Techstars Economic Mobility Powered by Samvid Ventures
This program is for talented entrepreneurs designing innovative solutions that generate greater economic mobility for low- and moderate-income Americans, i.e., the 60%+ of Americans who are living paycheck to paycheck. We are looking for solutions that help people increase earnings and savings, reduce costs, and improve quality of life. These may come from a wide variety of sectors, including but not limited to: education, personal finance, future of work, health & wellness, housing, insurance & benefits access, legal support, and beyond.
New York, New York
2025 September
In Person Program
Apr 8th, 2025
Applications Open
Jun 11th, 2025
Final Deadline
Sep 8th, 2025
Accelerator Starts
Dec 4th, 2025
Demo Day
"120 million Americans — nearly 1 in 3 — live in low- to moderate-income households. It's not a niche market; it's a massive market that provides a huge opportunity to build multi-billion-dollar venture-scale companies."
Andres Barreto, Managing Director
Read the Q+AAbout the Accelerator
In this program, we support talented entrepreneurs designing innovative solutions to address economic mobility. This accelerator runs in New York City and is for companies operating in the U.S. market. If you operate in another market, please explore other programs. Some representative stats about economic opportunity in the US market include:
4 in 10 Americans find it difficult to cover their expenses each month (US Census) and struggle to pay for basic needs such as groceries or housing. (Economic Policy Institute)
More than 3 in 4 Americans struggle to save or invest after paying for their monthly expenses. (Payroll.org)
Economic factors have profound and prolonged impacts on health, and in various American cities, average life expectancies can vary by 20-30 years for communities that are just miles apart. (NIH)
Learn more in the links below.
The Team
Andres Barreto
Managing Director
Felipe Rubio
Investment Manager
Robert Kelly
Program Manager
Partner
“Innovative solutions that reduce or eliminate barriers to economic opportunity are needed more than ever. We’re inspired by founders committed to this work.”
Pia Desai
Executive Director, Samvid Ventures
“Our world is full of opportunities to transform vicious cycles to virtuous cycles.”
Gemma Lenowitz
Program Director, Samvid Ventures
Mentors
Taylor McLemore
COO, Tilt
Taylor McLemore
COO, Tilt
"Economic mobility is increasingly difficult in our society so the work these teams are doing is critical to allowing families and workers to thrive in a harsh economic landscape. I’m grateful to be able to help in my small way."
Amy Nelson
Managing Partner, Rethink Capital Partners
"Mentoring at Techstars is an invigorating experience that's connected me with many talented and caring founders. It's a privilege to work alongside inspired people shaping the world with determination and energy!"
Miles Jennings
Founder and CEO, Recruiter.com
"As a former founder, what inspires me about founders is their wide-eyed curiosity and optimism to change the world for good. Through Techstars, being in a position to mentor amazing entrepreneurs brings it back full circle."
Steve Lee
CEO, SkillUp Coalition
"In a world with growing income inequality, I'm inspired to support founders who are creating opportunities that uplift unserved and overlooked communities."
Amanda Greco
Associate Director, Stanford GSB Center for Social Innovation
"The pursuit of upward economic mobility brings so many talented people together in this country, including immigrants from all over the world. As an immigrant myself, I believe in the power of this pursuit."
Manoj Jonna
Co-Founder & CEO, Ramped
"I'm inspired by each founder's passion for taking on real-world problems with solutions that challenge the status quo and benefit populations most in need."
Andy Greenberg
Managing Director, PwC
"While tech will never be a panacea, it can be a meaningful pathway to access - and working with the Techstars Economic Mobility cohort shows how inspiring new entrepreneurs are taking this as a challenge head-on."
Lexi Gervis
VP of Impact, Steady
"I enjoy mentoring startups because each founder is dedicated to solving a problem that serves the needs of others. I’m inspired by the founders who sacrifice their time and energy to take a chance to better the world."
Kimako Jones
Director of Business Strategy, Microsoft
"It’s amazing to see so many talented founders focused on economic mobility, creating pathways that empower marginalized communities."
Ian Beadle
Partner, Concrete Rose Capital
"Ultimately, mentoring startups is not just about imparting knowledge; it's about fostering growth, making a tangible difference, and contributing to the collective advancement of the entrepreneurial ecosystem."
Wendi Burkhardt
Managing Partner, Stage Fund
Stories
Behind the Scenes Look
Learn More:
2025 Events
Review our Ask Me Anything (AMA) session Passcode: p%CKADd3
Review our Thought Leadership Panel Passcode: D&*W04E?
Review our Program Alumni Panel Passcode: cLpO9?7M
Take a look at our 2024 Demo Day and our 2023 Demo Day
Program Information for Prospective Applicants (2024)
Tune into the program alumni panel Passcode: N5msI+*.
Listen to the thought leadership panel with mentors Passcode: eQX#?=25
Review our Ask Me Anything (AMA) session
See our session in the Inside a Techstars Accelerator 2024 event - from Vision to Execution building a successful startup.
Stay connected with us on LinkedIn for updates about the program, applications for 2025, portfolio company updates and more