Techstars
Techstars Central LLC, founded in 2006 and based in Boulder, Colorado, operates as a startup accelerator and venture capital firm focused on supporting early-stage technology-oriented companies. It specializes in a mentorship-driven accelerator program, selecting ten startups each summer to participate in a three-month incubation period, offering funding of $120,000 in exchange for equity. Techstars invests primarily in sectors such as fintech, artificial intelligence, blockchain, augmented reality, and IoT, while avoiding investments in medical devices, healthcare technology, and local service-oriented businesses. In addition to its primary accelerator, Techstars has various specialized programs, including those focused on music, retail, mobility, and social impact, with global reach extending to regions such as Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The firm prefers taking minority stakes, typically between six and ten percent, without seeking board representation or investor rights. Techstars has built a robust network of entrepreneurs, mentors, and corporate partners to foster innovation and growth within its portfolio, which includes over 1,000 companies with a significant collective market capitalization.
Non Equity Assistance in 2021
BuckUp a short-term loan service that uses customers’ devices as collateral.
Con.doit is electrical system mapping, monitoring and circuit analysis software. We're taking electrical system information to the cloud, and allowing electrical engineers, contractors, and system owners to share and execute proactively like never before.
TruSpin uses a breakthrough A/C electrospinning process to affordably mass-produce compositions of nanofibers that are difficult or impossible to make using pre-existing methods. Right now, TruSpin is using these nanofibers as an additive to the chemicals that go inside batteries for a tremendous increase in energy density.
Covatic Ltd, established in 2016 and headquartered in Birmingham, United Kingdom, specializes in broadcast personalization software. The company utilizes mobile-based algorithms to enhance user experiences through smart personalization in applications. With an additional office in London, Covatic aims to refine its technology and expand its offerings, focusing on developing innovative solutions that meet the needs of its users. The team is composed of dedicated problem solvers committed to advancing their products and fostering partnerships with like-minded individuals and organizations.
A 2019 report showed that 38% of Online shoppers reported that they've personally had a package stolen. We aim to put a stop to package theft with the world's smartest package safe. Our product combines a rugged package safe with IoT technology, powered by our proprietary software to stop package theft in its tracks.
You wouldn’t pay for digital advertising without receiving analytics and actionable performance data. We think the same principle should apply for Moving Out Of Home (MOOH) ads. That’s why we developed a suite of measurement and attribution tools specifically for the MOOH industry. StreetMetrics bridges the gap between the physical and digital worlds for MOOH marketers. We enable marketers to plan, track, and prove the impact of their MOOH ad campaigns with our digital measurement and attribution tools.
Clicktivated Video, INC. owns and operates an Amplified Video Engagement (AVE) platform that allows users to interact with individual products featured within video and buy it. The company was founded in 2013 and is based in Birmingham, Alabama with additional offices in Detroit, Michigan; New York, New York; Chicago, Illinois; and Los Angeles, California.
Case Status, Inc. designs and develops a cloud-based client engagement tool for the legal services industry. It develops an application that provides solutions, including track and measure client happiness, send updates to clients, and communicate with clients. Case Status, Inc. was founded in 2017 and is based in Birmingham, Alabama with additional offices in Charleston, South Carolina.
Joonko Diversity Inc. operates a platform designed to address bias within organizations by utilizing user data. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, with an additional office in Tel Aviv, Israel, Joonko's solution enables users to integrate various SaaS platforms, providing real-time insights into workplace bias as it occurs. The platform assists talent leaders by facilitating the receipt of qualified applications from a diverse and vetted candidate pool, which has been pre-approved by other leading companies. This approach not only streamlines the hiring process but also promotes inclusivity within the workplace.
FreeTextbooks.com, LLC, founded in 2011 and based in Birmingham, Alabama, operates a platform that facilitates the buying, selling, and renting of textbooks among students. The company has established a network of 1,000 student representatives who engage with their peers to manage transactions within their campus communities. Leveraging a suite of mobile applications, FreeTextbooks supports logistics across more than 90 college campuses, resulting in over 300,000 books sold. This model enables students to sell their textbooks for higher prices and purchase them at lower costs, providing instant delivery and significant savings, totaling over $3.5 million annually for the student body.
Founded by brothers Nate and Mike Schmidt, Instagift has been providing innovative ecommerce products for locally owned businesses since 2008. At their core, Instagift provides industry leading egift card and mobile gift card solutions.
Instagift is a 2010 graduate of Techstars, a member of the Founder's Co-op family, and is proudly headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama at the beautiful Innovation Depot.