Conclusion & Discussion

Abstract

This thesis extends previous research on business accelerators by providing further insights in the process of corporate learning from an involvement in business accelerators. Previous research on business accelerators mainly focused on four issues: (1) Outlining the emergence of business accelerators; (2) Defining the characteristics of accelerators; (3) Measuring the impact of accelerators on participating startups and ecosystems; (4) Developing typologies and sub-categories of business accelerators. Even though, organizational learning was already identified as a central element of other corporate venturing modes, such as acquisitions, joint and corporate venture capital (Schildt, Maula & Keil, 2003), this issue remained comparatively unexplored in the context of business accelerators.