Techstars
U.S. startup accelerator
Type | LLC |
---|---|
Founded | Colorado , United States (2006, as Techstars, LLC.) |
Headquarters | |
Key people
|
Maëlle Gavet
(
CEO
)
David Cohen (Co-founder, Chairman) Brad Feld (Co-founder) Jared Polis (Co-founder) |
Website |
techstars
|
Techstars is a global investment business that provides access to capital, one-on-one mentorship, a worldwide network and customized programming for early-stage entrepreneurs. It was founded in 2006 in Boulder, Colorado. As of May 2022, the company had accepted over 2,900 companies into its accelerator programs with a combined market capitalization of $71bn USD. [1]
History
Techstars was founded in Boulder, Colorado , by David Cohen , Brad Feld , David Brown, and Jared Polis in 2006. Initially, Techstars invested between $6,000 and $18,000 in early stage companies, providing entrepreneurs with mentorship during a three month accelerator program. [2]
The company held its first program in Boulder in 2007 with ten companies. [3] Of the ten, two were acquired that same year. As of 2012, three had achieved positive exits and two were generating millions in annual revenue. [4] In subsequent years, Techstars expanded to Boston, Seattle, New York City, a " cloud " program in San Antonio, and Austin. [5] [6] [7] [8]
In January 2011, Techstars launched the Global Accelerator Network (GAN), which links 22 similar programs internationally. [9] [10] The network was launched in conjunction with President Barack Obama 's Startup America Partnership. [11] GAN is now an independently operated organization. Techstars has also supported the formation of Patriot Boot Camp. [12]
In 2017, Techstars partnered with the venture capital firm Partech Ventures to expand its program to Paris , [13] and in September of the same year was contracted to work with the United States Air Force's new technology accelerator AFwerX . [14] At the beginning of 2019 Techstars started another European program around smart cities in Amsterdam with their corporate partner Arcadis . [15]
In 2021 Techstars ran 47 accelerator programs in 33 cities and 12 countries around the world. [16]
Structure
Startups can apply for Techstars' program and their viability is judged by the Managing Director of the program they applied to, as well as a screening committee composed of various members of the Techstars network. [17] In exchange for 6% common stock, each company accepted into Techstars currently receives $20,000 plus a $100,000 convertible note, access to the Techstars network for life, over $1M worth of perks (such as $25,000 to $100,000 in AWS credits), and a three-month accelerator program, [18] which is conducted in three phases: mentorship, growth, and investment. [19] On the last day, the 10-12 companies pitch publicly in front of investors, Techstars alumni, the local entrepreneur scene and corporate partners on the demo-day .
Notable alumni companies
References
- ↑ "Techstars" . www.techstars.com . Retrieved 2022-05-30 .
- ↑ "What investments does Techstars make in its Accelerator portfolio companies?" . Techstars.
- ↑ Myers, Courtney Boyd. Techstars: the next great incubator unleashes 11 startups in NYC . The Next Web . April 16, 2011.
- ↑ Bigelow, Bruce V. Lessons from Techstars’ David Cohen on Building a Startup Culture: 7 Takeaways from the Xconomy San Diego Dinner . Xconomy . February 3, 2012.
- ↑ Results Results: Techstars .
- ↑ Olanoff, Drew. The eleven companies relocated to San Antonio to join the first Techstars Cloud . The Next Web . April 11, 2012.
- ↑ Thomas, Mike. Techstars Program to Jumpstart San Antonio’s Investment Community . The San Antonio Business Journal . April 4, 2012.
- ↑ Dickinson, Boonsri. Microsoft Just Picked 11 Startups to Build Amazing Apps for Kinect . Business Insider . April 2, 2012.
- ↑ "Getting up to speed" . The Economist . 16 January 2014 . Retrieved 29 June 2018 .
- ↑ Global Accelerator Network
- ↑ Spencer, Malia. AlphaLab now part of Techstars Network . Pittsburgh Business Times . January 31, 2011.
- ↑ Crichton, Danny (19 June 2018). "Patriot Boot Camp wants to turn soldiers into entrepreneurs" . TechCrunch . Retrieved 29 June 2018 .
- ↑ Dillet, Romain. "Techstars launches a new program in Paris at the Partech Shaker" . TechCrunch . Retrieved 2017-03-23 .
- ↑ "Air Force opens applications for dual-purpose technology accelerator p" . U.S. Air Force . Retrieved 2017-09-22 .
- ↑ "The Technology Leaders of the City of 2030: Meet the Inaugural Class of Arcadis City of 2030 Accelerator, Powered by Techstars" . 2019-03-04 . Retrieved 2019-06-14 .
- ↑ "Techstars doubles down on European commitment with the launch of two new accelerator programs in Paris and Stockholm" . Techstars . 2021-09-14. Archived from the original on 2023-02-02 . Retrieved 2023-02-02 .
- ↑ Popper, Ben. How the quiet Adam Rothenberg became number two at hot startup incubator Techstars NY . Venture Beat . March 12, 2012.
- ↑ Fields, Jonathan. Uncertainty: Turning Fear and Doubt into Fuel for Brilliance . Portfolio Hardcover, 2011.
- ↑ Patterson, Irina; Arnold, Candice (March 7, 2011). "Business Incubator Series: An Interview With David Cohen, Founder And CEO, Startup Accelerator TechStars – Boulder, Colorado (Part 1)" . Sramana Mitra .
- ↑ Crook, Jordan (July 16, 2013). "TechStars-Backed Bookkeeping Service 10Sheet Relaunches As Bench With New $2M Seed Round" . TechCrunch .
- ↑ Lardinois, Frederic (March 23, 2014). "Digital Ocean's Journey From TechStars Reject To Cloud-Hosting Darling" . TechCrunch .
- ↑ Wauters, Robin (September 8, 2011). "TechStars Graduate FullContact Lands $1.5 Million, Helps Keep Contact Records Updated" . TechCrunch .
- ↑ Cheredar, Tom. Graphicly shutters iOS & Android comic book apps to focus on self-publishing service . Venture Beat . April 5, 2012.
- ↑ Vuong, Andy. Colorado startups becoming tech stars . The Denver Post . April 10, 2010.
- ↑ Kincaid, Jason. Automattic Has Acquired IntenseDebate's Enhanced Comment System . TechCrunch . September 23, 2008.
- ↑ "TechStars alum Mocavo grabs $4M to help you find your ancestors - VentureBeat - Deals - by Sean Ludwig" . VentureBeat .
- ↑ "Mocavo Acquired By Findmypast: A New Chapter Begins" . Mocavo Blog - News, Announcements & More from the World's Largest Free Genealogy Search Engine .
- ↑ Kyle Alspach (6 February 2012). "An unusual TechStar: Murfie seeks to build huge CD store" . Boston Business Journal .
- ↑ Ruth, Joao-Pierre. Xconomis of the Week . Xconomy . April 12, 2012.
- ↑ Orbotix Sphero is Rolling to an Apple Store Near You . Techcrunch . June 29, 2012.
- ↑ "Rheaply Raises $2.5M to Strengthen Asset Management" . Waste 360. March 23, 2020 . Retrieved May 6, 2020 .
- ↑ Dizik, Alina. 6 Time-Management Tips from Accelerator Programs . Fast Company . March 14, 2012.
- ↑ "America's Most Promising Social Entrepreneurs 2012" . Bloomberg.com . 21 June 2012. Archived from the original on June 24, 2012.
- ↑ Liam Boogar (February 25, 2013). "With 20,000+ users on board, Sketchfab raises a 370K€ Angel round for its YouTube of 3D" . Rude Baguette.
- ↑ "Sketchfab raises $2m to scale its "YouTube for 3D files" " . Balderton Capital. December 5, 2013. Archived from the original on March 12, 2014.
- ↑ Reisinger, Don. AOL Acquires Lifestreaming Service Socialthing . Mashable . August 14, 2008.
- ↑ Moschen, Isabell (June 6, 2013). "The Two-Wheeled Amenity" . New York Times .
- ↑ Schiller, Ben. "A Self-Contained Bike Share To Make College (Or Your Office Park) More Fun" . Co.Exist.
- ↑ "Tech Los Angeles" . 2021-07-14 . Retrieved 2021-07-14 .