Accelerator Blog
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
MasterClass with Sara Blakely: Part 1
- Written by Taylor Clapp
Sara has built a multibillion-dollar business by trying, analyzing outcomes, and learning from the results.
New entrepreneurs will take away at least one concept from Sara that is actionable and will help grow their business in a sustainable way. Resist the urge to say that because you are not in the apparel industry or because you provide a service her MasterClass isn’t for you.
Commandment 4: Respect All
- Written by Arthur Barbut
The Oxford Dictionary defines Respect as follows: "A feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements."
The more time I spend working with entrepreneurs, the more I come to appreciate and respect the drive and determination required to build a successful company.
Commandment 3: Give to Get
- Written by Arthur Barbut
He who serves the most reaps the most.”
– Jim Rohn
Giving is the key to manifesting our greatest aspirations. When we start giving we state our intention to create positive change. There are many reasons why giving is good for us: it makes us feel happy, it’s good for our health, and it promotes gratitude and cooperation.