Accelerators are now an integral part of the startup ecosystem. For some, especially first-time founders, it is sort of becoming a checkbox item: go through an accelerator. Serial entrepreneurs, as a rule, would say they don't need to, because they already know what to do.
Some people say that accelerators are only good for the companies that haven't yet raised financing. They argue that if the company has raised capital, then it's too far along for an accelerator and wouldn't benefit from it.
My take is different: None of the above is universally true. We have plenty of successes at Techstars (where I'm a managing director) with companies who raised funding, and plenty of serial entrepreneurs who have gone through the program. Increasingly, we see later-stage companies that already achieved product market fit really accelerate by going through Techstars.
Here is a breakdown of why you would join an accelerator, along with some tips.
