Years ago, starting a new business was a do-it-yourself exploration of the unknown. It was a process of experimenting and wandering toward success, rather than following any particular set of guidelines.

Development was a trial-and-error process. Professional help and mentoring were hard to find – except in the big cities.

These days, there are far more development pathways to choose from. Accelerators are usually the quickest route to success, thanks to the nurturing, funding, networking and other resources they offer.