Introduction to your setup
Setting up your AcceleratorApp workspace is the first step toward automating your incubator or accelerator operations. This process guides you through establishing your professional profile, onboarding your team, and building the infrastructure for your programs and application funnels.
By following this logical flow, you ensure that your mentorship connections are ready, your application process is live, and your team is synchronized. This setup transforms the platform from a blank canvas into a customized engine tailored to your specific ecosystem’s needs.
Note: Access to the Admin Panel and Program Settings is restricted to Admin users. If you do not see these menus, please contact your account owner to update your permissions.
Where to Find Setup Tools
The platform is organized into three key navigation areas:
User Settings: Under Account (Profile, Calendar, Availability).
Administrative Setup: Under Admin Panel (User Management, Form Settings, Emails).
Core Operations: Under the Programs and Applications tabs in the sidebar.
Step-by-Step
1. Personal Profile & Expert Setup
- Navigate to Account > Profile to build your professional bio.
- "Ask Me About": Add your skills here so others can find you via the Search Community tool.
- Calendar Sync: Go to My Calendar to link Google/Microsoft, and set your booking windows in My Availability (for mentors/coaches/admins only).
- API: Retrieve your Zapier API Key in My Settings for external integrations.
- Zoom: Connect your zoom account under User Integrations.
2. Onboard Your Team & Mentors
- Invite Staff: Go to Admin Panel > User Management and click Add New User.
- Invite Mentors: Navigate to Mentor Management to add external advisors.
- Connect Mentors: Click the edit icon next to a mentor’s name to assign them to specific startups in your portfolio.
3. Configure Programs & Evaluation Scorecards
- Create Programs: In the Programs tab, click Add New Program to set up your cohorts and assign dedicated staff.
- Build Scorecards: Under Evaluation Parameters, click Create New Evaluation Form. This is the scorecard used during coaching sessions.
- Apply Logic: Click New Evaluation Parameter to decide which programs or user roles can use these specific scorecards.
4. Set Up Global Categories
- Go to General Settings to define your Tags and Evaluation Criteria.
- Note: Tags are your primary way to label and filter startups/users across the entire platform.
5. Build Your Application Process
- Create Forms: In Admin Panel > Forms Settings, create an Application form (for candidates) and an Evaluation form (for judges). Use the drag-and-drop builder to customize questions.
- Build the Funnel: Go to Applications Manager > Application Funnels and click + Add Application Funnel.
- Choose Startup for teams or Community Member for solo founders.
- Style & Automate: In Admin Panel > Email Settings, create an Email Design Template to brand your automated messages.
- Define Rounds: Link your application form and set the Number of selection rounds (decision points).
6. Launch and Quality Check
- Get the Link: Once the funnel is saved, copy the Application Link. This is the URL you will share with candidates or link to your website's "Apply" button.
- Testing: Open this link in an incognito window and create a test account to experience the process exactly as a founder would.
Best Practices
- Use Tags Early: Defining your tags in the beginning allows you to categorize data automatically as it flows through the funnel.
- Test in Incognito: Always test your application link in an incognito/private browser tab to avoid session conflicts with your Admin login.
- Start Simple: Build a basic 2-round funnel first, then add complexity (like advanced scoring or meeting triggers) once you are comfortable with the flow.