The Lightning Accelerator

Build your dream startup with expert mentors, a thriving community, and world-class NoCode training. Learn from one of only 12 globally recognized Bubble.io coaches.
MacBook mockup

Trusted by Top-tier product campanies

Don’t take our word for it, hear what others have to say about us.

Here are some success stories from our past participants:
"I'm so glad I made the decision to test the water with Lightning Accelerator. Since joining I've been so impressed by the knowledge, content and insights Dave and the rest of the community bring to my experiences as a founder.If you're considering it, it's worth joining."
Josh Moore
Founder of Wattworks
"I really love how scrappy using Google Slides for prototyping is. And I was thinking more about in terms of Risk vs Reward. Simplification, but I spend a few ours of my time (per iteration) and I learn. I might discover some "Hell Nos". Or I spend $20k as Dave said. Whole lotta risk, with the same reward for perhaps a marginally better reward."
David Taing
"The Lightning Accelerator was incredible. I helped me take my idea and build it in Bubble.io within 8 weeks. I learned so much about the fundamentals of building software. It was empowering as I've been a tech recruiter sitting on the sidelines for so many years. Would recommend it to anyone trying to launch their own business."
Matt Woodward
Founder of Scalr
"10 weeks ago if you told me I could build an app I would have thought you were talking to someone else. Non anymore. As a non technical founder , learning no code tools like bubble.io has been invaluable."
Lucy Kough
Buider of Brands
"I am keen to showcase Molli today at the Lightning Products Demo Day. Molli is a personal assistant to help older adults to enjoy the foods they love - even when they can no longer prepare meals themselves."
Mereki Nieman
Founder
"The Lightning Team are real hustlers with lived startup experience. They helped us get up and running quickly!"
Jian Wei Hoh
Founder and CEO of VIIZR a Ford backed company (in Sllicon Valley)
"Dave McManus has been really helpful to Climate Salad with linking all our system up!"
Mick Liubinskas
Founder and CEO of VIIZR a Ford backed company (in Sllicon Valley)
"Just want to say a big thanks to you Dave and Claire. I got so much out of the program."
Andrew Smith
Co-Founder of Selsus
Lucy Kough
Tap the Gap

The Lightning Accelerator was one of the most challenging yet rewarding experiences of my startup journey. It helped me design, build, and confidently communicate my vision as a founder.

Pricing

Lightning Accelerator - Scale Program

12 weeks (3 months)

Basic plan

$96/month
Ideal for small teams and startups.
Access to all basic features
Basic reporting and analytics
Up to 10 individual users
20GB individual data each user
Basic chat and email support
Get started

Enterprise plan

$384/month
Large teams with unlimited users.
Advanced custom fields
Audit log and data history
Unlimited individual users
Unlimited individual data
Personalised+priotity service
Get started

Ongoing Community

Post the program you’ll be able to stick around in our community and continue to jump on weekly office hours calls.

👥 Weekly Founder/Owner Hangout
🤝 Collaboration and Inspiration Sessions
📅 Accountability Partnerships
🌍 In-Person Meetups

Apply Now

The Coaching

Coach Group

Group format 1:1 implementation calls with 5 expert mentors

One on One Coaching

20 hours

Call Schedule

2 hours of call per week
How it works

Execution Gym Sessions

Customer Discovery & Engagement

🔍 Defining Ideal Customer Profile
🌐 Finding Customers Online
📢 Marketing to Customers Online
🤝 Cold Outreach and Selling
🛒 Pre-Selling Techniques

Sales & Strategy

💼 Sales Strategies
✍️ Creating Product Scope

Design & Prototyping

🎨 Prototyping and Design
👥 User Testing

Building & Development

🛠️ Building with Bubble.io I
🔧 Building with Bubble.io II
⚙️ Building with Bubble.io III

Quality Assurance & Launch

🛡️ Security Audits
🚀 Deployment and Live Launch
🐞 Bug Tracking and Fixing
✅ QA Testing

Mentors

profile photo
Dave McManus

Founder of Lightning Products

profile photo
Simon Koblas

CEO at RULR

profile photo
Julie Bray

Bubble.io Developer & former founder

profile photo
Ryan Monaghan

Open Banking API developer

profile photo
Kal Jamshidi

Growth expert - exited 2 businesses

profile photo
Arif Poonawala

Founding team Rise App. Former Groupon, Google + Product lead

profile photo
Andy Crebar

Cofounder of Sapling (exit) and founded and sold 2 other businesses

Our Promise

We have, or will find, the answer to every startup question you have. Join the Lightning Accelerator to build your dream startup with the support of experienced mentors and a thriving community.
Support

Frequently asked questions

The Lightning Accelerator is designed to be the leading accelerator program for high-impact startups. It aims to empower non-technical founders with the education and tools needed to build and scale their software businesses. Utilizing no-code tools like Bubble.io, the program helps founders become self-sufficient without needing to spend exorbitant amounts on agencies or give away significant equity.
What does The Lightning Accelerator look like? Give me a tour!
The tour will be conducted with engaging visuals and seamless audio, using a mix of face-to-camera pieces and screen recordings. The walkthrough will highlight the program's mission, what has changed recently, and give a detailed look at the core components of the accelerator. We use Skool.com to run our accelerator.
Do I own all my IP?
Yes you own absolutely everything! Lightning doesn’t own any of it. Also Bubble.io you own all your IP too! They own the platform (just like AWS owns the infrastructure but they don’t own the code you put on it) of which it’s build on, but you own all the IP and the data (which you can export at any time).
Who are you & what is your Startup Philosophy?
Hi, I’m Dave, and I’ve built multiple companies and been a part of over 150 startups in Silicon Valley since 2016. I firmly believe that successful startups need to master five key areas:

Owner(s) Identity - The beliefs and decision-making processes of the founders.
Growth Marketing/Sales Capability - Effective processes for finding and selling to customers to create profitable revenue growth.
Product Development - Defining and building your MVP and achieving product-market fit.
Finance & Working Capital - Managing profitability and securing capital for growth.

Drawing from my extensive experience, our vision is to create an ecosystem that evolves with market best practices, ensuring operational excellence for our partner startups.
What makes your clients so successful?
We’ve made all the mistakes so you don’t have to. Our clients benefit from Dave's insider knowledge and frictionless access to top-tier tools, systems, and talent. Dave’s network of mentors has over $1.5 billion (USD) in exit value. By leveraging world-class practices and avoiding common pitfalls, our clients make better decisions and achieve higher profitability. We provide structured consulting through our network of global thought leaders, ensuring actionable and specific advice.
Why are you doing this?
The tech industry is rapidly evolving, and traditional models are no longer effective. I launched this accelerator after experiencing the limitations of conventional support systems and technology. We aim to build a community-driven accelerator that provides comprehensive support, including education, one-on-one coaching, and investment, to help startups thrive in today's competitive environment.
But I’m not technical?
Right now technology has changed dramatically meaning people who are historically non technical, can become technical.

- Dave himself was at one point non technical.
- NoCode and AI allows us to build software that is highly scalableIn this program we’ll teach you how to ‘learn to fish’.
- Knowing your customers problems is the most important skill you need and is not replaceable.
How do I qualify for The Lightning Accelerator?
To qualify, you must:
- Be hungry for accountability and direct communication.
- Invest at least 10 hours per week in your startup, with 2+ hours for community, coursework, and coaching.
- Desire to build strong connections within a tight-knit community.
What business outcomes should I expect from The Lightning Accelerator?
Tangible Outcomes:
Revenue Growth
Net Profit Growth
Product Development and Velocity Increase

Intangible Outcomes:
Confidence and peace of mind in product development
Elimination of reliance on agencies
Connection with successful entrepreneurs
High-priority task accountability
Confidence on sales & marketing
Why join The Lightning Accelerator now?
The industry is shifting rapidly, and expertise in multiple fields is crucial for survival and growth. By joining the Lightning Accelerator, you gain access to cutting-edge strategies, expert advice, and a supportive community that helps you navigate these changes and scale your business effectively. Being self sufficient as a startup founder is critical to success (trust me I know firsthand).
How much does it cost? And when does it start?
- August 6th | 6 Slots Available
- September 6th | 10 Slots Available
- October 6th  | 14 Slots Available
- November 6th | 20 Slots Available

Details

Investment - Payment Plan: $1,500 x 3 Monthly Payments (ex GST)
Investment - Upfront: $3,500 AUD (ex GST)
Contract Term: 3 Months
Trial Period: 4 Weeks (full refund available up to this point)
Type: Done-With-You
Seats: 2 Participants
Additional Seats +10% per seat

Secure Your Spot Using This Link! 
Our Promise
We have, or will find, the answer to EVERY Bubble.io Product question you have.

Next Steps

Feel free to join our free community, where you can access valuable courses, free consulting calls, and connect with other founders. Let's build something amazing together!

Join to our Accelerator