Post by brayton »

jedc wrote: post #74

I'd just like to say that the reason I created Seed-DB ( http://www.seed-db.com ) is because the world of seed accelerators should be more transparent. I've currently got a list of 170+ accelerators around the world, and the list makes it pretty clear which ones get results and which don't. (Or don't care enough about publicizing results). If you have any feedback for me as to what would be useful to you when choosin…

This is an amazing resource! Working at an accelerator, I know it is very important that both sides are transparent with each other to make sure the program/session is effective and enjoyable.

Re: A horrifying startup accelerator story

#89

Post by mathattack »

brandnewlow wrote: post #9

This story is really frustrating and sad to hear, but I have to say, in the three years I've been working on my startup, never once has anything good happened from paying for access to any type of person (investors or customers), using any currency (equity or cash). We did YCombinator, which could be described as an "access" play, but apart from that, every time someone has offered us access to something in return fo…

Paying someone for access never ends well. Do you think the people whose access is being sold are happy with the arrangement? By definition you're entering into a sleazy area. This is why apartment brokers selling access to apartments are sleazy.

Re: A horrifying startup accelerator story

#90

Post by [deleted] »

throwaway98766 wrote: post #80
throwaway98765 wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

https://angel.co/socraticlabs seems to fit the bill. Of course, keep in mind that this could very well not be the accelerator.

Perhaps https://angel.co/unbound-concepts or https://angel.co/learnmetrics who both went through accelerators previously?

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