Techstars

Elya Lane is a dedicated advocate for individuals battling rare and chronic health conditions. Living with a rare genetic condition herself, she transformed her journey from patient to healthcare pioneer and built Corra.

Corra (Techstars 2024) is a digital health platform that uses machine learning to transform how we interpret and manage health data. ⚕️

Since launching, Corra has graduated from Techstars, opened their pre-seed round, and secured their first check.

Learn more about her path to entrepreneurship and her tips for fellow founders. 👇

Corra Founder Elya Lane on Building Something That Actually Saved Her Life Elya Lane, founder of Corra (Techstars 2024), shares what's been crucial to her ongoing success and the biggest lessons she's learned along the way.

Nail your next pitch. 🎙️ Join us for an exclusive 3-part series designed to equip you with the knowledge and tools for pitching success.

📅 Part 1: How to Perfect Your Pitch - September 3 at 1pm ET
📅 Part 2: Pitch Practice with Guest Judge - September 10 at 1pm ET
📅 Part 3: Mock Investor Interview with VC Guest Speaker - September 17 at 2pm ET

🔗 http://tsta.rs/i0RM50T7NzO

Led by industry experts, this is your chance to gain insider tips and put them into practice!

We are thrilled to announce our collaboration with Northwestern Medicine to launch a new accelerator program that aims to advance healthcare innovation. ⭐

Northwestern Medicine & Techstars Healthcare Accelerator will invest in the most promising early-stage healthcare startups, creating a pathway for founders to build high-growth companies dedicated to advancing quality care and patient outcomes. 🏥

Six startups will be selected for the program, which will begin in March 2025 and take place in-person in Chicago. Founders who are selected will receive funding, hands-on mentorship, and training along with access to the combined networks of Techstars and Northwestern Medicine.

👉To learn more, visit http://tsta.rs/oRCx50T6y9g

📣 Applications are now open for Techstars spring programs!

Our goal is simple: to help entrepreneurs succeed. Scale your startup with our proven model that has helped thousands of entrepreneurs build thriving companies.

Founders, you'll get:
💰 Access to capital
📚 Niche education
🤝 Tailored 1:1 mentorship and low managing director-to-founder ratios
🌐 Techstars global network for life

Learn more and apply by November 20th 👇
http://tsta.rs/Ku5650T6tl1

Time to fuel your startup's growth. 🚀 Get insider tips and the latest from Techstars by signing up for our newsletter.

Subscribe to Techstars Newsletter Subscribe to Techstars Newsletter to receive startup news, Techstars portfolio highlights, events, jobs and more directly to your inbox

While conducting research on HIV prevention and gender-based violence in rural western Kenya, Miller Morris learned firsthand how many girls were dropping out of school because they didn't have access to period products that fit their community’s waste management and sanitation needs.

This motivated Miller to develop Comma. Comma (Techstars 2023) is an integrated period care company bringing autonomy, sustainability, and clinical science to menstruation.

"Technology created by women, for women, has the incredible potential to drive significant progress. By fostering an environment where women can invest in themselves and change the conversation around menstruation, we can make healthcare more accessible and personalized, especially in underserved communities."

Read more on how Miller is revolutionizing women's health. 👇
http://tsta.rs/S6sO50T3bvZ

Femtech: Miller Morris of Comma On How Their Technology Is Revolutionizing Women’s Health An Interview With Shawna Robins

We’re proud to share our collaboration with Johns Hopkins University and CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield to launch a new healthcare accelerator program designed to support early-stage entrepreneurs building pathways to better care through artificial intelligence. ⭐

Techstars AI Health Baltimore powered by Johns Hopkins University and CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, led by Adam Phillips, is a 13-week program focused on supporting entrepreneurs leading healthtech, medtech, and biotech startups. Startups will receive capital, guidance from experts, and other support required to navigate the complexities of the healthcare ecosystem and regulatory environment. 🩺

“The application of artificial intelligence to healthcare will enable new avenues of innovation, creating more powerful solutions for patients more quickly. Entrepreneurs are at the center of this change as they apply cutting-edge technology to improve care and, ultimately, impact people’s lives.” - Andrew Cleland, Techstars Chief Investment Officer

To learn more, visit http://tsta.rs/Qg3s50T3cm9

Share some wisdom, founders.👇 What's the one piece of advice that's made all the difference?

📸 Snapshots of Techstars Summer 2024 classes!

From networking and workshops, to practicing pitches and mentor matching, our founders passion and energy is contagious.

📍Atlanta, Denver, Tokyo

What do Olympic athletes and startup founders have in common? Perseverance, grit, ambition, and an unwavering spirit that defies all odds. These extraordinary qualities were on full display when Bronte Campbell Campbell won Olympic gold in the Women’s 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay for Australia! 🥇

As the Cofounder of Earthletica Activewear (Techstars 2024), a future fit activewear company, Bronte embodies the relentless pursuit of excellence that drives both champions and innovators.

🌟 Congratulations, Bronte! Your triumph inspires us all to dream bigger and reach higher.

What do Olympic athletes and startup founders have in common? Perseverance, grit, ambition, and an unwavering spirit that defies all odds. These extraordinary qualities were on full display when Bronte Campbell Campbell won Olympic gold in the Women's 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay for Australia! 🥇

As the Cofounder of Earthletica Activewear (Techstars 2024), a future fit activewear company, Bronte embodies the relentless pursuit of excellence that drives both champions and innovators.

🌟 Congratulations, Bronte! Your triumph inspires us all to dream bigger and reach higher.

Blomso (Techstars 2024), is focused on making sustainable agriculture pragmatic and profitable.

“We’re part of this global push for sustainability. In agriculture, topsoil loss is one of the biggest problems and a critical piece in the food supply chain. One of the main problems of soil degradation is fertilizer over-usage ― too much fertilizer will ultimately make soil unusable if you apply things like nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium (NPK) where they aren’t needed.” - Kalib Riddle, Founder and CEO

Blosmo is combining the sensor technology, software and AI to improve agricultural fertilizer application and reduce harmful runoff caused by over-application.

Read more about their journey with Techstars. 👇

Dirt, data and determination: Kalib Riddle’s drive to help farmers plant smarter Even the most successful entrepreneurs are never quite sure when they’ll land on their next big idea, product or service. But when that lightbulb moment arrives, it can change an industry or culture and make life better for the future.Ohio State student Kalib Riddle’s “a-ha” moment was a con...

Join us to larn the critical elements of hiring and assembling a high-performing team.

📆 August 21 at 6:00pm ET
🔗 http://tsta.rs/hrGv50SYT1C

We'll cover:
✅ Proven strategies for identifying and attracting top talent, qualities to look for in potential team members
✅ Best practices for creating a collaborative and productive team culture
✅ Tips on how to retain your best employees and keep them motivated

Speakers:
🎤 Dave Cass, Managing Director of Techstars Workforce Development Accelerator
🎤 Kirstin Hunter, Managing Director of Techstars Tech Central Sydney powered by the NSW Government

James Merrill is working to protect our ocean and communities most impacted by plastic pollution by revolutionizing the plastic industry. ♻️

StokedPlastics (Techstars 2024) is pushing sustainability boundaries by creating a plastic blend that incorporates over 25% recycled plastic, making it over 8 times more sustainable than any other recycled plastic available in the market.

"There will be times when you'd want to throw in the towel, but just keep pushing. Always remember, no one will believe in your idea more than you do, so don't be afraid to fight for it."

Read more about James' journey founding StokedPlastics. 👇

StokedPlastics Founder & CEO James Merrill on Pushing Sustainability Boundaries and How Vulnerability Became His Superpower James Merrill, Founder & CEO of StokedPlastics (Techstars 2024), encourages founders to embrace patience and not fear failure because it can be their biggest tool.

Ready to raise capital? 💰 Learn the knowledge and tools you need to successfully pitch your startup to investors.

This series will provide you with actionable insights and practical advice on how to improve your pitch and put it into practice!

Techstars Pitch Series Join Techstars for an exclusive 3-part Pitch Series, designed to give you the knowledge and tools you need to successfully pitch your early stage startup.

📸 Take a peek behind the scenes of Startup Weekend events across the world during the last couple of months!

📍 Malborough, New Zealand
📍 Pato Branco, Brazil
📍 Caxias do Sul, Brazil
📍 Belfast, Northern Ireland

Startup Weekend is a three-day program where aspiring entrepreneurs can experience startup life.

✔️ Make sure you love what you’re doing
✔️ Find a community
✔️ Hire talent that knows how to scale
✔️ Then, keep going!

That’s the recipe for success from private-chef-turned-entrepreneur Max Porterkhamsy, founder and CEO of Epicurate.

Part of the Techstars Anywhere Spring 2024 cohort, the startup began as a platform for private chefs before pivoting to become a booking engine for in-home luxury experiences, which aims to be as simple to use as making a restaurant reservation.

Just a few months after Techstars, Epicurate is on track to book $4M in private chef services this year!

Read more about Epicurate at

Finding the Recipe for Success With Max Porterkhamsy, Founder and CEO of Epicurate Private-chef-turned-entrepreneur Max Porterkhamsy, founder and CEO of Epicurate (Techstars 2024), shares his experience achieving scale.

Mentor Spotlight 🌟 Meet Ketaki Desai!

Kataki is the Cofounder of DashStrøm, a 3x founder, and mentor with Techstars. She's worked with Techstars programs in Toronto, Oakland, San Francisco, Detroit, Abu Dhabi, and New Orleans.

"Growing up in India, my mom worked two jobs to put food on the table. She would still find the time to teach kids who had it worse than us. It is because of this that I have always had a give-first philosophy.

I have personally experienced a wealth of knowledge and professional guidance from the mentors in my life, they have shaped me into who I am today. It is for these reasons that I truly enjoy mentoring Techstars companies - if a few lessons from my life can make a difference in how founders build their companies, then that is what matters!"

Thank you, Ketaki, for giving back to the Techstars community!

Techstars Mentor Ketaki Desai: "Listen to your gut!" Techstars All-Star Mentor and DashStrøm Cofounder, Ketaki Desai, shares the advice she finds herself giving to founders most often.

Join us for a founder panel where Techstars alum will offer a candid look at the realities of startup life.

​You'll hear firsthand accounts of the grit, determination, and creativity required to turn a vision into reality.

📆 August 13th at 2:00pm ET
🔗

Techstars Founder's Journey: Stories of Success and Struggle · Zoom · Luma Join us for a founder panel where Techstars alum will offer a candid look at the realities of startup life. Come and learn valuable lessons and real-world…

Techstars connects unstoppable founders, wherever they are, with capital, programs, and connections to open up opportunities.

🔗 See what we were up to in July on the blog: http://tsta.rs/U9ol50SRiRi

During this masterclass, Techstars CEO David Cohen offered insights on fundraising strategies, investor negotiations, and effective communication during investor meetings with the Techstars Workforce Development founders. 💡

We're thrilled to be investing in our founders' growth and the future of innovation.

Chelsie Hall and Sheyda Demooei are on a mission to make the internet a safer and more equitable space.

Together, they cofounded ViralMoment (Techstars 2021), an AI-powered, video analytics company that provides insights into social video content, helping brands, governments, and individuals understand the conversations and trends emerging from video platforms.

Chelsie and Sheyda are not just building a successful AI company; they're also advocating for greater representation of women in the field. By sharing their experiences and pushing for more inclusive AI development, they're working to create a more equitable and diverse tech industry.

Social Video Analytics Firm Proves Women Belong In AI, Too Video conversations hold a lot of information for brands and ViralMoment gives them access, despite the initial reservations investors had about women in AI.

"For us, getting into Techstars was like a stamp of approval and helped us really accelerate our startup.” - Jennifer Loh, CEO & Cofounder of TRAVARAS

“Techstars was our launchpad to Silicon Valley.” - Gabriela Constantinescu, Cofounder & CPO of Chambr

“It truly feels like gaining a forever community and support system. You get a new family and a teammate ecosystem that continues to provide support long after the program ends.” - Melis Dural, Founder & CEO of EKOS. AI

Check out this article in Forbes about choosing an accelerator, how to get accepted, and what to expect, featuring Techstars founders and mentor Melissa Platt!

To Accelerate Or Not? How To Choose The Right Program For Your Startup The key questions are: how do you choose the right one, and do you even need one? Founders shared their insights in this article.

Congratulations to Globowl (Techstars 2022) Founder Erica Bethe Levin on finishing in the Final Five on Gordon Ramsay's Food Stars. ⭐

Erica faced down 10 business challenges, advancing to the finals and earning mentorship from Ramsay and Lisa Vanderpump.

Globowl, an internationally-inspired baby and toddler food company, is now sold nationally via Thrive Market, Buy Buy Baby and Amazon, and at regional grocers.

You can watch her successful run on Food Stars on Hulu!

We held our annual Gold Shirt ceremony, honoring the remarkable founders behind the Techstars portfolio companies that achieved exits in 2023. 🏆

The Gold Shirt tradition began in 2007 when Socialthing (Techstars 2007) was acquired by AOL, marking the first portfolio company exit for Techstars and the start of this annual celebration with the coveted gold shirt.

It was a privilege to celebrate these founders, their dreams, and the incredible journeys they've been on!

Read more about the celebration at http://tsta.rs/91KB50SNutw