Techstars Update - April 2025
Apr 30, 2025
Capital + Programs + Connection = Opportunity
Techstars connects unstoppable founders, wherever they are, with capital, programs, and connections to open up opportunities. See what we were up to in April.
In review:
11 portfolio companies secured funding
2 portfolio companies were acquired
14 accelerator programs with applications open
10+ upcoming Techstars virtual events
Capital
Each year, we select hundreds of companies to join one of our 3-month, mentorship-driven accelerators, investing capital and providing hands-on mentorship and access to the Techstars network for life.
Portfolio Companies
Since 2006, Techstars has invested in 4,900+ companies. Our founder-first philosophy has connected us with startups across a range of verticals, linking them to a network of successful mentors and partners.
Partnerships
Our mission is to enable everyone to contribute to and benefit from entrepreneurs’ success. By connecting entrepreneurs with corporations and organizations around the globe, we can drive innovation and solve the world’s largest problems. Meet the newest organization supporting Techstars founders:
Techstars and Permanente Medicine Mid-Atlantic States Launch New Healthcare Innovation Accelerator
Techstars and the Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group (“Permanente Medicine Mid-Atlantic”) announced the launch of a new healthcare accelerator program designed to support early-stage companies focused on addressing critical healthcare challenges and improving patient outcomes.
Programs
Techstars accelerators have one goal: to help founders succeed. We believe that great founders and startups are everywhere, but opportunity is not evenly distributed, which is why we continue to launch programs worldwide.
During each three-month program, we surround companies with the best mentors and an unrivaled network of corporate partners, investors, and alumni. We provide funding and fundraising opportunities, workshops, and curated resources, not to mention countless moments where you can learn from your peers. It’s a proven model that has helped build thousands of successful companies.
Applications Open
Learn more about our 3-month accelerators where founders gain funding, mentorship, and access to the Techstars network. The following accelerator programs are currently accepting applications:
Apply by May 14:
Apply by June 11:
ABN AMRO + Techstars Future of Finance Accelerator
Build in Tulsa Techstars Accelerator
Techstars Alabama EnergyTech Accelerator
Techstars Columbus Powered by The Ohio State University
Techstars Economic Mobility Powered by Samvid Ventures
Techstars Future of Food Powered by Ecolab
Techstars Healthcare Accelerator powered by Permanente Medicine Mid-Atlantic States
Techstars New York City Accelerator
Techstars San Diego powered by San Diego State University
Techstars Tech Central Sydney powered by the NSW Government
Demo Days
Techstars accelerator programs culminate with a celebration at Demo Day. This is each company’s chance to show the world how much progress they’ve made in just a few short months. Investors can learn more about our latest investments and portfolio companies by registering for a Techstars program’s virtual or in-person Demo Day event. See our upcoming Demo Day events:
Techstars Transformative World Torino
May 22 | Torino
May 29 | San Francisco
Techstars Columbus Powered by The Ohio State University
June 5 | Virtual
USC and Techstars Digital Economy Program
June 5 | Los Angeles
Techstars AI Health Baltimore powered by Johns Hopkins University and CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
June 5 | Baltimore
Connection
Events & Pre-Accelerator Activity
We believe that while people and ideas are equally distributed, opportunity and resources are not. That is why we are committed to increasing access to entrepreneurship — all over the world.
Founder Catalyst
Founder Catalyst is a pre-accelerator program providing early-stage entrepreneurs with invaluable startup education and mentorship. This part-time, primarily virtual experience is perfectly suited for founders looking to hone their entrepreneurial skills, better understand their target customers, and dig deeply into refining the solutions they are offering the world.
The following program has applications open:
USC and Techstars University Catalyst
Applications close on July 9, 2025.
To learn more about Founder Catalyst, click here.
Startup Weekend & Startup Week
Startup Weekend is a three-day program where aspiring entrepreneurs can experience startup life in hundreds of cities worldwide. Startup Week is a celebration of entrepreneurship and the people shaping the startup community in your city. See our May community events:
Techstars Startup Weekend Uni Tallinn
May 2-5, 2025
Techstars Startup Weekend Diversity & Inclusion New Orleans
May 16-19, 2025
Techstars Startup Weekend Évora
May 16-19, 2025
Techstars Startup Weekend Rome
May 16-19, 2025
Techstars Startup Weekend Uni Rimini
May 16-19, 2025
Techstars Startup Weekend Education São Bernardo do Campo
May 23-26, 2025
Techstars Startup Weekend Horizontina
May 23-26, 2025
Techstars Startup Weekend Boston
May 30-June 2, 2025
Techstars Startup Weekend São Paulo
May 30-June 2, 2025
Techstars Startup Weekend Uni CALI
May 30-June 2, 2025
For a full list of upcoming Techstars events, click here.
Virtual Events
Techstars hosts a variety of virtual events throughout the year for entrepreneurs. View our upcoming events below:
Techstars Economic Mobility Powered by Samvid Ventures - Thought Leadership Panel
May 1 | 1 pm ET
Learn more from some of our Thought Leaders about trends in economic mobility, Techstars' mentorship-driven accelerator approach, and the founder/mentor experience.
May 2 | 12 pm ET
Join our Ask Me Anything to get all your questions answered about our flagship healthcare accelerator - Techstars AI Health Baltimore, powered by Johns Hopkins University and CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield.
Inside Ecolab: What They Do, Who They Serve, and Why They Partner with Techstars
May 6 | 11:30 am ET
A virtual conversation with the Techstars Future of Food powered by Ecolab Accelerator team, designed to introduce startups, innovators, and entrepreneurs to Ecolab—an industry leader in water treatment, hygiene solutions, and sustainability-focused services across food, beverage, and industrial sectors.
May 6, 13, 20 | 11 am ET
An exclusive 3-part pitch series event, designed to give you the knowledge and tools you need to successfully pitch your startup to investors. Led by industry experts, this series will provide you with insider tips on how to improve your pitch and put it into practice!
Techstars Healthcare powered by Permanente Medicine Mid-Atlantic States - Thought Leader Panel
May 8 | 4 pm ET
Learn more from some of Permanente Medicine’s thought leaders about trends in healthcare and how innovative startups can play a role in transforming care delivery, including within their own system.
Techstars Economic Mobility Powered by Samvid Ventures - Panel with Program Alumni
May 15 | 1 pm ET
Learn more from some of our Economic Mobility program alums about their experience going through the accelerator, tips on the application process, their progress during the program, and leveraging the network post-program.
Bridging Tokyo and Silicon Valley: Techstars Global Startup Meetup
May 15 | 7 pm ET
An exclusive session connecting Tokyo and Silicon Valley with the Managing Directors of Techstars, Yuki Shirato from Techstars Tokyo, and Neal Sáles-Griffin from Techstars San Francisco! We'll kick off with a dynamic panel discussion between Yuki and Neal as they dive into the differences between Japan and Silicon Valley's startup ecosystems.
Startup Life Before (and After) Techstars
May 15 | 7:30 pm ET
Building a startup requires vision, grit, and navigating the unknown. Join Misti Cain, Managing Director of Techstars San Diego powered by SDSU, for a dynamic panel and candid conversations with founders from our 2023 and 2024 classes.
May 27 | 2 pm ET
Techstars helps founders scale their startups into world-changing businesses. We have invested in more than 4,900 early-stage startups, our portfolio is as diversified as our 10,000+ founders are unique — from Healthtech and Fintech, to Web3 and CleanTech. Learn more about our Techstars mentorship-driven accelerators and receive updates on application open dates.
Pitch Breakdown with Techstars San Diego powered by SDSU
May 28 | 1 pm ET
If you've ever wanted to have an investor review your pitch deck or hear how investors think about pitch decks, this is your chance. Misti Cain, Managing Director of Techstars San Diego powered by SDSU, will break down the pitch decks of real startups in real time. You'll receive helpful tips to make your pitch "investor ready" along with common pitfalls to avoid.
For a full list of upcoming Techstars events, click here.
Opportunity
Techstars helps founders succeed. Check out the latest news from the Techstars portfolio.
Fundraising News
Venteur (Techstars 2021), a health startup helping companies provide personalized health insurance options to their employees, raises $20M in Series A funding.
Bloctopus, formerly LZero (Techstars 2024), raises $1M to supercharge dApp development.
SeafoodAI (Techstars 2024) secures investment from NEC X to enhance seafood sustainability.
illumicell AI (Techstars 2023) raises $2M to transform fluid-based diagnostics with real-time AI.
Simplifyber (Techstars 2021), a bio-based materials company, raises $12M in Series A funding.
beSirius (Techstars 2023), an AI-powered sustainability intelligence platform for metals, mining, and heavy industries, raises €3M.
Mexican identity verification startup Nufi (Techstars 2021) raises a $1.5M seed round.
Trust & Will (Techstars 2018), the industry leader in digital estate planning, announces a $4.5M investment.
RISE Robotics (Techstars 2012), an electrification and automation company, raises $1.5M in funding.
Chassy (Techstars 2023) raises a $1.2M pre-seed round.
Japan's Sumitomo and Builders Vision back U.S. rare earths startup Phoenix Tailings (Techstars 2020).
Acquisition News
Gainsight acquires Seattle startup Skilljar (Techstars 2013) to bolster customer success platform.
DNSFilter (Techstars 2018), a cybersecurity leader in content and threat filtering at the DNS layer, announces its acquisition of Zorus, an innovative provider of endpoint-based web filtering and user behavior analytics.
Katalyst Space Technologies acquires Atomos Space (Techstars 2019), a move that combines two venture-funded startups focused on in-space servicing and orbital transfer vehicles.
Other News
TechCrunch: Techstars increases startup funding to $220,000
VNTR: How Techstars Invested in 5,000 Startups & 22 Unicorns | David Cohen, Founder of Techstars
Sure Shot Entrepreneur Podcast: Master Your Technical Edge, Solve the Right Problem, and Scale Big with Andrew Cleland
Hypepotamus: Your City, Your Startups: Techstars Atlanta Continues
Technical.ly: Techstars restarts its DC programming with a new health accelerator