How to get the most out of an acceleration program

Azizbek Kurbonov, co-founder of the insurance platform Sug‘urta Bozor

My first incubation program took place in 2018 in Tashkent as part of the launch of IT Park Uzbekistan. It was an invaluable experience, but I didn’t know how to get the most out of it.

Since then, with the Sug‘urta Bozor project, I have participated in five acceleration programs, including Plug and Play, Startup Growth Program, Innotech, and several local programs. Currently, I am participating in the Domino Ventures acceleration program — BetterFuture AI.

After reflecting on my experience in various programs, I figured out how to get the most out of each one. Here are seven key points:

1. Apply only to acceleration programs that have expertise in your industry, such as insurance, or in a country you are interested in, such as the UAE.

2. If your goal is expansion, choose a program that offers the opportunity to travel to the target country for a few weeks, such as the Al Farabi Scale Up program.

3. Set a goal for what should be achieved by the end of the program. Define your success metrics, such as raising a funding round, testing hypotheses in a specific country, or meeting with two foreign banks.

4. Network with other participants — you will learn more from them than from mentors.

5. Take notes during sessions and record insights.

6. Build relationships with program organizers, as they likely have connections to corporations and investors.

7. Don’t be afraid to ask “stupid” questions — they aren’t stupid, and you will receive feedback from other founders and mentors.

In summary: as an entrepreneur, you need to get the most out of every second of your life. Acceleration programs are no exception, so I hope your next participation in them becomes more effective thanks to the steps outlined above. Good luck!