# Accelerator

*Startups & Venture Capital — Finicade finance glossary*

An accelerator gives a small investment, mentorship and a cohort structure over a fixed programme, ending in a demo day for investors. It takes a few percent of equity in exchange. The genuine product is not the money but the network and the signal: an accelerator's brand can make the next round dramatically easier, which is why the value is concentrated in a handful of programmes.

**Also known as:** startup accelerator, incubator, Y Combinator

**Related terms:** [Pre-Seed](https://finicade.com/glossary/pre-seed), [Seed Round](https://finicade.com/glossary/seed-round), [Angel Investor](https://finicade.com/glossary/angel-investor), [SAFE](https://finicade.com/glossary/safe), [Minimum Viable Product](https://finicade.com/glossary/minimum-viable-product)

Source: https://finicade.com/glossary/accelerator