The Effects of Business Accelerators on Venture Performance: Evidence from Start-Up Chile

Abstract

Do business accelerators affect new venture performance? We investigate this question in the context of Start-Up Chile, an ecosystem accelerator. We focus on two treatment conditions typically found in business accelerators: basic services of funding and co-working space, and additional entrepreneurship schooling. Using a regression discontinuity design, we show that schooling bundled with basic services can significantly increase new venture performance. In contrast, we find no support for causal effects of basic services on their own. Our results are most relevant for ecosystem accelerators that attract young and early-stage businesses. They suggest that entrepreneurial capital matters in new ventures.