Discussion: View Thread

Scaling Up Accelerator Research PDW

  • 1.  Scaling Up Accelerator Research PDW

    Posted 08-02-2020 21:36

    Scaling Up Accelerator Research PDW  (AOM 2020)

    Panellists:
    Shaker Zahra (U. of Minnesota)
    Gary Dushnitsky & Sayan Sarkar (London Business School)
    Miriam Erez & Shelly Lev-Koren (Technion)
    Ronit Yitshaki (Ariel U.)
    Violetta Gerasymenko (Oregon State U)
    Sandy Yu (U. of Minnesota)


    Over the past decade, accelerators have become an important feature of the global entrepreneurial landscape (Wright & Drori, 2018). This has led to a growing body of research that examines the types and organization of these accelerators, their role in evolving entrepreneurial systems, and their contributions to the growth and scaling activities of startups. Given the variety of the goals accelerators pursue and their different histories, ownership structures and internal organization and processes, researchers have also examined how these factors influence startups' gains (outcomes) from their affiliation with accelerators. Researchers have examined how these accelerators provide a forum for knowledge creation, technology development, commercialization, and new business model development. This research underscores the importance of accelerators for new ventures' strategic decisions such as funding, timing of exits, scaling up strategies, technology commercialization, and international expansion. Focusing on accelerators as a new phenomenon that aims to enhance entrepreneurial activities is in line with the theme of the 2020 AOM Meeting - "20/20: Broadening our Sight".

    This PDW consists of two phases that will progress as follow.

    In the first phase, the session will begin with an introduction that will provide an overview of the current state of research on accelerators, why we need this PDW and the topics to be covered as well as the speakers involved. The introduction will also explain the session's focus and format. After the introduction, members of the panel will share their experiences (as described below) with the audience.

    In the second phase, we will give audience members time to join a roundtable for discussions about emerging topics (15 minutes). Each group will be asked: (1) to identify key research themes/opportunities in the area of interest and (2) how to best approach these research opportunities/questions. Ideally, each roundtable will include one of the senior members of the panel. More junior members of the panel will assist the roundtable senior leaders in organizing the discussion and keeping track of audience comments and contributions. 



    ------------------------------
    Gary Dushnitsky
    London Business School
    London
    44 (0)20 7000 8723
    ------------------------------