Introducing the New Accelerator 2.0 Learning Platform

In 2018, Michael and I designed and built the A.CRE Accelerator program. We sought to build the preeminent tool for learning and mastering real estate financial modeling. It was intended to provide a clear path to real estate financial modeling mastery, and ultimately give Accelerator Graduates a significant advantage in the industry.

Now as we approach the 3-year anniversary of the Accelerator’s initial launch, it’s inspiring to see how the Accelerator program has accomplished all of that and more!

Today, the Accelerator program is used by dozens of top universities and institutional real estate firms to teach the next generation of real estate professionals. Thousands of individuals have likewise leveraged this case-based program to master real estate financial modeling, model their own deals, land a job in CRE, and further their careers in real estate.

The program’s Certificate of Completion is viewed by employers and investors as a strong assurance of the Accelerator Graduate’s commitment to the industry and as evidence of their superior real estate financial analysis skills.

But with all things tech, consistent innovation and improvement is essential.

So, to ensure the Accelerator’s long-term prominence and to offer an improved experience for members, we’ve spent the past year building the Accelerator’s next-gen learning platform. Today, we’re excited to announce the launch of the new Accelerator 2.0: Same Proven Curriculum, New Specialty Endorsements, Easier-to-Use Platform.

• Not yet an Accelerator member? Consider joining today.

How to Access the New Accelerator 2.0 Learning Platform

Before I share what’s different about this new learning platform, allow me to explain how all existing Accelerator members can access the platform right now:

1. Go to: https://app.adventuresincre.com
2. Enter your A.CRE username (i.e. the email address you use to login to the current Accelerator platform)
3. Enter your A.CRE password (i.e. the password you use to login to the current Accelerator platform)

Once logged in, you’ll be taken to the initial welcome screen (see image above). Click the ‘Get Started’ button and you’ll be taken to the curriculum page.

Click the ‘Start’ button under the ‘Accelerator Core Curriculum’ to be taken to the ‘Guide to the Accelerator’ for the new Accelerator learning platform.

What’s Different About This Next-Gen Learning Platform?

So, the biggest question on your mind is likely: what’s the difference between this new Accelerator 2.0 platform, and the legacy Accelerator platform? Allow me to answer that question.

But before I do, let me first say this. While there are a lot of new features in this next-gen learning platform, what hasn’t changed is the core curriculum, case-based method, and building-blocks approach to mastering this skill. So, whether you complete the Accelerator core curriculum via the legacy platform, or via the new platform, the outcomes (e.g. land the job, model the deal, earn the raise) are the same.

1. A new and improved LMS

In its legacy form, the Accelerator program consisted of a series of 16 core courses, dozens of supplementary tutorials, advanced concept modules, and case studies, as well as the Accelerator forums. Those learning materials were delivered to students via, what in tech-speak we call, a learning management system (LMS). The new Accelerator 2.0 platform is a brand new LMS.

• The legacy LMS for the Accelerator program is located at https://www.adventuresincre.com/academy/.
• The new LMS for the Accelerator 2.0 program is located at https://app.adventuresincre.com/.

The new LMS is built from scratch based on Accelerator Graduate feedback and on what we’ve learned in our first three years running the Accelerator program. Here are a few of the technical differences between the legacy LMS and the new LMS:

• The new LMS is a custom-coded platform built by A.CRE, unlike the out-of-the-box (and less flexible) LMS we began with.
• The custom-coded nature of the new LMS provides for unlimited growth and flexibility in order to meet the future needs of Accelerator members.
• Significantly faster and easier to navigate.
• Improved mobile/tablet access, viewing, and navigation.
• Far fewer clicks between curricula, courses, and lessons.
• Content is presented in a straightforward manner, with curriculum and course progress conveniently displayed in various places.
• The Certificate of Completion is easier to find, download, and share.
• Reporting capabilities have been greatly improved.
• All account details are now managed directly from the frontend of A.CRE, rather than in both the frontend and in the LMS.
• A Student-instructor Q&A section replaces the forums. The Q&A section is housed within each course, so users don’t have to leave the lesson page to ask a question or read replies to others’ questions.

2. Better Organization of Additional Learning Materials – Endorsement Curricula

The Accelerator was launched with 16 core courses and a student-instructor forum. Since that time and based on feedback/requests from Accelerator members in the forums, dozens of supplementary materials and advanced concept modules have been created to enhance the learning experience.

In the legacy Accelerator, these additional materials grew to include 10 bonus case studies, 30 short video tutorials, 17 bonus Watch Me Build videos, a Definitive Guide to Excel for Real Estate, 17 property-level advanced concept modules, six partnership-level advanced concept modules, and a Careers and Networking in CRE course.

As these additional materials grew, knowing which additional materials to take and in what order became a challenge.

The new Accelerator 2.0 platform curates a specific result by organizing this additional content in an intuitive and deliberate way; something we now know as Specialty Endorsements. At launch of the new Accelerator 2.0, we now offer six Specialty Endorsement Curricula:

• Mastering MS Excel for Real Estate
• Advanced Modeling – Real Estate Debt
• Advanced Modeling – Partnership Cashflows
• Advanced Modeling – Development
• Advanced Modeling – Property and Portfolio
• Career Advancement in Real Estate

Upon completing an endorsement, Accelerator members receive an Endorsement Certificate. This certificate can be added to the Accelerator member’s LinkedIn profile and resume to demonstrate further mastery of specific specializations.

Going forward, the A.CRE team will continue to enhance the existing endorsements and add new Endorsements based on feedback from Accelerator members.

3. Custom Curricula and Reporting Capabilities for Enterprise Clients

The Accelerator Core Curriculum uses a building blocks approach to help members gain real estate financial modeling mastery. To accomplish this, and to ensure that no gaps exist in the Graduate’s knowledge, we start with the most basic (i.e. direct cap) and progressively introduce more and more advanced concepts.

Feedback we’ve received from several of our enterprise clients (e.g. universities and companies) is that the core curriculum may be too advanced or too basic. They’ve requested custom curricula to suit the needs of their users, and our legacy LMS was less capable of responding to that request.

The new Accelerator 2.0 allows the A.CRE team to build custom curricula based on the needs of the enterprise. And then create custom reports and provide custom access for the professors and managers that proctor the enterprise learning.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Accelerator 2.0 Platform

Rolling out the new Accelerator 2.0 platform means new and existing Accelerator members have questions. Allow me to share answers to some of the more frequently asked questions about the new LMS.

What is the difference between the Legacy Learning Platform and the Accelerator 2.0?

The Accelerator Legacy Platform is the learning engine that has delivered our industry-leading real estate financial modeling Accelerator program since 2019. In early 2021, we set out to build a new learning engine (the Accelerator 2.0) that would build on the successes of the Legacy Platform and allow the Accelerator to thrive for years to come. The Accelerator 2.0 is:

#1 Same Proven Curriculum:

What made the Accelerator work for members like you is still the best way to learn how to model like a deal-seasoned pro. Our Core Curriculum and Case-Based approach to learning is the same between the two platforms. 

#2 New Specialty Endorsements:

After 3 years, and feedback from members like you, we’ve added six Specialty Endorsements for advanced learning opportunities, as well as additional certificates upon completing each endorsement. 

#3 New Learning Engine:

With our 2.0 launch comes a fast, easy to navigate platform so users can find what they need in a snap.

Click here to learn more about why we built the Accelerator 2.0

Who has access to the new Accelerator 2.0 platform?

All active Accelerator members, regardless of when they purchased their Accelerator membership, have immediate access to the new Accelerator 2.0 platform. Simply use the same username and password as your login for the legacy Accelerator platform (and A.CRE in general) to access the new Accelerator 2.0.

Try logging in to the Accelerator 2.0 here: https://app.adventuresincre.com

I purchased prior to Jan 31, 2022, can I continue my progress via the Legacy Platform?

Absolutely! All active members that wish to complete the Accelerator Core Curriculum and receive their Certificate of Completion on the Legacy Platform are welcome to do so.

Note: If you choose to extend your membership beyond the one-year period, you will need to transition to the Accelerator 2.0 upon extension.

I purchased prior to Jan 31, 2022 and would like to transition to the new Accelerator 2.0. What do I do?

Transitioning to the Accelerator 2.0 is simple:

Step #1 – Make note of which course/lesson you’re currently on in the Legacy Platform.

Step #2 – Request that your progress be transferred (click here to make that request). A member of our team will then perform that progress transfer within two business days. In the meantime, feel free to start from where you left off and we’ll come behind you and mark your previous progress as complete. Please note you must login to the new platform (step 3 below), which creates your account on the new platform and allows us to transfer your progress.

Step #3 – Login to the Accelerator 2.0, click ‘Start’ under the Core Curriculum.

Step #4 – Take the ‘Guide to the Accelerator’ course to get oriented to the new platform.

Step #5 – Find the course/lesson in the Core Curriculum you’re currently on and continue from there.

I purchased prior to Jan 31, 2022, do I have to pay for the new specialty endorsements?

As a legacy Accelerator member, you are automatically upgraded to the Accelerator Advanced membership level. This entitles you to full access to all current and future endorsements.

I’m a former Accelerator member and graduate of the program. What happens to my Certificate of Completion when the legacy platform is phased out?

Once a Graduate of the Accelerator Program, always a Graduate of the Accelerator Program. Your Certificate of Completion will still exist and your username/password will still work on both the old and new platform going forward. You can always find a link to your Certificate of Completion on the Accelerator graduates page.

What if my Accelerator membership expired and I’d like to reactivate my account? Which platform would I use?

All Accelerator members who purchased their membership on or after Jan 31, 2022, together with all newly reactivated members (i.e. individuals whose membership expired, and then have since reactivated) will be directed to the Accelerator 2.0 platform going forward. If you had previous progress on the Legacy Platform that you’d like transferred to the new platform, click here to request that transfer.

Note that all reactivated members are automatically upgraded to the Accelerator Advanced membership level and will receive full access to all current and future specialty endorsements.

For how long will you continue to support the Legacy Platform?

The A.CRE Team is committed to supporting the Legacy Platform until all existing Accelerator members (i.e. those who purchased prior to Jan 31, 2022) who wish to complete the program via the Legacy Platform choose to do so.

What if I have other questions?

If you have any other questions about the rollout of the new Accelerator platform, feel free to contact us via the A.CRE Contact Us page.