[4] The co-founders developed the firm's "prepared mind" investment philosophy based on the Louis Pasteur quote "chance favors the prepared mind",[5] which they say requires "deep focus"[6] and a disciplined and informed approach to investing.

[7] In January 2025, Accel raised $650 million early stage fund for startups in India and South East Asia[8] Accel focuses on enterprise, SaaS, and consumer investments and works with seed, early, growth-stage companies worldwide.

Notable investments include: Accel has offices in Palo Alto and San Francisco, California;[50] London, England; and Bangalore, India.

[51] In 2000, Accel entered a joint venture with Kohlberg Kravis Roberts to form Accel-KKR, an independently operated technology-focused private equity investment firm focused on control investments in middle-market companies.

[52] Similarly, in the same year, Accel partnered with IDG Capital to create IDG-Accel, a joint venture focusing on early-stage and growth investments in the Chinese market.