xCelery is promising to make the process of starting an accelerator as quick, low-cost, inclusive, and effective as possible. The stage of the innovation journey that you're targeting is one of the big accelerator design questions you should answer early on in your thinking, along with the type, model, and programme schedule.

Stages of the Innovator's Journey

The Innovator's Journey is the process of innovation viewed from the perspective of an innovator. It's like a "user journey" of innovation support services.

While every innovator's journey is different, there are many small steps and big milestones that we share. For the purpose of building accelerators, it helps us to group these steps into distinct stages, as they tend to present the innovator with different challenges and accelerators with different calls for support.

At xCelery, we understand the innovation journey in 5 stages (with the goal of the stage in brackets), but see the role of accelerators more aligned with the middle 3 stages below:

  • Pre-ideation (a viable problem)
  • Ideation (a viable solution)
  • Incubation (a viable venture model)
  • Scale (a viable growth model)
  • Post-scale (new viable markets)

Ideation

The innovator's work at the ideation stage is to immerse in a problem (or broader opportunity) to uncover viable solutions. A viable solution is one in which unique value can be delivered to users who need it and buyers who are willing to pay for it.

To increase the chance of progressing through this stage, innovators can be supported with:

  • Structure – in the process of breaking down a problem, coming up with new ideas, and prioritising them for taking forward to incubation.
  • Networks – with potential collaborators, mentors, and supporters in the next stages.

Typically, the acceleration programmes offered at this stage are design sprints, hackathons, design-thinking-based open innovation competitions and the likes. They're usually completed within a week, or an intensive weekend. Hands-off programme versions might include requests for proposals.

Incubation

The innovator's work of the incubation stage is to build a viable venture structure around the product. Essentially, they're testing a theory of how to reach breakeven - the point where there is more money coming into the venture than going out. What is the system that produces and delivers value to customers at a price they're willing to pay and at a scale that pays for its sustainment?

Ideation-stage work continues too. The innovator still continues the build-measure-learn loop for continuously working towards better product-market fit. Ideally, they’ll also make their first sales, form a more defined team, register a legal entity, and find early-stage funding.

To increase the chance of progressing through this stage, innovators can be supported with:

  • Coaching – to support lean or agile innovation processes to continue improving their product and testing aspects of their venture model.
  • Training – in important venture modelling and building concepts, as well as softer skills in venture management.
  • Mentorship – to provide motivation, networks, and advice from someone knowledgeable and objective.
  • Networks – with potential customers, collaborators, and supporters.
  • Funding – to cover or offset some initial costs (not always necessary).

Typically, the acceleration programmes offered at this stage are called incubators or accelerators (xCelery uses this as an umbrella term for all innovation support programmes). They're usually between 3 and 6 months long.

Scale

The innovator's work at the scale stage to build a viable growth model around the venture. Essentially, they’re testing a theory of how to acquire and retain customers or users of their solution at scale. What is the system that drives oblivious potential customers to take the actions we want, such as forming a lasting relationship with the venture, purchasing the product, and providing referrals?

Ideation and incubation stage work continues too. The innovator continues the build-measure-learn loop for continuously working towards better product-market fit and also for improving the performance of their venture.

During this stage, the innovator should continue improving their solution and venture model, and be using similar experimental approaches to ideate, prototype, test, and improve upon growth tactics.

To increase the chance of progressing through this stage, innovators can be supported with:

  • Coaching – to apply lean or agile innovation processes to the task of discovering viable growth strategies
  • Training – in important growth modelling concepts, as well as further softer skills in sales and growth marketing
  • Mentorship – to continue providing motivation, networks, and advice from someone knowledgeable and objective, particularly in the later stages of the innovation process
  • Networks – with more potential customers, supporters, and collaborators (particularly new potential team members with skills suited to executing strategies and refining processes)
  • Funding – to cover or offset some further costs (such as space for a growing team or operation), but also to scale proven growth strategies that will enable the company to scale up quickly