Rudy Ferraz

[Full disclosure: I am the cofounder of and have run an everchanging startup accelerator experiment since 2009.] As we prepare to recruit our next class of startups, we are curious as to how the changing dynamics of the market are affecting founders and the decisions they're making about their companies. One of our concerns obviously is the current perception of startup accelerator programs, their perceived value to founders, and the likelihood that folks are still interested in applying to these programs. Which leads me to ask Beyond YC and Techstars which are clearly in a category of their own, is the startup accelerator model still relevant to you and the work you do, or is it simply a relic of startups gone by to which we're clinging out of nostalgia ? Interested to hear your thoughts. P.S. This doesn't have to be pro-accelerator feedback. I am also completely willing to hear that you don't find any value or use in accelerators. That sort of feedback is extremely helpful and welcome, as well.