Accelerator Affiliate Program

Every Pro Shops vendor account is also an affiliate account. That means accelerator program directors who refer other accelerators get a recurring 10 percent commission on every cohort apparel order from those referred programs. The accelerator world is small and program directors talk to each other constantly. Here is how the affiliate program works.

How the Pro Shops Affiliate Program Works

Every Pro Shops account gets a unique affiliate link the moment the account is created. The link routes new signups back to you for attribution.

What you earn:

• 10 percent recurring commission on every referred vendor subscription (Self-Service VIP at $59/mo or Done-For-You VIP at $109/mo). Recurring as long as the referred account stays active.
• $1 per unit sold by every referred vendor. Paid on every apparel order from the referred account.
• Bi-weekly payouts. Earnings paid out every two weeks.

Both come from Bear Grips, not from the referred vendor. The referred vendor sees normal pricing and pays normal subscription fees. The commission is on top of what they pay.

Why Accelerator Program Directors Refer Other Programs

The accelerator world is a small network. Program directors share notes constantly: which CRM works for cohort management, which event venue works for demo day, which tool works for mentor scheduling, and which merch infrastructure works for cohort apparel.

When you find a merch infrastructure that solves the no-minimum, per-founder ship, and template-reuse problem, you tell other program directors. The affiliate program turns that natural word-of-mouth into a recurring revenue line for your own program.

A single referred accelerator running 4 cohorts a year at the Self-Service VIP tier generates roughly $70 per year in subscription commission plus $1 per unit on the cohort orders. Refer 10 accelerator programs and you have a small recurring income that funds your own program merch budget.

Bear Grips Pro Shops: Custom Apparel for Your Team. No Minimums. Free Shipping.

How to Share Your Affiliate Link with Other Program Directors

Your affiliate link is visible in your shop dashboard. Share it where program directors gather:

• Accelerator-director Slack groups (Global Accelerator Network, regional groups).
• Conferences for program directors (Global Accelerator Network annual summit, Mind the Bridge events).
• Newsletter shoutouts in your program alumni newsletter.
• One-to-one referrals when another program director asks "how do you handle cohort hoodies."

The affiliate link also doubles as a 10 percent discount code for the referred account. The referred program gets a discount on their first cohort, you get a commission. Mutual benefit.

Track Your Earnings in the Affiliate Dashboard

The shop dashboard includes an affiliate section that shows referred accounts, recurring subscription commissions, per-unit commissions, and bi-weekly payout history. You see exactly which accelerators signed up through your link and how much each is earning you.

The affiliate program is part of the same account as your shop. No separate signup, no separate dashboard, no separate W-9. Just enable the affiliate section and start sharing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be a paid vendor to be an affiliate?

No. Free-tier accounts get the affiliate link too. You can earn affiliate commissions without paying any monthly fee.

How long do the recurring commissions last?

As long as the referred account stays active on a paid plan. There is no time cap on the recurring commission.

What if I refer an accelerator that downgrades to the free plan?

You continue earning the $1 per unit commission on every cohort order. The 10 percent recurring subscription commission pauses if they downgrade to free, and resumes if they upgrade back to a paid plan.