[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-1-en-105":3,"doc-seo-306480-105":53,"doc-detail-306480-en":127},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,14,19,24,29,34,39,44,49],{"id":8,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":11,"show_sort_weight":12,"slug":13},11,1,"Template","Presentations",90,"presentations",{"id":15,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":16,"show_sort_weight":17,"slug":18},12,"Resumes",80,"resumes",{"id":20,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":21,"show_sort_weight":22,"slug":23},14,"Invoices",70,"invoices",{"id":25,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":26,"show_sort_weight":27,"slug":28},15,"Posters",60,"posters",{"id":30,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":31,"show_sort_weight":32,"slug":33},16,"Social Media",50,"social-media",{"id":35,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":36,"show_sort_weight":37,"slug":38},17,"Forms",40,"forms",{"id":40,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":41,"show_sort_weight":42,"slug":43},18,"Letters",30,"letters",{"id":45,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":46,"show_sort_weight":47,"slug":48},21,"Paper Templates",5,"papers-templates",{"id":50,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":51,"show_sort_weight":4,"slug":52},158,"General","general-158",{"code":4,"msg":54,"data":55},"ok",{"site_id":56,"language":57,"slug":58,"title":59,"keywords":60,"description":61,"schema_data":62,"social_meta":120,"head_meta":122,"extra_data":124,"updated_unix":126},105,"en","is-the-y-combinator-model-the-goal-for-the-romanian-start-up-accelerators","Is the Y Combinator Model the Goal for the Romanian Start-up Accelerators?","","Our research compares the architectural similarities between Romanian startup accelerators and the Y Combinator (YC) global benchmark using an Institutional Isomorphism Score (IIS). After analyzing 18 active and 3 defunct Romanian programs, the study finds decoupled isomorphism: local programs adopt YC’s format to gain legitimacy, yet differ in funding logic and equity requirements. The results suggest 0% startup equity and end-of-program capital allocations reflect strategic survival adaptations.",{"@graph":63,"@context":119},[64,80,102],{"@type":65,"itemListElement":66},"BreadcrumbList",[67,71,74,77],{"item":68,"name":69,"@type":70,"position":9},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":72,"name":10,"@type":70,"position":73},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/",2,{"item":75,"name":11,"@type":70,"position":76},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/presentations/",3,{"item":78,"name":59,"@type":70,"position":79},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/is-the-y-combinator-model-the-goal-for-the-romanian-start-up-accelerators/306480/",4,{"url":78,"name":59,"@type":81,"image":82,"author":87,"headline":59,"publisher":90,"fileFormat":93,"inLanguage":57,"description":61,"dateModified":94,"datePublished":95,"encodingFormat":93,"isAccessibleForFree":96,"interactionStatistic":97},"DigitalDocument",{"url":83,"@type":84,"width":85,"height":86},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/is-the-y-combinator-model-the-goal-for-the-romanian-start-up-accelerators/306480.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":88,"@type":89},"Nguyễn Văn Học","Person",{"url":68,"name":91,"@type":92},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-11-04","2026-09-19",true,{"@type":98,"interactionType":99,"userInteractionCount":101},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":100},"ViewAction",13,{"@type":103,"mainEntity":104},"FAQPage",[105,111,115],{"name":106,"@type":107,"acceptedAnswer":108},"What benchmark does the study use to compare Romanian accelerators?","Question",{"text":109,"@type":110},"The study compares Romanian startup accelerators against the Y Combinator (YC) global benchmark using an Institutional Isomorphism Score (IIS).","Answer",{"name":112,"@type":107,"acceptedAnswer":113},"What does the research find about architectural similarity?",{"text":114,"@type":110},"Romanian programs show a state of decoupled isomorphism: they adopt YC’s form, but differ significantly in funding logic and equity requirements.",{"name":116,"@type":107,"acceptedAnswer":117},"Why do Romanian programs often use 0% equity in the research’s explanation?",{"text":118,"@type":110},"The findings indicate that 0% equity and end-of-program capital allocation serve as a strategic adaptation for survival in the local market under low startup density during key evolution stages.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":78,"og:type":121,"og:title":59,"og:site_name":91,"og:description":61},"article",{"robots":123,"canonical":78},"index,follow",{"doc_id":125,"site_id":56},306480,1791725148,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":128},{"doc_id":125,"user_id":129,"nickname":88,"user_avatar":130,"doc_module":9,"category_id":8,"category_name":11,"doc_title":59,"doc_description":61,"doc_content":131,"file_id":132,"file_url":133,"file_type":134,"file_size":135,"view_count":101,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":9,"is_downloadable":9,"audit_status":9,"page_count":101,"language":136,"language_code":57,"site_id":56,"html_lang":57,"table_of_contents":137,"faqs":138,"seo_title":139,"seo_description":61,"update_tm":140,"read_time":47},1374402739827,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/avatar/14000c97e7351f1a627?x-image-process=image/resize,m_fixed,w_180,h_180&k=1787885694763230660","Is the Y Combinator Model the Goal for the Romanian Start-up Accelerators?  \nAndrei DODEA1 Valentin MUNTEANU2 Doina DĂNĂIAȚĂ3  \nAbstract  \nOur research compares the architectural similarities between Romanian startup accelerators and the Y Combinator (YC) global benchmark using an Institutional Isomorphism Score (IIS). After analyzing 18 active and 3 defunct Romanian programs, the research shows a state of decoupled isomorphism. Local programs adopt YC’s form (they standardize curriculum and demo days in order to gain legitimacy), but they differ significantly in terms of funding logic and equity requirements for the programs due to thin institution constraints.  \nOur findings indicate that the framework of 0% equity taken from startups and capital allocation at the end of the programs represent a strategic adaptation for survival in the local market given a low density of startups at key evolution stages. We conclude that while these programs serve as vital tools for startup generation, a significant gap remains in converting graduating startups into venture backed scaling ventures.  \nKeywords: Romanian Startup Accelerators, Romanian Startup Ecosystem, Startup Accelerator, Startup Ecosystem, Y Combinator  \nJEL classification: M13, O32, O57  \nDOI: DOI: 10.24818/RMCI.2026.3.484  \n1. Introduction  \nThe global understanding of what constitutes a successful startup is often based on the Silicon Valley model of “move fast and break things”. The Y Combinator accelerator is largely recognised as the best “startup factory” in the world, producing exactly this style of startups.  \nHowever, in emerging economies such as Romania, the understanding of what constitutes success is vastly different. A startup accelerator in such markets is usually scrappier, working with fewer resources, while also having to consider  \n1 Andrei Dodea, West University of Timisoara (Doctoral School of Economics and Business Administration), Timișoara, Romania, e-mail: [andrei.dodea98@e-uvt.ro](andrei.dodea98@e-uvt.ro)  \n2 Valentin Munteanu, West University of Timisoara (Faculty of Economics and Business Administration), Timișoara, Romania, [e-mail: valentin.munteanu@e-uvt.ro](e-mail: valentin.munteanu@e-uvt.ro)  \n3 Doina Dănăiață, West University of Timisoara (Faculty of Economics and Business Administration), Timișoara, Romania, e-mail: [doina.danaiata@e-uvt.ro](doina.danaiata@e-uvt.ro)  \n484 Review of International Comparative Management Volume 27, Issue 3, July 2026  \ncorporate agendas or local, regional, national, and even international strategies and regulations.  \nWhile the literature has spent years on studying the successful models of developed economies, and has also studied emerging ecosystems, the distance between the two still remains an important gap in our current understanding. Academics have researched how different the 2 types of ecosystems are, but never tried to measure the architectural design difference between the two. The difference in success is usually attributed to how different the market conditions are, but the structural design of an accelerator is a choice mostly within our control.  \nIn Romania, the design of startup accelerators has evolved into a state of decoupled isomorphism. Local programs have taken on the form of YC (including standard curriculums, cohorts, and the demo days), but the logic of the programs is different. While YC focuses on optimizing startups for speed and growth, the Romanian programs are more focused on creating startups from scratch. Since there are fewer well-developed startups who already show signs of traction (as YC startups usually do), the programs in Romania often have to work with raw entrepreneurial potential and manifest actual startups out of that potential.  \nThis evolutionary adaptation is a rational response to the market conditions. Since there is less capital in Romania, it makes sense to be more risk averse in terms of how those resources are used. A common practice among Romanian start","cbCaiqGT0glaUUYJ","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaiqGT0glaUUYJ","pdf",768453,"English","# Introduction\n# Literature review","[{\"question\":\"What benchmark does the study use to compare Romanian accelerators?\",\"answer\":\"The study compares Romanian startup accelerators against the Y Combinator (YC) global benchmark using an Institutional Isomorphism Score (IIS).\"},{\"question\":\"What does the research find about architectural similarity?\",\"answer\":\"Romanian programs show a state of decoupled isomorphism: they adopt YC’s form, but differ significantly in funding logic and equity requirements.\"},{\"question\":\"Why do Romanian programs often use 0% equity in the research’s explanation?\",\"answer\":\"The findings indicate that 0% equity and end-of-program capital allocation serve as a strategic adaptation for survival in the local market under low startup density during key evolution stages.\"}]","Is the Y Combinator Model the Goal for the Romanian Start-up Accelerators? | PDF",1789837024]