Z-Combinator was an online startup accelerator focused on individual development of hardware, back-end IT and telecom startups. The business model was based on Y-Combinator acceleration methodology amended to meet the needs of the focus niche. Developing a hardware idea to a prototype and further to a pre-production sample requires competencies that cannot be transferred in a short time. Hiring ex
perts and advisors might be a challenge for a startup with poor experience in choosing the right people. The key idea of Z-Combinator was accelerating growth by focusing the startup team on developing core technology and product while outsourcing other functions to professionals forming the accelerator project development team (PDT). The 4D-model suggesred the 4 development competencies to be provided by Z-Combinator:
• project development,
• product development,
• process development,
• business development. The basics of Z-Combinator business model include:
• project pipeline creation and funnelling,
• mentoring, offered for free to check and cherry-pick the most promising ideas and teams,
• networking to find proper mentors and advisors,
• forming the PDT inside the accelerator,
• seed investments in selected startups,
• hands-on management, performing the 4D tasks by the PDT,
• accelerating startup to the next investment round,
• exit on the next round (full or partial depending on the next round investor's intentions)
Project Status: tested in 2013-2014, RiP �
