Fundraising Fox
Techstars Ventures
also invests · investor profileBoulder, US · Founded 2019 · 11 known investors
Find your way into Techstars Ventures
Each arrow is one introduction. Sign up to fill in the first one.
Ask Iris Chan to introduce you to Jason Seats
You →Iris · together at St. Luke's Hospital →Jason
Ask Jamie Chen to introduce you to Scott Ford
You →Jamie · together at StormSensor →Scott
Ask Sam Okafor to introduce you to Brad Feld
You →Sam · together at Mobius Venture Capital →Brad
- Jared Polis749 people can intro you
- David Cohen709 people can intro you
- David Brown685 people can intro you
Sign up to find every way you can get introduced to Techstars Ventures
- Your email: who you already know at Techstars Ventures, and who your contacts know
- 2nd- and 3rd-degree connections: people you know who worked, studied or invested with the Techstars Ventures team
- Your LinkedIn: the connections who can make the intro for you
We rank every route by how warm it is, so you raise on warm intros instead of cold emails.
Techstars is a pre-seed and early-stage venture capital firm and accelerator operator that invests in founders and provides capital, mentorship, and network connections. It runs accelerator programs, a pre-accelerator, and startup community events for early-stage teams worldwide.
Also known as Techstars
Founders & leadership
Techstars Ventures was founded in 2019 by David Cohen, David Brown, Brad Feld, and Jared Polis.
Board
Investors · 11
How we know: Foundry's portfolio page · board seat on SEC Form D · Not right? Tell us
How we know: Innovation Depot's portfolio page · Not right? Tell us
How we know: offering press articles · press coverage · Not right? Tell us
How we know: press coverage · Not right? Tell us
How we know: the VCSheet dataset · Not right? Tell us
Reported raises · per SEC filings
Form D private placements$90.5M disclosed across 11 rounds · 2016–2021
▶$5MraisedMay 2021 · 1 investors · OtherRule 506(b)
- Jason SeatsExecutive Officer
- John ChinaDirector
- David CohenExecutive Officer, Director, Promoter
- Scott FordExecutive Officer
- Stacy CarterExecutive Officer
- Mary K. DerrExecutive Officer
- Shanel FieldsDirector
- -- Colorado Startups LLCPromoter
- Brad FeldDirector
- Maelle GavetExecutive Officer, Director
- David BrownDirector
- Stephanie CopelandDirector
- Offering amount
- $5M
- Amount sold
- $5M
- First sale
- May 2021
- Incorporated
- Limited Liability Company, Delaware, 2019
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$1MraisedFeb 2020 · 1 investors · OtherRule 506(b)
- Jason MendelsonDirector
- Brad FeldDirector
- Stephanie CopelandDirector
- John ChinaDirector
- -- Colorado Startups LLCPromoter
- David CohenExecutive Officer, Director, Promoter
- Stacy CarterExecutive Officer
- David BrownExecutive Officer, Director
- Mary K. DerrExecutive Officer
- Offering amount
- $1M
- Amount sold
- $1M
- First sale
- Oct 2019
- Incorporated
- Limited Liability Company, Delaware, 2015
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$3.1MraisedFeb 2020 · 2 investors · OtherRule 506(b)
- David CohenExecutive Officer, Director, Promoter
- Stacy CarterExecutive Officer
- David BrownExecutive Officer, Director
- -- Colorado Startups LLCPromoter
- Mary K. DerrExecutive Officer
- Brad FeldDirector
- Stephanie CopelandDirector
- John ChinaDirector
- Jason MendelsonDirector
- Offering amount
- $3.1M
- Amount sold
- $3.1M
- First sale
- May 2017
- Incorporated
- Limited Liability Company, Delaware, 2015
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$250.5KraisedFeb 2020 · 1 investors · OtherRule 506(b)
- Jason MendelsonDirector
- Brad FeldDirector
- Stephanie CopelandDirector
- John ChinaDirector
- Mary K. DerrExecutive Officer
- David CohenExecutive Officer, Director, Promoter
- Stacy CarterExecutive Officer
- -- Colorado Startups LLCPromoter
- David BrownExecutive Officer, Director
- Offering amount
- $250.5K
- Amount sold
- $250.5K
- First sale
- Dec 2016
- Incorporated
- Limited Liability Company, Delaware, 2015
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$751.4KraisedFeb 2020 · 2 investors · OtherRule 506(b)
- David CohenExecutive Officer, Director, Promoter
- Stacy CarterExecutive Officer
- David BrownExecutive Officer, Director
- -- Colorado Startups LLCPromoter
- Jason MendelsonDirector
- Brad FeldDirector
- Mary K. DerrExecutive Officer
- John ChinaDirector
- Stephanie CopelandDirector
- Offering amount
- $751.4K
- Amount sold
- $751.4K
- First sale
- Apr 2017
- Incorporated
- Limited Liability Company, Delaware, 2015
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$636.9KraisedFeb 2020 · 1 investors · OtherRule 506(b)
- Stephanie CopelandDirector
- Brad FeldDirector
- Jason MendelsonDirector
- -- Colorado Startups LLCPromoter
- John ChinaDirector
- Stacy CarterExecutive Officer
- David CohenExecutive Officer, Director, Promoter
- Mary K. DerrExecutive Officer
- David BrownExecutive Officer, Director
- Offering amount
- $636.9K
- Amount sold
- $636.9K
- First sale
- Jul 2018
- Incorporated
- Limited Liability Company, Delaware, 2015
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$160KraisedFeb 2020 · 3 investors · OtherRule 506(b)
- David BrownExecutive Officer, Director
- Stacy CarterExecutive Officer
- David CohenExecutive Officer, Director, Promoter
- Mary K. DerrExecutive Officer
- John ChinaDirector
- Stephanie CopelandDirector
- Brad FeldDirector
- Jason MendelsonDirector
- -- Colorado Startups LLCPromoter
- Offering amount
- $160K
- Amount sold
- $160K
- First sale
- Sep 2017
- Incorporated
- Limited Liability Company, Delaware, 2015
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$5.2MraisedFeb 2020 · 2 investors · OtherRule 506(b)
- -- Colorado Startups LLCPromoter
- Jason MendelsonDirector
- Brad FeldDirector
- Stephanie CopelandDirector
- John ChinaDirector
- Mary K. DerrExecutive Officer
- David CohenExecutive Officer, Director, Promoter
- David BrownExecutive Officer, Director
- Stacy CarterExecutive Officer
- Offering amount
- $5.2M
- Amount sold
- $5.2M
- First sale
- Oct 2018
- Incorporated
- Limited Liability Company, Delaware, 2015
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
Source: SEC EDGAR Form D. Amounts as filed; amended filings shown once at their latest values.
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Techstars is an accelerator operator and early-stage investor that selects, funds and mentors startup founders. Every company accepted into a program receives $220K in capital, three months of hands-on mentorship, and continuing access to a network of mentors, investors, operators and corporate partners.
The organization runs a portfolio of accelerator programs across leading startup hubs and specialized verticals. City and institution-based programs include Techstars Boston, Boulder, Chicago, London, New York City, Tokyo, Anywhere, Columbus (with The Ohio State University), and a program with USC, while vertical and corporate-linked programs include the ABN AMRO + Techstars Future of Finance Accelerator, Northwestern Medicine & Techstars Healthcare Accelerator, Techstars AI Health Baltimore, Techstars Alabama EnergyTech Accelerator, Techstars Future of Food Powered by Ecolab, Techstars Healthcare Accelerator powered by Permanente Medicine Mid-Atlantic States, and Techstars Space Accelerator. Highlighted focus sectors are health, finance, space and defense, and critical infrastructure. Alongside the accelerators, Techstars supports founders through Founder Catalyst, startup community partnerships, and the Startup Weekend and Startup Week event programs.
Portfolio and alumni companies cited by the company include Chainalysis, Remitly, ClassPass and Zipline.
Business model
Techstars invests a standard $220K in each company accepted into one of its accelerator programs and delivers a three-month, mentorship-driven program alongside ongoing access to its network of mentors, investors, operators and corporate partners. Programs are organized both by geography (city-based accelerators in startup hubs) and by vertical, and several are run in partnership with corporates and universities such as ABN AMRO, Ecolab, Northwestern Medicine, Permanente Medicine, The Ohio State University and USC. Beyond the accelerators, Techstars operates Founder Catalyst, startup community partnerships, and Startup Weekend and Startup Week community events.
Techstars invests capital in accelerator participants, taking an investor position in the companies it backs on published standard terms of $220K per company; several programs are run with corporate and university partners.
Traction
As of 2026 Techstars reports 11,034 founders in its network, 29 unicorn portfolio companies, more than 5,000 startups worked with over 20+ years, $55B raised by portfolio companies and a combined portfolio market cap of $353B. Named alumni include Chainalysis, Remitly, ClassPass and Zipline; 22 portfolio companies appeared on the 2026 Inc. 5000.
▸Full profile — market position, go-to-market, geography, history
Market position
Techstars describes itself as an accelerator and investor operating since 2006 with a portfolio valued at more than $300 billion, 29 unicorns and 11,034 founders. It was ranked No. 1 on TIME and Statista's 2026 accelerator list, and 22 of its portfolio companies were named to the 2026 Inc. 5000.
Techstars positions its network — thousands of mentors, alumni founders, investors and corporate partners — as its primary advantage, combined with a standardized investment offer ($220K), a three-month mentorship-intensive format, and presence across both geographic hubs and verticals such as health, finance, space and defense, and critical infrastructure where the company argues regulatory requirements, physical infrastructure and proprietary data create barriers to replication.
Go-to-market
Founders apply directly to Techstars accelerator programs, which publish standard investment terms ($220K). Reach is extended through corporate and university program partners, community programs such as Startup Weekend and Startup Week, startup community partnerships, a mentor recruitment channel, and content including a newsroom, blog and the book "Chasing Unicorns."
Early-stage startup founders worldwide seeking first capital and mentorship, including teams in health, finance, space and defense, and critical infrastructure verticals; also mentors, investors and corporate and university partners that sponsor or participate in programs.
Geography
Techstars is headquartered in Boulder and runs programs in startup hubs including Boston, Boulder, Chicago, Columbus, New York City, Baltimore, Alabama, Los Angeles (USC), London and Tokyo, plus a location-independent "Anywhere" accelerator, describing its network and community events as global.
History
Techstars has been backing early-stage startups since 2006 and has since worked with more than 5,000 startups. As of 2026 it reports 11,034 founders in its network, 29 unicorns among its portfolio companies, $55B in capital raised by portfolio companies and a combined portfolio market capitalization of $353B (elsewhere described as a portfolio worth more than $300 billion). In 2026 it was ranked No. 1 on the TIME and Statista accelerator list (America's Top Incubators and Accelerators 2026), and its Tokyo Accelerator announced its 2026 class in August 2026. A book, "Chasing Unicorns: The Techstars Playbook for Building Billion-Dollar Startups," sets out a five-stage framework called PRIDE drawn from the firm's experience with its portfolio and 13 Techstars unicorns.
Compiled by commissioned research from 1 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Non-dilutive funding · 1 SBIR/STTR award
Federal grants — no equity taken| Agency | Phase | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Air ForceAir Force | Phase II | 2019 | $1.5M |
Source: SBIR.gov award data (U.S. Small Business Administration). SBIR/STTR awards are competitive federal R&D grants and contracts — non-dilutive capital alongside any venture rounds above.
In the news
Techstars Update: July 2026 | Techstars | Techstarstechstars.com · Jul 2026
Techstars Honors Six Give First Award Winners in 2026 Celebration | Techstars | Techstarstechstars.com · Jul 2026
GlossGenius Becomes Genius AI: Inside the $1.15B Bet on the Physical Economy | Techstars | Techstarstechstars.com · Jul 2026
LinqAlpha Raises $22M to Build the Intelligence Layer for Public Markets | Techstars | Techstarstechstars.com · Jul 2026
AfriBlocks Is the First Zimbabwean Startup Backed by Techstarstechcrunch.com · Mar 2021▸Research sources · 1
primary sources listed
- Techstarstechstars.com · web
1 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Techstars Ventures do?
- Techstars is an accelerator and early-stage investor that gives founders $220K plus three months of mentorship and network access.
- Who founded Techstars Ventures?
- Techstars Ventures was founded by David Cohen, David Brown, Brad Feld, Jared Polis in 2019.
- Who are Techstars Ventures's investors?
- Techstars Ventures's investors include EIT Urban Mobility Accelerator, Firestartr, Foundry, Innovation Depot, M1720, Metavallon VC, Renaissance Venture Capital, Union Grove Venture Partners and 3 more.
- How much funding has Techstars Ventures raised?
- Techstars Ventures has disclosed $90.5M raised across 11 rounds.
- Where is Techstars Ventures headquartered?
- Techstars Ventures is headquartered in Boulder, US.