Accelerator Blog
Do I Really Need a Business Mailing Address?
- Written by Taylor Clapp
“I’m using my home address for my work-from-home business. Why would I invest in a commercial mailing address for my business instead?”
5 Tips for Grant Writing
- Written by Taylor Clapp
Grants. In short, grants are a non-repayable source of funding provided for a specific project or purpose that are available to business owners, non-for profits and charities. Grants are also non-dilutive funding, which means you don’t trade ownership stake in your business in exchange for the grant funds.
The Accelerator has written many grant applications over the past 12 years ranging from several thousand dollars to multi-million dollar grants. We’ve taken that experience and condensed it down to help you with 5 tips to help navigate the grant writing process.
Commandment 10 - Execute! Just Do It!
- Written by Arthur Barbut
History has shown us that the most successful entrepreneurs are those who understand the power of action. Action, particularly the right action, is the catalyst that brings ideas to life and helps entrepreneurs achieve their vision. Taking action is the driving force that transforms dreams into reality and separates the doers from the dreamers.
Commandment 9 – Embrace Failure
- Written by Arthur Barbut
“There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.” - Paulo Coelho
Entrepreneurship is a journey filled with ups and downs, successes, and failures. While many perceive failure as something negative, enlightened entrepreneurs recognize its true value. In fact, embracing failure is not only essential but also a necessary catalyst for growth and success.
Commandment 8 - Pay it Forward
- Written by Arthur Barbut
“Be the change you want to see in the world.” – Gandhi
Entrepreneurship is not just about creating a successful business or making a profit. It's also about giving back to the community and making a positive impact on the world. One of the most important elements of a truly successful entrepreneurial and social ecosystem is the practice of paying it forward. This is a vital part of The Accelerator’s DNA and over the past 12 years, we have used this principle to help hundreds of entrepreneurs, social enterprises, and community partners.
The Electric Revolution and Windsor’s Starring Role
- Written by Arthur Barbut
The future is electric and Windsor, Ontario is playing a leading role in this revolution. With the announcement of the Stellantis and LG Energy Windsor battery manufacturing plant, the largest such investment in Canadian history, we have an unprecedented opportunity to be a key player in the new electric battery infrastructure industry.
4 Benefits of Timesharing a Dedicated Open Office and Why you Should Consider it for your Company.
- Written by Taylor Clapp
As restrictions surrounding the Pandemic have loosened in recent months, much of the conversation for employers has turned to whether their employees will continue to work from home, return to the office, or embrace a hybrid model.
MasterClass with Sara Blakely: Part 2
- Written by Taylor Clapp
Sara Blakely grew her career from selling fax machines to being an entrepreneur running a multi-billion-dollar company. Spanx was created as a solution to a problem she was experiencing. Sara didn’t have experience in fashion. She wasn’t an expert in manufacturing or supply chains, and she had never run her own business. But here she was doing all of it – teaching herself, asking the right people the right questions, experimenting, and learning from the outcomes.
Commandment 7 - A Startup is an Event
- Written by Arthur Barbut
"Bad shit is coming. It always is in a startup. The odds of getting from launch to liquidity without some kind of disaster happening are one in a thousand. So don’t get demoralized."--Paul Graham, co-founder of Y Combinator
Commandment 6 - Be Bold
- Written by Arthur Barbut
"Be bold, proclaim it everywhere: They only live who dare." -Voltaire
Being bold is understanding your values and acting passionately on those values. Being bold means standing up for what you believe in, even though that might not be the popular or easy thing to do. People who are bold don’t wait for opportunities; they create them. This is particularly true of entrepreneurs – being bold must be part of your DNA if you want to be a successful entrepreneur.
Reflecting on my 10-year Journey
- Written by Arthur Barbut
I still vividly recollect walking into the Accelerator building 10 years ago to start my new career and standing in the entrance wondering how it will all unfold.
When I started there were only half dozen companies in the building, there was no clear long term business model for the Accelerator, and I had to begin my education about business incubators and entrepreneurial ecosystems from scratch.
Commandment 5 - Always Hustle
- Written by Arthur Barbut
As Gary Vee aptly states, “without hustle, your talent will only get you so far”. During my 10+ years working with hundreds of startups it has become very apparent who is not going to make it. It is those who may have great talent or a great idea, but do not have the patience and passion to see it through to the end. They do not respect the hustle. The true winners in any field, be it sports or business, are always looking to achieve more. Think of Ronaldo in soccer, Steph Curry in basketball, and Sarah Blakely and Elon Musk in business, they never stop.
“Good things happen to those who hustle.” – Anais Nin