| Abstract: | High-growth startups fuel economic dynamism and receive substantial government support worldwide, often through acceleration programs. While the impact of these programs on businesses is well-documented, little is known about how they shape employee careers. We provide the first systematic evidence that startup acceleration enhances career trajectories through a “skills dividend.” Using a two-pronged approach—analyzing a large cross-program dataset from the Americas and a quasi-experimental study with administrative wage data from Colombia’s ValleE accelerator—we find that employees of accelerated firms earn higher wages over time without increased employability risks. These gains stem from transitions into other companies and roles requiring greater soft skills—behavioral and social traits that enable individuals to collaborate effectively—leading to more managerial, entrepreneurial, or leadership positions. Alternative explanations, such as certification and networking, are less consistent with the results. Our findings highlight the broader impact of accelerators on human capital development. |
| Biography: | Professor Juanita González-Uribe is an Associate Professor in Finance at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), specializing in entrepreneurship, private equity, and innovation, with a focus on Latin America, the UK, and the US. She serves as a Research Fellow at the Centre for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR), where she co-organizes the WE_ARE Women in Economics seminar series. As Co-director of LSE’s Financial Markets Group, she helps lead cutting-edge research on global financial markets. Beyond academia, Professor González-Uribe heads PositiveImpactMPG, advising clients on impact, sustainability, policy, and corporate innovation. Additionally, she serves on the advisory boards of Startup Coalition and the British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association. She is a member of the Academic Speakers Bureau. |
