How Reviewers Think: A Clearer Look from AcceleratorCON

When you sit in the room where accelerator applications are accepted or rejected, you begin to see what actually turns a “maybe” into a “yes.” That’s exactly what AcceleratorCON created space for — bringing together the people who make selection decisions and opening up the mechanics behind them.

A Panel That Went Beyond Surface-Level Advice

Our Managing Partner, Anastasia Lykova Allan, joined the “Application Accepted: What Founders Get Wrong (and Right) When Pitching Programs” panel to share insights shaped by reviewing hundreds of accelerator applications.

The conversation focused on what reviewers really look for — not the polished version founders imagine. Among the issues that surfaced again and again: traction that’s too vague to evaluate, market sizing that doesn’t match how the industry actually works, and a growing wave of AI-generated applications that reviewers can identify almost instantly.

What Reviewers Actually Want to Understand

While founders often obsess over presentation style or slide aesthetics, decision-makers are scanning for a different set of signals. At AcceleratorCON, the dialogue centered on questions that determine outcomes:

• Does the traction show genuine market movement?

• Is the founder communicating in specifics or generalities?

• Does the market sizing reflect real demand, not wishful thinking?

• Is the application written by someone who understands their business — or by a model trying to guess?

These aren’t small details. They form the foundation of whether an accelerator believes it can help you grow.

Why This Conversation Matters

For founders, the lesson is clear: strong metrics and a strong narrative have to coexist. Reviewers are looking for coherence — a throughline that connects what you’ve built, who needs it, and why now is the right moment to scale.

A polished deck can get attention.

A grounded, credible story is what gets acceptance.

How This Fits Into Elpis Labs’ Work

Participating in AcceleratorCON reinforced what we see across global programs: the biggest unlock for founders is clarity. Clarity of traction, clarity of positioning, clarity of intent.

Supporting founders as they prepare for U.S. programs isn’t about making things “look good.” It’s about making sure what they say truly reflects who they are and where they’re going.

If you’re preparing to apply to accelerator programs — or already navigating the process — we help founders sharpen their story, their metrics, and their fit. Reach out to the Elpis Labs team to discuss how we can support your next step.