Feb 20, 2019 On Our Blog

Startup Accelerator Program: 5 Things You’ll Learn In The 500 Startups’ Accelerator Program

As a founder you might be thinking, “Is a startup accelerator program worth my time? What could I possibly learn from a startup accelerator program that I couldn’t just learn on my own?” I’d say if you have a network filled with prospective investors, employees, customers, and attorneys who have years of expertise on the ins and outs of your the particular market and industry your company is serving, and of course, the time to share all of it, you’re all set 😉 Don’t have it all? Here are 5 things you’ll learn, specifically from the 500 Startups’ accelerator! 1. The startup accelerator program keeps up-to-date on what is going on in the fundraising market. The fundraising market is continuously …

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Feb 8, 2019 On Our Blog

The 5G Revolution Is Here

Depending on where you live, you may have already seen commercials and ads for “5G”. And you might have thought “isn’t 5G just faster 4G?” And the short answer is no, it is much more. It is difficult to imagine what this upgrade in mobile telecommunications will do. Much of the disappointment with IoT, AR/VR, and mobile connection will become a problem of the past. Allowing everyday life to be reshaped by everything from smarter homes and cities to new autonomous transportation to better predictive health measures and groundbreaking advancements in predictive health. Networks will see efficiency gains such as lower latency, higher reliability, lower costs, higher data rates, and increased system compatibility. All of which will offer businesses new …

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Feb 5, 2019 On Our Blog

Announcing the “MENA Dojo” Series A Program Batch 3 launch

It’s going to be quite busy this year in the MENA region! In line with our objective to help develop the regional ecosystem, we are pleased to announce that we’re opening the applications for the third batch of our annual 500 Startups MENA Dojo Series A Program, in partnership with Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP). The MENA Dojo Series A Program is for startups that have reached a certain level of scale and are likely to raise a Series A in the next six to nine months. We will be bringing in a roster of mentors from our Silicon Valley and global team focused on instilling a growth mindset, growth hacking and marketing techniques. The program is one-to-one mentorship driven, which …

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Jan 24, 2019 On Our Blog

Selling Rides

There used to be a day when every third American owned a horse. Now, every 1.3 Americans owns an automobile. The landscape changed. Along the way, we stopped complaining about animal feed, stables, and horse dung, and we started worrying about smog, traffic, and climate change. Much of the change was propelled by the internal combustion engine. Later, cars were upgraded with electrical starters, power steering, anti-lock brakes. Soon the car became more affordable with Ford’s Model T and the assembly line. Over the course of several decades, horse ownership was replaced by car ownership. And with this shift, cars were woven into the fabric of America, affecting everything from infrastructure to culture. At 500, we have our eyes on …

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Jan 23, 2019 On Our Blog

This Pitch Deck Will Rock Your 500 Startups Application

We’ve talked about how to make your application to 500’s accelerator stand out, and one of the key points we mentioned was ensuring you have a solid pitch deck. But what does a good pitch deck look like? We’ve looked at thousands throughout the years, so we have a few pointers on what makes a good one, and what mistakes to avoid. We typically only spend a few minutes reviewing each deck, so keep it brief and don’t overload it with excessive text and images. A well-crafted pitch deck doesn’t need more than 10 slides and will have all of the following key elements (get our free template here): Slide 1: Your Logo & Elevator Pitch You only have seconds …

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Jan 16, 2019 On Our Blog

500 Startups: 2018 by the Numbers

2018 was a busy year for 500. I’m proud of what our team has accomplished over the past 365 days and am excited to share some of our 2018 highlights. 500’s mission is to discover and back the world’s most talented entrepreneurs, help them create successful companies at scale, and build thriving global ecosystems. It has been inspiring to see this mission in full force as we work with incredible founders around the world.   2018 By The Numbers1 We added 155 new companies to the 500 portfolio, bringing our total portfolio count to 2,210 companies and over 5,000 founders. 7 of our portfolio companies joined the Unicorn Club in addition to our existing unicorns Twilio, SendGrid, and Credit Karma …

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Jan 9, 2019 On Our Blog

Don’t Be Amazon, Be The Best You

Right now, Amazon owns half an eCommerce market, which accounts for 11.9% of total retail sales. This means there is still–for now–far more opportunity for others. This begs the question; Why be an Amazon when you can be the best you? In the wake of so many iconic retail bankruptcies, we might start to believe in an inevitable demise for all retailers. But what can we really expect? How can retailers rethink their innovation strategy? These recent trends offer insight into some ways your organization can craft its own vision for innovative success.  Let’s review how some startups are making physical stores relevant again. Looking for a deep dive? Sign up below to immediately receive an extended white paper on this subject! Stores without Products Will “the …

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Dec 21, 2018 Official Announcement

Announcing the Saola Accelerator in Vietnam

This is a “saola”, a long-horned ox so rare that it’s often called an “Asian unicorn.” (nevermind that it has two horns!). Saolas are found almost exclusively in Vietnam. I believe there are other Asian unicorns to be found in Vietnam, which is why 500 Startups Vietnam is pleased to announce the launch of the Saola Accelerator, our version of 500’s flagship program in San Francisco with local experts weighing in. It’s the right time to build a springboard for Vietnam’s next tech unicorns. Read on for more information about the current landscape, what Saola aims to do, and what kind of startups we’re looking for! (tl;dr — Apply here now: bit.ly/500saola)

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Dec 14, 2018 On Our Blog

500’s Ultimate Gift Guide

December is flying by, and if you’re still struggling to find the perfect last minute gift, look no further. We’ve compiled a list of holiday treats for everyone on your list—500 style. All of the gifts below are made by portfolio companies in the 500 family, so you can spread holiday cheer while also supporting your fellow startups. 1. Copper Cow Coffee’s Vietnamese Coffee Kit Once you taste this rich Vietnamese pour over, founded by Debbie Mullin of Batch 23, you’ll kick your Keurig to the curb. We keep this in stock at 500 HQ, and the perfectly sized single-serves (with included cream and sugar packets) have become an instant office favorite. The on-the-go packets are also convenient staples for travel …

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Dec 3, 2018 On Our Blog

Is Your Blockchain Company VC Fundable?

Are you thinking about applying to 500 with a Blockchain idea? Want to maximize your chance of getting selected? This article describes how one successful applicant, Crowdz, passed our rigorous acceptance process and explains how to formulate a successful strategy for your own 500 application. Earlier this fall, our accelerator team spent weeks reviewing and interviewing nearly 2,000 program applicants for Batch 24 of our Seed Accelerator program in San Francisco. Applications came from startups in enterprise software, deep technology, and of course, Blockchain. In the end we accepted just 22 companies, of which only five became part of our Blockchain track—a specialized cohort focused on foundational protocols, financial applications, tokenization of physical or digital assets, and enterprise applications. Why …

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