Judgement, Legitimacy, and Learning in Mission-Oriented Acceleration: Evidence from SHAKE Agri-Tech

Purpose
This paper investigates how outsider entrepreneurs, those lacking elite credentials or investor networks, exercise entrepreneurial judgement, build legitimacy, and learn within a mission-oriented accelerator. It explores how institutional design can scaffold decision-making in high-uncertainty, science-based ventures aligned with public value creation.
Design/methodology/approach
This qualitative case study of SHAKE Climate Change develops the concept of ‘judgement-led acceleration’ through iterative, practice-grounded theorising. The findings respond directly to recent UK policy critiques, which highlight the limitations of short-duration, standardised accelerator programmes and call for deeper, outcome-linked support structures.
Findings
SHAKE supports entrepreneurial judgement through structured mentoring, milestone-based funding, and expert feedback. It facilitates legitimacy-building via staged signalling and ecosystem alignment, especially for outsider entrepreneurs navigating uncertain markets. The programme also embeds reflective, peer-driven learning within a purpose-oriented design, setting it apart from generic cohort-based accelerators.
Research limitations/implications
As a single-case study situated within the UK innovation ecosystem, the findings have limited direct generalisability. Nonetheless, the study offers a conceptual foundation for theorising how accelerator architecture shapes entrepreneurial agency, legitimacy construction, and mission alignment.
Practical implications
The paper identifies actionable design features for policymakers, funders, and accelerator leaders. These include mission-focused selection, epistemic legitimacy scaffolding, and milestone-based support, mechanisms that enable more inclusive, resilient, and publicly valuable innovation.
Originality/value
This study introduces the concept of judgement-led mission acceleration, demonstrating how accelerators can function as institutional proxies that translate societal missions into structured, inclusive entrepreneurial support infrastructures, particularly for those excluded from mainstream innovation pathways.