INVESTMENT CRITERIA OF THE SUCCESSFUL START-UP ACCELERATORS

Start-ups are a part of SMEs, but there are specific due to their global potential, innovative idea, scalable and repeatable business model. There is an increasing rate of SMEs and Start-ups in recent years. It is clear that Slovakia has a high innovation potential and significant development begins in the area of Start-ups. Accelerators and incubators are deeply connected with Start-ups. Mentioned institutions offer financial and nonfinancial support to Start-up projects. Moreover accelerators are a source of venture capital and their fund chosen projects. Strategic and project management in accelerator has specific traits and rules. Founders and owners of accelerators are often experienced entrepreneurs, business angels, moreover venture capital funds or even governments. Business accelerators invest venture capital in Start-up members of their acceleration program. Mentioned institutions use several investment criteria which often differ. The US and UK accelerators use several metrics and schemes, but there are new trends in investing to Start-ups in newer institutions and in several countries. In the following publication we analyze processes in accelerators and their investment criteria. We will focus on acceleration programs, investment decision-making, and a business model scheme. The research will be based on case study of real Slovak accelerator operating in conditions of Slovak ecosystem and data collected within well-known global accelerators. The result of the publication will be the list of relevant criteria useful for Start-up accelerators in Slovakia or all over the world which want to value their investment properly.