Start-up accelerators as a form of institutional support for start-ups

Main objectives of our research was to identify the best practices contributing to enhancement of performance of start-up accelerators in Europe and US, and to provide recommendations for start-up ecosystem stakeholders to create better environment for start-up accelerators creation. We have decided on international literature review, electronic audit of official websites of start-up accelerators, mystery stakeholder method, and electronic surveys with start-up accelerators' managing teams. Originality of our research lies in review of recent, international literature, and empirical research performed, resulting in variety of idiosyncratic, applicable conclusions for start-up ecosystem stakeholders. While European start-up accelerators basing on Austria and Poland are relatively new form of entrepreneurship support ecosystem, a set of best practices and recommendations for its stakeholders deriving from more mature model in USA can be indicated. Our research has been nominated tothe Best Thesis Award for Professional MBA Entrepreneurship & Innovation class 2014 - 2016 at WU Executive Academy in Vienna, Austria.