Venture studios and accelerators represent two distinct models for supporting startups, differing in structure, level of involvement, and equity stakes. Venture studios create startups from scratch, generating ideas internally and providing capital, talent, and operational support in exchange for significant equity stakes (typically 30-80%). In contrast, accelerators focus on scaling existing startups through short, intensive programs, offering mentorship, networking, and initial funding for smaller stakes (generally 5-15%).
To strengthen their investment strategies, some venture studios and accelerators launch dedicated VC funds to extend financial support beyond their core programs. Venture studios may do so to maintain long-term involvement in the startups they build, while accelerators often seek to provide follow-on capital to high-potential startups emerging from their cohorts, ensuring they remain invested in their continued growth.
Since 2020, Decile Group’s VC Lab accelerator program has supported 400+ venture studios and 250+ accelerators in raising VC funds to invest in their startups. Based on quantitative data from 900+ venture capital funds that participated in the program in 2024 and 500+ funds that successfully completed VC Lab between 2020 and 2024, this report breaks down how venture studio and accelerator funds actually compare in terms of representation and performance.