Tech for Non-Techies21 Maj 2025

255. What Most Startup Support Gets Wrong — and How to Fix It

From accelerators to corporate venture capital, most startup support structures fail to deliver. Investor and entrepreneur Andrew Ackerman explains why — and what founders and corporates should do instead.

With over 70 investments and hundreds of founders mentored, Andrew brings rare perspective from both sides of the table. Andrew is a serial entrepreneur who has founded two companies, led an accelerator, and now advises startups, VCs and corporates.

He's also the author of The Entrepreneur's Odyssey — a novel-style guide to what startup life really feels like.

You will learn:

Why most accelerators fail: Discover how many support programs offer flashy promises without delivering tangible outcomes like revenue or pilot deals.
Rethinking venture capital: Understand why fundraising is often pursued for validation rather than strategic fit — and why most startups don't necessarily need VC money.
Corporate innovation pitfalls: Learn how misaligned incentives and internal politics transform innovation programs into mere theatre rather than engines of growth.
The value of tailored support: Find out how startups can benefit from support structures designed as platforms that evolve with their specific stage and needs.
What to do instead: Get practical insights on structuring your support programs, whether you're a founder, a corporate team, or an investor.

Chapters 00:00 The Illusion of Tech Startups
02:43 Understanding Startup Support Systems
06:48 Challenges in Corporate Innovation
10:05 The Value of Accelerators
16:58 The Glamour of Fundraising
22:12 The Reality of Startup Life

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Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.

--- For the full transcript, go to https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/What-most-startup-support-gets-wrong-and-how-to-fix-It

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