space.template.Accelerator+profile




 * Name:** TechStars, __ [] __
 * Date Founded:** 2006
 * Cities:** Boulder
 * Address:** 1375 Walnut St., Boulder, CO, 80302 (map)
 * Twitter:** __ [] __
 * First Class:** 2007
 * Total Classes:** 7
 * Total Companies Graduated:** 60
 * Notable Graduates:** Socialthing (acquired by AOL acquired), Intense Debate (acquired by WordPress)


 * Founded by:** David Cohen, Brad Field, David Brown, Jared Polis
 * Next Deadline:** January 31 (Boston), March 16 (Boulder), May 16 (Seattle)
 * Next Class:** Winter 2011 (New York)


 * **TechStars** is a mentorship-driven [|seed stage] [|investment fund] founded in 2006 by David Cohen, Brad Feld, [|Jared Polis] and David Brown. [|[1]] TechStars provides seed funding for teams forming web/software companies. The organization holds programs in [|Boulder, Colorado], [|Boston, Massachusetts] , [|Seattle, Washington] and [|New York City, New York] . The companies are given access to mentors and work with [|venture capital] firms and [|angel investors] as they look to raise a round of funding.

// ** We are very selective. ** // TechStars only accepts about ten companies into each program. Last year, more than 600 companies applied to TechStars. Getting in is hard, and it means something special. Are you among the best?

** // Seed funding. // ** TechStars fills the startup funding gap by providing just enough capital to get your idea off the ground. Your new company receives up to $18,000 in seed funding.

** // Advice and Mentoring. // ** TechStars fills the experience gap by bringing together the best and the brightest in one place and surrounding you with __ [|incredible proven mentors] __ for the three months. With this much talent in one place you'll get great advice on your product and strategy, thereby ensuring the best possible start for your new business.

// ** Connections. ** // TechStars companies get immeasurable benefits that come from introductions and connections to potential partners and customers. At the end of the program, each company also has the opportunity to pitch during an investor event that we organize. Usually there are more than 200 VCs and angel investors in attendance.

** // A great deal // ** and // ** a great co-founder ** //. In exchange for the TechStars program, seed funding, advice, mentorship, connections, and investor demo day, TechStars receives a 6% equity stake in your new company. TechStars receives "founders stock" which is common stock, just like yours. We want to be thought of as an experienced and well connected co-founder so we have the same risk and reward system that you do. __ [|Learn more] __. || media type="custom" key="10227253" ||
 * Investment & Equity:** Your new company receives up to **$18,000 in seed funding, TechStars receives a 6% equity** stake in your new company.


 * Mentors (updated 19-08-2011):**


 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/dAlmaer.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/dalmaer/"]] ||< __ [|Dion Almaer] __ ||< Founder, Ajaxian and Director, Developer Tools at Mozilla ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/salsop.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/salsop/"]] ||< __ [|Stewart Alsop] __ ||< Partner, Alsop-Louie Partners ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/mBaldwin.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/mbaldwin/"]] ||< __ [|Micah Baldwin] __ ||< CEO, Graphic.ly ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/paulBerberian.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/pberberian/"]] ||< __ [|Paul Berberian] __ ||< Founder and former CEO of Raindance Communications ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/bBernthal.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/bbernthal/"]] ||< __ [|Brad Bernthal] __ ||< Director, Silicon Flatirons Centers' Entrepreneurship Initiative ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/gBilbrey.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/gbilbrey/"]] ||< __ [|George Bilbrey] __ ||< Co-Founder, President Return Path, Inc. ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/mBlumberg.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/mblumberg/"]] ||< __ [|Matt Blumberg] __ ||< Co-Founder, CEO & Chairman Return Path, Inc. ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/davidBrown.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/dbrown/"]] ||< __ [|David Brown] __ ||< Founder and President, ZOLL Data Systems ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/daveCarlson.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/dcarlson/"]] ||< __ [|Dave Carlson] __ ||< Founder & Managing Director, eonBusiness ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/benCasnocha.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/bcasnocha/"]] ||< __ [|Ben Casnocha] __ ||< Entrepreneur & Author ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/jClavier.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/jclavier/"]] ||< __ [|Jeff Clavier] __ ||< Founder, SoftTech VC ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/davidCohen.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/dcohen/"]] ||< __ [|David Cohen] __ ||< Founder and CEO, TechStars ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/dickCostolo.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/dcostolo/"]] ||< __ [|Dick Costolo] __ ||< COO, Twitter and Founder and CEO, FeedBurner ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/darrenCrystal.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/dcrystal/"]] ||< __ [|Darren Crystal] __ ||< Founder and CTO, Photobucket.com ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/hDiamond.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/hdiamond/"]] ||< __ [|Howard Diamond] __ ||< CEO, Aventura ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/dDodge.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/ddodge/"]] ||< __ [|Don Dodge] __ ||< Developer Advocate, Google ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/dDrach.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/ddrach/"]] ||< __ [|Dave Drach] __ ||< Managing Director, Microsoft Emerging Business Team ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/bfeld.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/bfeld/"]] ||< __ [|Brad Feld] __ ||< Managing Director, Foundry Group ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/tFerriss.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/tferriss/"]] ||< __ [|Tim Ferriss] __ ||< Author, Advisor, Investor ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/bflagg.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/bflagg/"]] ||< __ [|Bill Flagg] __ ||< President and former Co-Owner, RegOnline ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/jFranklin.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/jfranklin/"]] ||< __ [|Jim Franklin] __ ||< Former VP/GM, Oracle & CEO, Decisioneering ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/mGalligan.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/mgalligan/"]] ||< __ [|Matt Galligan] __ ||< Chief Strategy Officer, SimpleGeo ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/nGlaros.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/nglaros/"]] ||< __ [|Nicole Glaros] __ ||< Managing Director, TechStars Boulder ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/rHayes.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/rhayes/"]] ||< __ [|Rob Hayes] __ ||< Partner, First Round Capital ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/tHigley.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/thigley/"]] ||< __ [|Tom Higley] __ ||< CEO, Iggli ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/kholland.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/kholland/"]] ||< __ [|Kirk Holland] __ ||< General Partner, Vista Ventures ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/mVanhorn.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/mvanhorn/"]] ||< __ [|Matt Van Horn] __ ||< Business Development Manager, Digg; Co-founder, Zimride ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/dHose.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/dhose/"]] ||< __ [|David Hose] __ ||< Founder, Ideas and Plans ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/jHug.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/jhug/"]] ||< __ [|Josh Hug] __ ||< CEO & Co-Founder, Shelfari.com ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/bJackson.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/bjackson/"]] ||< __ [|Brett Jackson] __ ||< Entrepreneur & Investor ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/jKalmikoff.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/jkalmikoff/"]] ||< __ [|Jeffrey Kalmikoff] __ ||< Chief Creative Officer, skinnyCorp and Threadless ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/alexKing.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/aking/"]] ||< __ [|Alex King] __ ||< Founder of CrowdFavorite.com, former founder of FeedLounge.com and Original Contributing Developer, WordPress ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/wLea.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/wlea/"]] ||< __ [|Wendy Lea] __ ||< CEO, GetSatisfaction.com ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/sLevine.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/slevine/"]] ||< __ [|Seth Levine] __ ||< Managing Director, Foundry Group ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/hlindzon.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/hlindzon/"]] ||< __ [|Howard Lindzon] __ ||< Creator, Wallstrip, StockTwits and Biltmore Venture Partners ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/donLoeb.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/dloeb/"]] ||< __ [|Don Loeb] __ ||< VP of Partner Services, FeedBurner ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/dMandell.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/dmandell/"]] ||< __ [|David Mandell] __ ||< Senior Marketing and Communications Executive and Entrepreneur ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/eMarcoullier.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/emarcoullier/"]] ||< __ [|Eric Marcoullier] __ ||< Founder and CEO, Gnip and Founder, MyBlogLog ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/kMarks.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/kmarks/"]] ||< __ [|Krista Marks] __ ||< General Manager, Disney Online Kerpoof Studios ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/rMcintyre.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/rmcintyre/"]] ||< __ [|Ryan McIntyre] __ ||< Managing Director, Foundry Group ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/jMendelson.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/jmendelson/"]] ||< __ [|Jason Mendelson] __ ||< Managing Director, Foundry Group ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/cMoody.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/cmoody/"]] ||< __ [|Chris Moody] __ ||< President & COO, Gnip ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/dMorin.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/dmorin/"]] ||< __ [|Dave Morin] __ ||< Senior Platform Manager, Facebook ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/mMullenweg.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/mmullenweg/"]] ||< __ [|Matt Mullenweg] __ ||< Founder, Automattic (Wordpress.com, Akismet) ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/kimbalMusk.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/kmusk/"]] ||< __ [|Kimbal Musk] __ ||< Founder and CEO, Medium and angel investor, Paypal, X.com ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/michaelPlatt.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/mplatt/"]] ||< __ [|Michael Platt] __ ||< Partner, Cooley Godward Kronish, LLP ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/jaredPolis.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/jpolis/"]] ||< __ [|Jared Polis] __ ||< US Congressman, Colorado 2nd District. Chairman, The Jared Polis Foundation and Founder of BlueMountain.com and ProFlowers.com ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/gregReinacker.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/greinacker/"]] ||< __ [|Greg Reinacker] __ ||< Founder and CTO, Newsgator Technologies ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/nielRobertson.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/nrobertson/"]] ||< __ [|Niel Robertson] __ ||< CEO of Trada ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/lisaRutherford.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/lrutherford/"]] ||< __ [|Lisa Rutherford] __ ||< Twofish, Inc. ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/aSack.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/asack/"]] ||< __ [|Andy Sack] __ ||< Executive Director, TechStars Seattle & Managing Partner, Founder's Co-op ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/pSheinbaum.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/psheinbaum/"]] ||< __ [|Pete Sheinbaum] __ ||< Founder & CEO, Mandelbrot Project, Inc. ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/mSolon.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/msolon/"]] ||< __ [|Mark Solon] __ ||< Managing Partner, Highway 12 Ventures ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/daveTaylor.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/dtaylor/"]] ||< __ [|Dave Taylor] __ ||< Serial entrepreneur, author, and consultant ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/toddVernon.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/tvernon/"]] ||< __ [|Todd Vernon] __ ||< CEO, Lijit.com and founder of Raindance Communications ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/cWand.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/cwand/"]] ||< __ [|Chris Wand] __ ||< Entrepreneur and Investor ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/bWest.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/bwest/"]] ||< __ [|Bill West] __ ||< Founder & CEO, Taylor West Advisors ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/fWilson.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/fwilson/"]] ||< __ [|Fred Wilson] __ ||< Partner, Union Square Ventures ||
 * < [[image:http://www.techstars.org/images/mentors/mZeisser.jpg link="http://www.techstars.org/mentors/mzeisser/"]] ||< __ [|Michael Zeisser] __ ||< Senior Vice President, Liberty Media Corporation ||


 * Advisors (updated 19-08-2011):**


 * < __ [|Mitchell Ashley] __ ||< Founder, Converging Network ||
 * < __ [|Tim Connor] __ ||< Partner, Sequel Venture Partners ||
 * < __ [|Terry Gold] __ ||< Founder, CEO, and President, Gold Systems ||
 * < __ [|Ryan Hunter] __ ||< Financial Analyst & Head of Marketing, Wedge Partners ||
 * < __ [|Paul Jerde] __ ||< Director, University of Colorado Leeds School of Business and The Deming Center ||
 * < __ [|Lee Kennedy] __ ||< Founder, Bolder Search ||
 * < __ [|Rick Klau] __ ||< Google Business Product Manager, Blogger ||
 * < __ [|Sue Kunz] __ ||< Founder and CEO, Solidware Technologies ||
 * < __ [|Jim Lejeal] __ ||< Founder, Chairman, and CEO, Oxlo Systems ||
 * < __ [|Ryan Martens] __ ||< Founder and CTO, Rally Software Development ||
 * < __ [|Tim Miller] __ ||< CEO, Rally Software Development ||
 * < __ [|Frank Moyes] __ ||< Entrepreneurship Scholar in Residence, University of Colorado ||
 * < __ [|Jeff Nolan] __ ||< VP, Corporate Development at NewsGator Technologies, Inc. ||
 * < __ [|Jim Pollock] __ ||< CEO, AWhere, Inc. ||
 * < __ [|Lucy Sanders] __ ||< Founder and CEO, National Center for Women & Information Technology ||
 * < __ [|Mark Sawyer] __ ||< President and CEO, Vico Software ||
 * < __ [|Brad Schell] __ ||< Founder & Board Member, Sketchup (acquired by Google) ||
 * < __ [|Chris Scoggins] __ ||< Principal, Sequel Venture Partners ||
 * < __ [|Alan Shimel] __ ||< Chief Strategy Officer, StillSecure ||

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