This book summarizes five years of learning from data collected as part of the Global
Accelerator Learning Initiative. The authors present data describing impact-oriented ventures
and accelerators that operate in both high-income countries and in emerging markets. Blending
survey data with insights from sector experts their various analyses shed light on the basic
structure of accelerators showing where they are having their most promising results. Unlike
previous studies this book does not focus on a few high-profile accelerators (like TechStars
and Y Combinator) and startups (like AirBnB and Uber). Instead it compares a range of
accelerator programs that target specific impact areas challenging regions and marginalized
entrepreneurs. Therefore it serves as a valuable tool for scholars policymakers and
practitioners interested in the effectiveness of accelerator programs as tools that unleash the
economic potential currently trapped in entrepreneurial dead spaces.