Introduction to Adding Startups
Whether you have already selected startups or have an existing database to manage in AcceleratorApp, administrators can add startups directly to the program database, bypassing the application process. This option streamlines onboarding, saves time, and ensures that essential startup information is readily accessible for effective program management.
⚠️ Important Notification Note: Immediately after manually adding or importing a startup, the listed founder(s) will automatically receive the email CoFounder account invitation to join the platform as a cofounder.
Where to Find the Add Startup Option
You can add startups to your system using three different approaches:
Startup Portfolio: Navigate to your portfolio view to create a startup directly.
Startups Management Section: Access the management interface to quickly build out your database.
Zapier Integration: Automatically import records from secondary data sources like external forms or spreadsheets.
Step-by-Step
a. Manually Creating a Startup
1. Select the Startups Menu
Click on Startups from the top navigation menu.
2. Open Your Preferred Management Tab
Click on either the Startup Portfolio tab or the Startup Management tab depending on your desired interface.
3. Launch the Creation Modal
Click on the Add Startup button located in the top right section of the dashboard.
4. Input Startup and Founder Details
Fill out the required startup fields and provide the founder's contact information to trigger their automated system invitation. [KALED: please verify if specific fields are mandatory here]
b. Importing Startups with Zapier
5. Connect Your Zapier Account
Log into your Zapier account and verify that it is fully integrated with your AcceleratorApp workspace. To know more about it click here
6. Create a New Zap
Click on the Create Zap button inside your Zapier workspace to build a new workflow.
7. Define Your Data Source Trigger
Set your automated trigger step to pull inbound data from your preferred source application, such as Google Sheets, Typeform, or Airtable.
8. Set the AcceleratorApp Action Step
Select AcceleratorApp as your action app and pick Create Startup as the specific event.
9. Map Your Data Fields
Link the data properties coming from your source application directly to the corresponding fields inside AcceleratorApp.
10. Test and Publish Your Zap
Run a test step to confirm the startup imports successfully into your portfolio, then toggle the Zap to On.
Best Practices
Pre-Map Your Fields: Before launching your Zapier sync, verify that the column headers in your spreadsheet or form match your AcceleratorApp data attributes to avoid field alignment errors.
Check Invitation Readiness: Because an automatic onboarding invitation is sent to founders the second a startup is generated, make sure your portal is fully configured and ready for users before adding them.
Limit Duplicates: Ensure you run a quick search in your Startup Management tab prior to manual entries to guarantee the startup has not already applied or been added by another admin.