Smarter startup support: Lessons from research and the front lines

This article summarizes key insights from the Promoting Entrepreneurship: Lessons learnt from research on supporting startup growth event, featuring a presentation by Dr. Jan Brinckmann, Professor of Entrepreneurship at Esade, followed by a panel discussion with Itziar Blasco, José Manuel Juan F., and Marta Antúnez. 

The critical role of context and specialization

Dr. Jan Brinckmann's meta-analysis of 39 studies involving over 55,000 firms highlights a crucial insight: incubators positively impact startups’ innovation capabilities, but improvements in profitability, growth, or employment are less consistent or non-existent. Private and university-linked incubators tend to outperform public initiatives, emphasizing the importance of context and specialization in designing support mechanisms. 

Research consistently shows that successful support programs provide focused mentorship and strong networking opportunities rather than generic, catch-all solutions. The ability to offer customized, industry-specific support can significantly influence a startup’s trajectory. 

Programs must evolve as fast as the startups they serve

Real-world insights from the panelists at the Esade Entrepreneur Institute event reveal an even deeper layer of complexity. "Every startup is changing really fast, so it's difficult to participate in a program that really fits," noted Juan F.  

The panelists highlighted elements that work particularly well for founders, such as demo days, program reputation, strong connections, and the value of having a recognizable "stamp" of credibility from participation. At the same time, they pointed out mismatches: founders often enter programs with expectations that don't align with what the program actually offers or is capable of delivering. In this context, Juan emphasized the importance of creating more modular and focused programs that align with the different benchmarks of startup development. He also suggested that integrating ongoing mentorship could make programs significantly more effective and valuable for participants. 

In dynamic environments, static accelerator curricula risk becoming obsolete quickly. Therefore, for a program to be successful and useful, flexibility and adaptation are critical. 

Bridging vs. buffering: effective support mechanisms

Choosing the right kind of support matters. Dr. Brinckmann’s research underscores that bridging activities, such as creating opportunities for startups to connect with customers, investors, and talent, prove more valuable than merely providing a buffer against market forces. 

"Founders have to do the job! Accelerators introduce you to the ecosystem, but the magic doesn't happen by itself," Juan F emphasized. Connections, not protection, fuel sustainable startup growth. 

External research echoes this view. Networking and market access are often cited by entrepreneurs as more valuable than seed funding alone. Building bridges to opportunity remains one of the highest-impact services an incubator or accelerator can offer. 

Selection strategies and program evolution

The panel discussed how different programs have evolved their selection strategies to better serve both founders and their own objectives. Wayra, for example, historically focused on early-stage startups but has shifted toward supporting more mature ventures. Their current strategy emphasizes startups that either develop innovations applicable within Telefónica or create products that can be offered as services to Telefónica's user base. 

This evolution reflects a broader trend of corporate accelerators becoming more strategic about which startups they support, focusing on those that align with their business models or customer needs rather than pursuing innovation broadly. 

Programs as reality checks

An often overlooked benefit of accelerator and incubator programs is their function as reality filters. The rigorous selection process and subsequent program requirements often help founders realize when their ideas aren't mature enough or viable. 

Accelerators test if your idea is ready—or not

"Sometimes the greatest value we provide is helping founders understand when it's time to pivot or even walk away," one panelist noted. This filtering mechanism saves founders time, resources, and emotional investment in concepts that might not succeed in the market, allowing them to refine their approach or move on to more promising ventures. 

Customized support and founder intentionality

Generic programming can sometimes be counterproductive. "The generic topics are sometimes a waste of time," Marta reflected. Entrepreneurs at different stages, like ideation, growth, or scaling, require distinct forms of support, and because of this, customization is key. The Global Accelerator Learning Initiative (GALI) findings indicate that tailored support correlates with higher survival and growth rates among accelerated startups. Effective programs understand that not every entrepreneur follows the same path. 

At the same time, preparation and intentionality are essential for founders. "Talk to other alumni to get more info about the program," advised Blasco. Choosing an accelerator or incubator should be a strategic decision: aligned with the startup’s current needs, not just its branding aspirations. Blindly joining for prestige can backfire.  

Leadership and navigating opportunity

Leadership within the startup is equally critical. "You need the heading as a leader at a startup, because there would be lots of opportunities and you can't go in different directions," emphasized Juan F. At early stages, opportunities abound but chasing too many can dilute the startup’s core mission. Strategic focus, combined with openness to pivot when necessary defines resilient entrepreneurship. This type of leadership is about knowing when to say no, when to adjust course, and how to stay rooted in a clear vision while adapting to unexpected developments. Great founders, as the panel emphasized, understand the need to listen, reflect, and act deliberately, even in high-pressure, fast-moving environments. 

It also means aligning your team with that vision. Leadership in startups is not about individual brilliance alone, it’s more about building collective momentum. Founders who can inspire commitment, model flexibility, and cultivate shared values are far more likely to maintain team cohesion during pivots and crises. In today’s complex entrepreneurial landscape, where opportunities come quickly but execution is what builds legacy, having the right leader is essential and these leadership skills can no longer be treated as optional. 

Building the future of smarter support systems

Ultimately, while accelerators and incubators can be invaluable, they are not magic bullets. As Juan F concluded, "Accelerators are a must for every startup, giving you networking, resources, and opportunities," but only when founders actively engage, drive their own progress, and choose programs that truly fit their entrepreneurial journey. 

What founders need most is not shelter, but access

“Entrepreneurship is not about shielding founders from hardship, it is about empowering them with the right tools, networks, and knowledge,” and doing it at the right moment, noted Dr. Jan Brinckmann. Building smarter support systems is essential to fostering the next generation of innovative, resilient companies. 

It is through a combination of rigorous academic research, practical founder wisdom, and adaptive program design that we can promote entrepreneurship more effectively and turn promising ideas into enduring impact.