😅 Fundraising is Tough | $1M Seed Competition

😅 Fundraising is Tough | $1M Seed Competition

It’s Not Your Fault: Here’s Why Fundraising is Tough

Securing funding is one of the most difficult hurdles for any startup.

Founders need to build genuine relationships with investors, tell the story of their company through a well-crafted pitch, and create a financial model to show revenue and cost projections — among a long list of other “to-dos” during the fundraising process.

Steve Walsh , Techstars mentor-in-residence and founder of Hands On Angel LLC, breaks down the reality of fundraising on the Techstars Blog and explains why founders should not blame themselves if they’re struggling to raise. 

Read more for the three steps founders can take to turn fundraising challenges into opportunities.

Improve Your Fundraising Outcomes →



Fundraising News

  • AceUp secures $22.5M in Series A funding to deploy GenAI and machine learning-powered team coaching.
  • Mosaic Manufacturing raises $28M CAD to expand their footprint and further solidify their leadership in the additive manufacturing sector.
  • Knit announces a $9M funding round to push the boundaries of consumer insights with researcher-driven AI.
  • AltScore raises $8.5M in Series A funding to empower SME lending across Latin America.
  • Monda secures $5M in seed funding to help companies monetize data and fuel AI.

Read All Announcements →


Applications Are Open for Our Spring Programs!

We're committed to helping founders scale their startups into world-changing businesses.

Our 3-month programs surround founders with a mentorship-driven program, $120K investment, and access to the Techstars network.

Don't miss this opportunity to take your startup to the next level. Applications take 30-60 minutes.

Apply to Techstars →




Navigating the Stress of Startups and Parenting

Founders often say their startup feels like raising a child. For Littl (Techstars 2023), empowering parents with expert coaching is the foundation of their mission of supporting children’s growth while reducing stress and building confidence in parents.

Some key lessons they learned while in program with Techstars apply to both founders and parents alike:

  • Resilience is everything.
  • Marry yourself to the problem, not the solution.
  • Treat your community and mentors as extensions of your team.

Discover how you can turn these insights into real-world success along your startup journey. Or even with your parenting journey.

Read the Full Story →


NextEra Energy $1M 2025 Seed Competition 

NextEra Energy Investments (CVC of NextEra) is holding a seed investment competition for pre-seed and seed stage companies focused on cybersecurity, data & AI, decarbonization and/or energy transition.

Application deadline is Sunday, December 1st.

Join the Competition →


New Global Network Partner: Paul Hastings LLP 

Paul Hastings is a global law firm that offers comprehensive legal expertise to support founders from formation through all stages of growth. 

Paul Hastings represents companies and investors in nearly 60 countries around the world and specializes in areas such as corporate, venture capital, intellectual property, mergers & acquisitions, capital markets, litigation, and employment. 

By representing both early and late-stage companies and investors, Paul Hastings has a unique view on the challenges and opportunities that early-stage companies face and what it takes for them to fundraise, scale and successfully exit by M&A or IPO. 

Through the PH Ignite Program, Techstars' startups have access to a suite of offerings such as no cost company formation and setup, proprietary form documents, fee deferrals and fee capped financings.


How the Pandemic Sparked a Mental Health Startup Boom — What's Next?

The global mental health crisis triggered by lockdowns and social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic led to anxiety and depression rates skyrocketing by 25%, according to the World Health Organization. But where there’s a challenge, innovation follows. 

Mental health startups rose to meet the moment, and funding more than doubled in just one year — from $1.5B in 2020 to $4.5B in 2021, CB Insights reports. 

Now, the question is: What’s next? Trends like AI and automation, coupled with the rise of remote work, are reshaping the startup landscape, and opportunities abound for founders who can adapt.

How Startups Are Adapting →


Community & Events

October Virtual Meet and Greet

Learn more about our mentorship-driven accelerators and find out if Techstars is a good fit to help accelerate your startup.

Tue Oct 29, 1:30 pm ET 

Register Now → 

 

Techstars Application Deadline: Last Chance AMA

Your opportunity to gain valuable insights and guidance directly from Techstars Managing Directors. During this session, we will address your questions, share insider tips on crafting an eye-catching application, and offer advice on navigating the Techstars accelerator program.

Tue Nov 12, 1 pm ET

Register Now →


Hiring

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Techstars Stats

4,400+

Techstars Accelerator Companies

$28.1B

Total Lifetime Raised by Techstars Accelerator Companies

Data as of September 30, 2024

Learn more about our accelerators →

Building strong relationships with investors is truly essential for startups. The journey of securing funding not only demands a compelling pitch but also a clear vision and a robust financial strategy. It’s all about conveying the passion behind your business while demonstrating its potential for growth. Every connection made during this process can be a stepping stone to success! 🌟 #StartupFunding #Entrepreneurship

Moe Choice

is mentoring solopreneurs to $15k+ months

1mo

Great points! Building relationships and crafting a compelling story are crucial in the fundraising journey. Thanks for sharing this valuable insight!

Muhammad Mohsin Aslam

Helping Tech Startups Turn Ideas into Hardware Products | End-to-End Development | Prototyping & Certification | Electronic Manufacturing Services (EMS) | Founder

1mo

Amazing

Deepa A.

I 👁️🗨️ N T E L Finance Administrator| ERP Systems | DBA Integrated Aspirateur|Client Liaison|Creative Content| Academic Writing|Business Discipline| Business Studies| Market Research| Investors Associate

1mo

This is Amazing 😍👏👏👏👏🎉🎉🎉

Hanah Tran

Founder, Venture Builder, CSO, MultiPreneur, Goldman Sachs alum I Strategic Advisor: Financial Intel & Monetization I Expert Coach: Mass Commercialization I Wealth Creation: Venture Studio & Opportunity Fund.

1mo

Exciting! Maybe we could have similar challenge for Tokyo at some time after Demo Day Jared Fullwiler Yuki Shirato

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