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𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽𝘀 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗩𝗖𝘀. Now? They chase accelerators first. In 2024, 𝟐𝟒% 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐔.𝐒. 𝐕𝐂 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐬 came from 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐮𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 like YC. That's nearly 𝟏 𝐢𝐧 𝟒 𝐕𝐂 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐬 — and it’s accelerating fast. A decade ago, this was under 5%. Today, accelerators are the new gatekeepers of innovation. They provide: •Early validation •Access to elite networks •Instant credibility for follow-on funding YC, Techstars, and others aren’t just support systems anymore — they’re power centers. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻: If you're building in 2025, the path to VC isn’t just pitch decks. It's proving yourself through an accelerator first. Startups don't just launch now. They graduate.