Equity-Free Accelerators as a GTM Strategy

​About the Event

​Startup credit programs have become a commodity.

​Credits alone are not enough. What startups really value is access — to investors, operators, distribution, and a strong founder network.

​That combination can completely change a startup’s growth trajectory.

​And it turns out this model works especially well through equity-free accelerators.

​Over the past months we built an equity-free Consumer AI Accelerator together with Inworld AI and TRMNL4, supported by partners like Stripe, HubSpot, Oyster, and BITKRAFT Ventures.

​The results exceeded our expectations:

​32 startups in the cohort
700+ applications from around the world
$52M combined ARR

​Equity-free accelerators attract startups already generating revenue. The result: not just a pipeline of future customers, but real product and market insights from companies already in the market.

​Hosted at Pilot.com, a leading provider of bookkeeping, CFO, and tax services for startups and growing companies.

​Sponsored by Gravity, the ad network helping AI platforms unlock revenue with contextual ads inside AI conversations.

​Speaker

​Lidiya Terpel, Growth Lead at Inworld AI and co-host of the Consumer AI Accelerator. 3× founder who helped design and run the accelerator, working closely with founders across the cohort.

​What we’ll cover

​• How to build an equity-free accelerator
• How to attract top startups
• Why accelerators are becoming the new GTM strategy for companies serving startups

​Format

​Playbook presentation + Q&A
Key insights and lessons from building the accelerator.

​Networking
Connect with founders, VCs, GTM leaders, and startup program managers exploring accelerator partnerships.