When building your startup, accelerators often are considered as a way to not only jumpstart the company, but to gain some mentorship and knowledge to avoid common pitfalls that otherwise may be encountered.  Not all accelerators are created equal, and it is important to consider what your fledgling company needs to execute your short-term and long-term strategies when you are evaluating accelerator programs.  While a particular accelerator may have considerable follow-through for the startups that they mentor, and likely a corresponding high profile in the startup community, you must determine whether the accelerator program is suited for what you need from it.