Oakland, CA — July 18, 2022 — Techstars, a global investment business that provides access to capital, one-on-one mentorship, and programming for early-stage entrepreneurs, and leading global financial services firm J.P. Morgan, open applications today for their 4th Founder Catalyst Program in Oakland, CA. Similar to the successful programs in Atlanta, Washington DC, and Miami, this cohort will support 20 women and non-binary founders, with intentionality on serving the Bay Area’s LGBT+ community.

Founders in the program will receive valuable startup education, mentorship, community building, and access to the Techstars worldwide network of entrepreneurs, mentors, investors, and corporate partners. Participants will hone their entrepreneurial skills, better understand their target customers, and dig deeply into the innovative solutions they are offering. 

The program will take place from October through December, 2022, in a primarily virtual, part-time format. 

When reflecting on her time as a Founder Catalyst participant, Mia Cooley, Founder of xHood wrote, “The connections I made here with other women founders and LGBTQ founders was invaluable. It was truly an honor to be among the best that is to come. The intention shown from our mentors and Techstars team is inimitable. Thank you doesn’t do it justice.”

The previous three Techstars Founder Catalyst Programs in partnership with J.P. Morgan have led to nearly one thousand mentor connections, four product launches, more than eight hundred fifty thousand dollars raised, and dozens of active investor conversations. In addition, seven participants were accepted into Techstars accelerators following their completion of the program.

All women & non-binary founded, early-stage companies in the Oakland & San Francisco Bay Area are encouraged to apply today through September 6th or contact foundercatalyst@techstars.com. Early applications are prioritized.

About Techstars

The Techstars worldwide network helps entrepreneurs succeed. Founded in 2006, Techstars began with three simple ideas—entrepreneurs create a better future for everyone, collaboration drives innovation, and great ideas can come from anywhere. Now we are on a mission to enable every person on the planet to contribute to, and benefit from, the success of entrepreneurs. In addition to operating accelerator programs and venture capital funds, we do this by connecting startups, investors, corporations, and cities to help build thriving startup communities. Techstars has invested in more than 3,000 companies with a combined market cap of more than $140B. www.techstars.com

About JPMorgan Chase

This Founder Catalyst program is supported by J.P. Morgan's Innovation Economy business unit, its Women on the Move initiative and the Office of LGBT+ Affairs. Through the Innovation Economy division, J.P. Morgan serves high-growth, early-stage companies, and founders with solutions they need to scale quickly, from credit and financing to treasury and payments, international banking, access to the Investment Bank, asset management, and more. The Women on the Move initiative fuels female ambition and advances financial equality by providing greater access to capital, networking, expertise, and advice to female clients, serving women-owned or women-run businesses at all stages of development, from start-ups through large corporations. The Office of LGBT+ Affairs is a global initiative dedicated to advancing equity and inclusion for the LGBT+ community.

Media contact:

Jennifer Pakradooni

jennifer.pakradooni@techstars.com 

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