USC and Techstars University Catalyst

2026 - Hybrid Program

About the Program

The USC and Techstars University Catalyst supports up to 20 startups in a 10-week, part-time, primarily virtual pre-accelerator program from September through November. Early-stage USC faculty, staff, alumni and student founders will have access to virtual masterclasses with a focus on pitch coaching and pitch deck development, 1:1 mentoring and peer collaboration opportunities.

FAQs

Who is eligible for this program?

• Companies with one or more founders affiliated with USC (current faculty, staff, alumni or student)

• Companies based in the Greater Los Angeles area

• For-profit companies that have raised less than $1M

• Companies that have not participated in previous Techstars Founder Catalyst Programs or Techstars Accelerators

Why should founders participate in this program?

Founders will gain access to market-preparation resources, including expert-led instruction, exclusive thought leadership, and coaching by experienced entrepreneurs. Participants also receive exclusive access to mentors for 1:1 meetings with subject matter experts, and have the opportunity to engage with a supportive community of other founders to grow their network and build lasting relationships.

When do Masterclasses and networking events take place? Is there an attendance requirement?

During the program, participants will gain access to weekly masterclasses designed to help them scale their businesses and navigate some of the unique challenges that founders face. There will also be pitch coaching sessions. 

Sessions will generally take place both Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12-1:30 pm PT throughout the duration of the program. Selected founders are expected to attend on both days each week in addition to submitting a full pitch for the Pitch Day Showcase to be considered a participant in the program. Networking events will also take place for the duration of the program which founders are expected to attend. 

What is the time commitment?

Founders' total commitment is approximately 10-15 hours per week for 10 weeks. This varies depending on how many mentor meetings founders book each week. Example: 3 mentor meetings/week is common. Founders will also spend 3 hours in weekly masterclasses, an hour meeting with our Entrepreneur in Residence, an hour meeting with their peer group and with other founders in the cohort.

Will co-founders be allowed to participate in programming?

Although we have designed the program to be most engaging for selected CEOs, co-founders may participate in some elements of the program. 

Where will the program be based?

This program will be delivered to companies in the Greater Los Angeles area in a hybrid format (primarily virtual with some in-person elements in the Greater Los Angeles area). Founders will be able to access it by leveraging tools including Google Meets and Slack.

Do you have to be located in the Greater Los Angeles area?

Yes, the program is designed to elevate, give business advice, and promote USC founders and their businesses in the Greater Los Angeles area. 

How many startups will be selected?

Up to 20 will be selected.

How will you choose which startups to accept?

We will evaluate applications based on meeting basic eligibility requirements (USC affiliated, raised less than $1M, based in Greater Los Angeles), the quality of the team, traction to date, the market opportunity, and the idea itself. We also consider other factors such as the impact this program will have on the team, quality of any pitch videos submitted, and overall quality of the narratives submitted in the application form. 

Is the program industry-agnostic? 

Yes, the program is industry-agnostic. We are excited to help founders build their businesses across a range of industries including bioscience, engineering, AI, healthcare, deep tech, and media technology.

At what stage should a company be to apply?

Companies should have conducted initial customer discovery and validated their idea with early traction. Companies do not need to have raised any funding or achieved any specific level of sales. We are looking for companies that have raised less than $1M.

Who is running the program?

The program is led by a Techstars program team with support from USC. Throughout the program, participants will also gain access to other leadership from Techstars, subject matter experts at USC, and key stakeholders from both the USC and Techstars' networks.

Does the program cost anything? Will there be any requirement to exchange equity?

There is no cost to participate in the University Catalyst program. The University Catalyst program is distinct from the Techstars Accelerator and involves no direct investment or equity exchange. These programs are run free of charge to selected participants.

How does someone apply / who / how can they contact for more details? 

Interested individuals will be able to apply via a Techstars application link and can request additional information or send questions to usc-community@techstars.com.

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