Based on learnings from the curated coworking space, PIE changed its engagement from a passive observational role to an engaged and active role. This phase became the PIE accelerator, a series of three-month cohorts focused on intensive mentorship and community development. In 2018, PIE began experimenting with a new format for its accelerator program.

In 2009, PIE served as a curated coworking space for promising early stage startups and interesting creatives who called Portland home. During the coworking phase, PIE served as a hub for community, regularly hosting gatherings, hackathons, and educational meet ups. 

In 2013, PIE began exploring the application of an accelerator framework beyond early stage technology startups. That experiment led to the next phase of the PIE experiment, an accelerator designed to help other incubators and accelerators operate more effectively.