By Michael Lyon and a dozen contributing Mentors
Accelerating Startups Mentorship Lessons
Every new business founder benefits from mentors—and this book brings together the wisdom of many, all in one place.
Professor Ajay Agrawal
“Michael Lyon has written a grounded, practical guide that distills years of accumulated wisdom from what I believe is one of the world’s most collaborative yet ambitious startup ecosystems. Whether you're a first-time founder or a seasoned mentor, an inventor or an investor, an engineer or a policymaker, I believe you'll find this book not only instructive but catalytic."
Professor Ajay Agrawal
"It will help you become a better learner, a more effective mentor, a more successful entrepreneur, and—most importantly—a wiser contributor to advancing civilization and enhancing prosperity for all humankind.”
Professor Ajay Agrawal
Professor Ajay Agrawal
Professor Ajay Agrawal
Chair in Entrepreneurship and Innovation
University of Toronto’s
Rotman School of Management
Founder
Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) Accelerator Program.
Welcome to Accelerating Startups-Lessons from Startup Mentor
Delivers concise, pragmatic, and easy-to-read startup playbook
Drawing on Lyon’s experience mentoring more than 100 ventures at the Creative Destruction Lab
Drawing on Lyon’s experience mentoring more than 100 ventures at the Creative Destruction Lab
Developed for the global community of startup founders, entrepreneurs, mentors, and investors (VCs, Angel investors, family offices, and more).
Drawing on Lyon’s experience mentoring more than 100 ventures at the Creative Destruction Lab
Drawing on Lyon’s experience mentoring more than 100 ventures at the Creative Destruction Lab
Drawing on Lyon’s experience mentoring more than 100 ventures at the Creative Destruction Lab
Together with contributions from a dozen entrepreneurs and mentors, this book distills the key lessons, pitfalls, and strategies that define the startup journey.
Head Start in Accelerator Programs
Drawing on Lyon’s experience mentoring more than 100 ventures at the Creative Destruction Lab
Head Start in Accelerator Programs
Accelerator, incubator, venture studio, innovation labs, and government innovation programs.
Amazing Contributors
Action-Focused Advise
Head Start in Accelerator Programs
In addition to a dozen contributing mentors, the book features a foreword by CDL founder Professor Ajay Agrawal and insights from other leading voices, including Professor Philip Kotler, widely regarded as the father of modern marketing.
Action-Focused Advise
Action-Focused Advise
Action-Focused Advise
Whether you are deciding if you want to become a founder, raising money, building a product, growing your team, expanding internationally, or navigating legal landmines, this book offers practical guidance to help you move forward—a startup checklist.
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Action-Focused Advise
Action-Focused Advise
Pre-Order eBooks on Amazon
Publishing October 28, 2025.
With 35 focused chapters, perfect for busy founder lives
• Being a startup entrepreneur—Is this life for you?
• Finding your business idea, value proposition, and pitching your story
• Strategic planning and presentations
• Startup marketing strategies
• Launching and accelerating revenue, CRM for Startups
• Licensing technology, or licensing technology from a university or company
• Global expansion opportunities, going international and coming to the U.S. market
• Raising startup capital and financing rounds (bootstrapping, grants, Seed, Series A rounds, VC's)
• Grants and non-dilutive funding, managing the startup's financial position
• Startup legal essentials: Corporate governance, collaborative agreements, IP, dispute resolution
• Being a startup mentor, business mentor or business coach
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