8 Things We Learned From Real Program Leaders

We asked two program operators to share what actually works. Onyeka Obiocha runs accelerators across six countries for Yale/UN. Elliott Denham heads SANDBOX by Oraseya Capital in Dubai.

Here's what they told us:

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Track Three Things, Not Just One

Most programs only measure outcomes or activities. Both speakers track outcomes, activities, AND how efficiently their programs run. Elliott watches deal flow and founder satisfaction while measuring program smoothness. Onyeka tracks sustainability goals across six countries while optimizing operations.

Same Goals, Different Methods for Each Region

Onyeka uses the same success metrics across Jordan, Ukraine, Uganda, Serbia, Peru, and Indonesia. But each country needs different operational approaches. Uganda requires office hours to help with digital platforms. Serbia handles things independently. Same measuring stick, different execution.

Hackathons Build Community, Not Quick Results

Onyeka expected hackathons to feed directly into accelerator applications. Instead, they work as long-term community builders. Many hackathon participants felt too advanced for the format, while accelerator applicants came from elsewhere. Use hackathons for ecosystem building, not immediate conversions.

Demo Days Work Better as Videos

Elliott spent thousands on fancy in-person demo days that struggled to get VCs to show up. Pre-recorded 3-minute pitches sent to investors work better. VCs watch on their schedule, startups get more connections, costs drop dramatically.

Want to Share Your Program Insights?

We're building a community where innovation leaders learn from each other's real experiences. No theory, just practical insights from operators who've been there.

Join program managers from universities, VCs, corporate innovation teams, and government accelerators sharing what actually works in their day-to-day operations.

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Vet Mentors Before They Meet Anyone

Both programs emphasized mentor vetting because bad mentors ruin experiences for entire cohorts.

• Check backgrounds beyond LinkedIn. 
• Verify expertise in specific areas. 
• Clarify time commitments upfront. 
• Get references from previous mentoring. 

Let Founders Choose Their Mentors

Elliott discovered that letting mentors pick startups creates unfocused meetings that start with "Who are you and why are we here?" 

Better approach: ask founders what they need, provide vetted mentor list with clear expertise areas, let founders choose who to meet.

Get Feedback on Every Mentor Meeting

Track whether mentor-founder matches actually work, not just whether meetings happened. Both programs collect feedback from mentors and founders after sessions. Use this data to improve future matching and identify mentors who consistently deliver value.

Focus on Startups That Want to Be There

Programs work best with engaged participants. Onyeka had to remove entrepreneurs who joined just for Yale/UN brand credibility but skipped sessions. Elliott noted that founders who engage fully make substantially more progress than those who don't. Design for committed participants.

These insights come from people managing actual accelerator and incubator programs with real budgets. Not theory, but what's working right now.

Want more? Be on the lookout for our next session in November 2025 focusing on university programs.