DO ACCELERATOR PROGRAM COMPONENTS COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER? EVIDENCE FROM FUNDING, EDUCATION, MENTORSHIP, AND NETWORKING ON WOMEN-LED STARTUP GROWTH IN NIGERIA

Women-led startups in Nigeria often struggle to access the funding, entrepreneurial knowledge, mentorship, and strategic networks needed to achieve sustainable growth. This study examined whether accelerator programme components complement each other by investigating the effects of funding, education, mentorship, and networking on the growth of women-led startups in Nigeria. Study adopted a mixed methods cross-sectional research design within a quantitative explanatory framework. Data were collected from 392 respondents from a population of 1,135 stakeholders associated with Rising Tide Africa (RTA) using multistage, cluster and convenience sampling techniques. Primary data were obtained through a structured questionnaire. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis using SPSS. The findings revealed that startup funding had a positive and statistically significant effect on revenue growth (β = 0.219, p < 0.01) and employment generation (β = 0.302, p < 0.01). Entrepreneurial education significantly influenced revenue growth (β = 0.162, p < 0.01) and employment generation (β = 0.146, p < 0.01). Mentorship also exerted significant positive effects on revenue growth (β = 0.160, p < 0.01) and employment generation (β = 0.129, p < 0.05). Networking opportunities emerged as the strongest predictor of startup growth, significantly influencing revenue growth (β = 0.500, p < 0.01) and employment generation (β = 0.425, p < 0.01). The combined regression model further showed that funding and networking opportunities remained significant predictors of startup growth outcomes. The study concluded that accelerator programme components complement one another in enhancing the growth and sustainability of women-led startups in Nigeria.