At Singularity University we launched a startup accelerator for organizations who leverage exponential technologies to solve some of the biggest problems in the world. We opened applications weeks ago and did a ton of outreach. Until yesterday we had a fairly low number of applications — and those we got weren’t, on average, a particularly good fit.
Truth be told — I started to worry. Could it be that despite us researching 2,000 startups and directly reaching out to those which we believed to be a good fit; working with more than 250 pipeline partners who invited their networks to apply; and working every possible marketing angle plus offering (what I believe is) a great program at market rate terms be not enough? Could it be that we miscalculated our addressable market? That our brand doesn’t work for those folks?
Turns out — none of this is true. In the last 24 hours of the application process we received hundreds of highly qualified applications.
It ain’t over till the fat lady sings.
This episode reinforced an important lesson: The race is not over until you have crossed the finish line. And just because you have self-doubt along the line doesn’t mean that you can’t finish (and win) the race.
Never Stop. Never ever.