How To Maximize Your Accelerator Experience: Tips from a PSL Alumni
By Kari Kurtz
Founder of Trust and Go
PSL Alumni ‘19
Last February, I entered the Philly Startup Leaders’ accelerator (Founded in Philly) very pumped! The accelerator from day one started to mold me into the more confident, passionate, fluent entrepreneur that I wanted to be, and my biggest takeaway was that commitment and persistence are a must.
At the end of the program my mentor named me the “master key” because throughout the program I seemed to unlock every door. But none of it would have been possible without the positive energy of the program participants, the experience of my mentor, and the guidance of the PSL staff.
If you want to get the most out of the Founded in Philly accelerator program, here are some helpful tips that I learned along the way…
Be happy
You have a great idea/prototype. Many other PSL leaders thought you did too or you wouldn’t be here.
Be flexible and open to change
You have been focused on your plan and vision for a while but you must accept that new entrepreneurs make mistakes that cost time and money. Listen closely to feedback from others who have been down this road many times before and don’t be afraid to change.
Join PSL Slack
Message the cohort and stay connected to PSL from the start. See what others are talking about in the startup community and how you can get involved.
Use a journal
Starting day one, write down keywords from a lecture, the name of a helpful podcast, or the name of a speaker so you don’t forget. Go back to your notes each night.
Run ideas by the mentors
Mentors are amazing people! They are volunteering their time to give back to new entrepreneurs. They have a busy schedule and are probably running a business or two of their own. Try to schedule meetings with them whenever you can. Do your best to be flexible to accommodate their schedule and times. Sometimes texting a quick question is easiest. Zoom or Uber conferences were helpful ways to meet during busy weeks.
Use Google calendar
To schedule informal and formal meetings. It gets busy and sending invites and reminders helps you stay focused and organized.
Keep track of recommended books
Try to read or write down all of the books the speakers recommend- consider listening to the books on tape as you drive places or take the train (The Lean Startup, Traction, Running Lean, etc. all good)
Connect & Follow-Up
Email presenters that excite you and meet up with them. Most speakers will offer their email. Use this as an opportunity to grow your network on LinkedIn and pay it forward by connecting other people that might be helpful to each other.
Find a cohort buddy
Line-up a weekly meeting with someone that you connect with inside the program. Share your weekly progress and offer feedback
Attend All Events
Go to every single Tuesday night program – Even the improv, accounting, and legal ones! Improv can appear intimidating at first but it’s a great practice before you start pitching to customers, potential investors, etc.
Sleep and Wellness
My mind was running full speed 24/7 with ideas- it was hard to sleep. I kept a notepad by my bed to write thoughts down. I tried to exercise, not miss meals and limited my caffeine intake throughout the day to help me sleep better at night.
Go to Entrepreneur Expo - and rock it!
Take everything you have learned throughout the accelerator and see what the Philly world thinks. Take in their feedback. Use this as an opportunity to collect business cards, grow your LinkedIn, and meet people in your community that love your idea. Be sure to connect with the awesome people you meet after the event.
