Techstars’ Post

Reserve your spot now!!! We had over 250 founders sign up for our last event with Microsoft for Startups --- and this one is going to be equally enlightening, as Floris van Hoogenhuyze, Founder & CEO of WEVESTR will be joining us! Forecastr and WEVESTR are both exclusive partners that are part of the incredible Microsoft Founders Hub program. We all share a common mission to help increase the likelihood of success for startup founders. As part of this mission and commitment, Founders Hub is again opening up this special free educational event to ALL FOUNDERS! >>>> You can register here: https://lnkd.in/g-bjFq6J In this session, we will be talking specifically about "Fundraising, Forecasting & Financials", and how founders can impress potential investors. Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights that can help you increase the likelihood of successfully raising capital from investors. Some of the things we'll cover include the following: 💡 Tips and tricks on how to run a successful fundraising strategy 💡 The importance of knowing your numbers 💡 The importance of understanding your equity 💡 How to navigate investor conversations 💡 The purpose of a pitch deck & a financial model Join us for this special event on Tuesday, June 18th at 9am PT (12pm ET). #startups #founders #fundraising

Accessing accelerator and incubator funding is a strategic step towards scaling your startup or small business. Tailor your approach, demonstrate your venture's traction, and highlight your dynamic team. Embrace the opportunity for growth, mentorship, and community these programs offer. #StartupGrowth #BusinessAcceleration #Innovation

I’m available! 🎇 Now taking 1 consulting session per day…on the days I’m available. I help technical founders break down their complex tech so they can bring more nontechnical investors into their fundraising round. Since my focus has been on Make Sense w/ Lindsay T., Lady Engineer®, I was grateful to be reminded how much I enjoy doing this work. A technical founder I've known for years called me in June looking for help with his pitch deck narrative. 👉 He had closed $425K of his $600K pre-seed round on an incredible technology that will address many of the problems with corporate IT that I highlight on the show.  👉 He has 5 angels on his cap table, all from top-tier universities, who went through big accelerators and exited their startups. Yet, the pitch that brought them into the fold was too technical and a snooze-fest for nontechnical investors. 🤯 What we did: 👉 Reduced the amount of technical detail and increased the simple metaphors 👉 Related the value to a business audience instead of an audience of former CTOs 👉 Clarified testimonials and accomplishments so they are understood and impactful He’s already seeing progress with new investors by getting past the initial pitch to elicit great questions and setting follow-up calls. This is what the Lady Engineer® can do for you, too 💅 • Follow the link in the comments to my booking page • Select a time that works for you • Provide additional information • Submit payment ($400) • Get ready! Because I’m a real Activator (taking you from A to B in lightning-fast time) Let’s do this! PS: As a little experiment, I’ll increase that price by $10 after each call. We should all know our worth! #technicalfounders #startups #softwaredevelopment #fundraising #angelinvestment

Happy to share that Optivide will join the Principled Business Accelerator program hosted by Liberty Ventures in the following months. Principled Business is a free virtual startup accelerator program that advocates positive changes with capitalism. During the 10-week sessions, the program aims to support purposeful startup founders driving positive changes while pursuing business success. The core belief is that capitalism is a system of voluntary trade of goods and services that respects individuals' agency, dignity, and human rights. As Alexander McCobin said in the FreedomFest, “We need a movement of business leaders to drive positive change together that advances human liberty.” If you are a startup founder passionate about driving positive change with capitalism, the 2024 accelerator cohort is open until September 20. The application link is in the comment section below, and we look forward to meeting fellow founders in the coming program lessons. -------------------------------------- To receive more information about similar posts, follow the hashtags below. #Voice_Your_Money #Startup_Supporter #Social_Enterprise #Business_Ethics #Human_Rights

Welcoming 2025 with new resolutions! 🎉 I am starting 2025 with a new resolve to give back to the startup community! After raising funds from VCs and angels, and supporting startups in GTM and fundraising, I’m sharing my learnings with early-stage and aspiring founders. Through Topmate, I’m guiding entrepreneurs on: #1. Fundraising – Preparing your pitch and attracting the right investors #2. GrowthStrategies – Refining your go-to-market and scaling efficiently #3. Business Strategy – Addressing challenges and optimizing operations #4. First Venture Fundamentals – Deciding if you should start up, and how to take the first steps I’m not here to claim expertise in everything, but I’ve navigated the tough startup journey and can offer practical advice that makes a difference. I aim to support 1000+ founders avoid common pitfalls and achieve sustainable growth. If you’re looking for guidance or just a chat to refine your startup strategy, I’d be happy to connect. Let’s learn and grow together. 👉 Book a session on Topmate: [Link in comments] #Mentorship #StartupGrowth #FounderSupport #GiveBack #Topmate

Operator starting your tech company? Here are 10 common first time founder mistakes 👇🏽 1️⃣ being too attached to the original idea 2️⃣ focusing solely on the product 3️⃣ poor fundraising strategy 4️⃣ co-founder breakup 5️⃣ too much dilution of equity Want to continue? Read 6️⃣ to 8️⃣ in post below. Are you a tech startup founder? OpenseedVC offers up to $150k in angel funding and we also bring a global operator network to guide you from zero to one. Let's discuss your vision! www.openseed.vc/apply We review EVERY entry! ✅ #StartupAdvice #FounderTips #TechStartups 🚀

Operator starting your tech company? Here are 10 common first time founder mistakes 👇🏽 1️⃣ being too attached to the original idea 2️⃣ focusing solely on the product 3️⃣ poor fundraising strategy 4️⃣ co-founder breakup 5️⃣ too much dilution of equity Want to continue? Read 6️⃣ to 8️⃣ in post below. Are you a tech startup founder? OpenseedVC offers up to $150k in angel funding and we also bring a global operator network to guide you from zero to one. Let's discuss your vision! www.openseed.vc/apply We review EVERY entry! ✅ #StartupAdvice #FounderTips #TechStartups 🚀

In my previous post, we dived into the concept of Pre-seed funding, we also talked about how to get funders. Now, what do you do after understanding the steps you need- to take funds and making a list of potential funders, how do you secure funds for your startup? How do you manage your funds? How to secure Pre-seed funding for your startup; Pre-seed is the first time you're raising money so it can be a little bit like an exhausting task because you don't know yet where to start. At the end of the day following the right approach makes it achievable. Steps to guide you to get started: 1). Build your solid business plan Build a strong team. 2). Network and connect with potential investors. 3). Attend networking events. 4). Participate in start-up competition and programs. To manage your pre-seed funding, you have to; *Craft your financial blue print. *Prioritize expenses and allocate resources. *Find and engagw with top advisors. *Leverage on their expertise and network. There is absolutely nothing without challenges, let's talk about the possible challenges and solutions in Pre-seed funding; * The concept of Pre-seed funding is not just about the money- it offers a lot more than money. it's about forging partnerships that shape your startup's future. So build partnerships and not just funds. * Not every investor will consider your startup to be promising, so learn to understand rejection, this helps you to reshape your strategy and even help improve your product or products as a whole. *No startup is perfect, learn to use feedback to pinpoint and address weaknesses in your value proposition and business model, this helps to solidify the foundation of your startup. Ever heard of the Series of funding, these series of funding (Series A, B and C) follows seed funding" and "angel investing," providing outside investors the opportunity to invest funds in startups. #3mttlearning #My3mtt #lasucbt18 #productmanagement #Learning

Navigating the Startup Ecosystem: Are Accelerators Your Golden Ticket? In an ever-evolving tech landscape, how do startups stand out and speed up their journey from idea to market? Enter accelerators - but are they your best bet? Accelerators are often seen as the fast lane for startup growth, offering mentorship, funding, and networking opportunities. Yet, with a multitude of programs available, choosing the right one becomes critical. It's not just about the prestige or funding; it's about alignment. The true value lies in finding an accelerator that resonates with your startup's goals, industry sector, and growth stage. Here's a deep dive: Not all accelerators are created equal. Some excel in early-stage ideation, while others shine in scaling businesses. The key is to research meticulously - look beyond the shiny brochures and investigate their track record, alumni success stories, and mentorship quality. Before you apply, ask yourself: Does this accelerator understand my industry? Can it connect me with the right mentors, advisors, and even investors? Is its mentorship going to pivot my business towards success? Remember, an accelerator is not a shortcut but a catalyst. Choose wisely, and it could be your launchpad to unimaginable heights.