Earlier this month, Techstars hosted a workshop during the Inside a Techstars Accelerator event featuring three Techstars managing directors:

• Brad Schnitzer (Northwestern Medicine & Techstars Healthcare Accelerator)

• Kerty Levy (Techstars Anywhere)

• Dave Cass (Techstars Workforce Development Accelerator)

Together, they shared lessons learned from working with hundreds of founders across the globe.

Here are some of the most important takeaways for early-stage founders, straight from the people who live and breathe startups every day:

1. Obsess Over the Problem, Not the Solution

Founders often show up with a polished product. But what sets great startups apart is their deep obsession with solving a real, painful problem — not just pushing a solution.

“Anger and frustration can be a good thing,” Brad said. “If it comes from lived experience, it means the founder deeply understands the pain.”

Dave added, “I get nervous when someone is overly committed to their solution; it often signals a lack of coachability.”

Key takeaway: Build around a meaningful problem. Your solution may pivot, but the pain point should stay constant.

2. Be Stubborn — About the Right Things

Coachability doesn’t mean blindly following advice. The best founders are stubborn about their mission and values, but flexible about how they get there.

Kerty emphasized the importance of testing ideas: “Use data to determine direction. Don’t just act on what someone told you, validate it.”

Key takeaway: Know your north star, but be open to adapting the route. Hold fast to your principles, not your ego.

3. Likeability & Authenticity Matter More Than You Think

This isn’t about being charismatic. It’s about being someone others want to work with — employees, investors, and customers alike.

“People bought into the founder before the product,” Brad shared, referencing the early days of Rheaply (Techstars 2018), one of Chicago’s standout startups.

Kerty cautioned against being transactional in networking:

“Every single connection is a relationship waiting to happen.”

Key takeaway: Authenticity and relationship-building are foundational to startup success.

4. Know Your Numbers (Deeply)

Understanding your metrics is like cleaning your windshield before driving. Founders must be fluent in what moves their business forward.

Kerty put it simply: “Happy ears are dangerous. Just because a customer says something ‘nice,’ doesn’t mean they’re actually adopting your product.”

Key takeaway: Translate customer interactions into data. Identify friction points. Let real metrics, not emotions, guide you.

5. Be Strategic With Your Time (And Ditch Hustle Culture)

Techstars coaches founders to map out 50 hours a week. Why? Because what you do with your time matters more than how long you work.

Brad warns: “You can spend 80–100 hours doing everything but the things that matter.”

Kerty added, “Watch for procrastination disguised as productivity. Are you redoing your deck because it’s necessary, or because it’s comfortable?”

Key takeaway: Focus your energy on the few things that truly move the needle. Say no to the rest.

6. Play “Who, Not How”

Great founders don’t try to do everything themselves. They figure out who can help them, whether that’s a co-founder, team member, mentor, or advisor.

Dave shared: “Trying to do it all yourself may feel productive, but it won’t scale.”

Brad’s test: “If it’s taking you two weeks to solve a problem, find someone who can solve it in two days.”

Key takeaway: Delegating isn’t weakness, it’s leadership.

7. Consistency Builds Trust (Especially With Investors)

Fundraising isn't just about pitching; it’s about demonstrating consistency. Frequent, transparent communication shows momentum and builds credibility.

Kerty stressed: “Even if things aren’t going well, a consistent update builds trust.”

Brad echoed: “Investors are risk mitigators. Seeing weekly progress updates — even if they're small — helps us connect the dots.”

Key takeaway: Momentum is a story. Tell it consistently.

8. Run 100 Tests to Find What Works

Startups aren’t school. You’re not aiming for 100%, you’re aiming to find one thing that works.

Brad shared: “In baseball, batting .300 is great. In startups, 2 wins out of 100 tests is a success.”

Key takeaway: Test relentlessly. Don’t fear failure; it’s part of the data set.

9. Rejection Is Normal, Build the Muscle

Founders hear “no” more than most. How you respond matters more than whether it hurts.

Dave noted: “You can’t control rejection, but you can control your response.”

Brad encourages founders to start fundraising with investors lower on the list: “Use early meetings to gather feedback. By the time you meet your dream investors, you’ll be sharper.”

Key takeaway: Rejection is feedback. Build the resilience to learn from it.

10. Founders Don’t Do It Alone, They Build Tribes

The event closed with a reminder of the power of community. Whether it’s Techstars cohorts still meeting weekly months after program end, or founders rallying around one another, startup success is rarely a solo mission.

“The real magic of Techstars isn’t just the programming, it’s the people,” Dave said. “The other seven companies in your cohort are often your biggest resource.”

Final Thoughts

Techstars has supported thousands of founders across dozens of industries. Successful founders aren't superheroes. They're self-aware, data-driven, emotionally resilient, and deeply focused on solving real problems — and they never go it alone.

The Techstars team hosts virtual events regularly. These events are free and invaluable to anyone looking to develop their skills. Visit the Techstars events page to find out more about our upcoming events.

The Accelerator Hub is another great resource for founders interested in learning more about Techstars and the programs we offer.

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