Techstars Founder Catalyst WaterTech & Sustainability
Launched in Tuscaloosa, Alabama to bridge the gap between academic research and commercial success.
Built on the Techstars Network
Techstars Founder Catalyst is the only pre-accelerator backed by 20 years of Techstars experience and a network that has supported more than 5,000 startups and 23+ unicorns. Designed for early-stage founders, the program provides the guidance, support, and visibility needed to turn promising ideas into investment-ready companies and connect them with future funding opportunities.
Bridging Research to Startup
Techstars Founder Catalyst WaterTech & Sustainability
While ideas are everywhere, opportunity is not. Founder Catalyst is built to meet the needs of early-stage tech communities, bringing visibility to nascent founders that may otherwise be overlooked by traditional capital deployment.
This non-equity, part-time program is focused on education and mentorship, with a focus on ecosystem building within a specific community.
Bridging Research & Market
The UA x Techstars Partnership
Tuscaloosa, Alabama, is leveraging its world-class research and infrastructure to become a global hub for WaterTech innovation. By utilizing a high density of federal and academic assets — including the National Water Center and the University of Alabama — the region provides an unparalleled environment for developing and testing complex water technologies.
To capitalize on this ecosystem, the Techstars Founder Catalyst WaterTech & Sustainability program was launched to bridge the gap between academic research and commercial success. This partnership provides pre-seed founders with specialized startup advice, mentorship, and network access necessary to transform technical concepts into investment-ready ventures.
“Overall, the program exceeded our expectations. The in-person week in Tuscaloosa was particularly impactful, where we received precise and actionable feedback on our pitch, established a pipeline of potential customers, and explored opportunities with local partners. The program has been a pivotal experience, laying a strong foundation for our future growth and success in the US market. The support from Techstars, the partners and the local ecosystem has been exceptional, thank you for providing the resources and connections to propel us forward!”
Virginia Szepietowski | Techstars WaterTech & Sustainability
CEO of Nyad (formerly UrbanBlue)