Techstars

Techstars is a global platform that invests in and supports early-stage technology companies. Founded in 2006, it operates a mentorship-driven accelerator program, providing seed funding, intensive mentorship, and access to a network of investors and entrepreneurs. Techstars has programs in various locations worldwide, including Boston, Boulder, New York, Seattle, London, Chicago, and Austin. It invests $118,000 in each company, with $18,000 in seed funding and an optional $100,000 convertible debt note. Techstars also has industry-specific accelerator programs, such as Techstars Retail and Techstars Music, focusing on retail and music technology, respectively. Its portfolio includes over 1,000 companies with a combined market cap of $8.1 billion.

Ethan Austin JD

Director

Sarah Bain

Managing Director

Saalim Chowdhury

Managing Director

Timothy Dorr

Managing Director

Maelle Gavet

CEO and Board Member

Terry Gold

Managing Director

Kirstin Hunter

Managing Director

Raphaele Leyendecker

Managing Director

Bob Moczydlowsky

Managing Director

Bruno Morency

Managing Director

Zach Nies

Managing Director

Hilla Ovil-Brenner

Managing Director

Julie Penner

Program Director

Neal Sales-Griffin

Managing Director

Martin Schilling

Managing Director

Sunil Sharma

Managing Director

KJ Singh

Managing Director

Oyin Solebo

Managing Director

Vijay Tirathrai

Managing Director

Kartik Varma

Managing Director

Jenna Walker

Managing Director

Anne Wellington

Managing Director

Past deals in Gulf Cooperation Council

Revent

Pre Seed Round in 2024
Revent is on a mission to help hundred thousand SMEs in GCC unlock $750M of Capex while saving 1M devices from prematurely ending up in e-waste

ViewIT

Pre Seed Round in 2023
ViewIT is a technology company specializing in real estate solutions. It offers a mobile application that simplifies the listing process for real estate agents and provides clients with verified video walkthroughs of properties. The platform addresses issues of fake listings and inconvenient viewings by enabling agents to conduct geotagged video tours. Currently operational in Dubai and Karachi, Pakistan, ViewIT has approximately 425 monthly active users and 800+ listings, with a monthly growth rate of 12% for listings and 10% for users.

Revent

Pre Seed Round in 2023
Revent is on a mission to help hundred thousand SMEs in GCC unlock $750M of Capex while saving 1M devices from prematurely ending up in e-waste

Autobia

Seed Round in 2023
Autobia, established in 2021 and headquartered in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, operates a B2B marketplace platform designed to address infrastructure and after-sales challenges within the automotive industry. The company connects wholesalers and resellers by providing integrated digital, operational, and logistical solutions, facilitating seamless trade of spare parts globally.

Voyance

Pre Seed Round in 2022
Voyance is a big data company that leverages machine learning to help businesses make informed predictions about future outcomes. Its platform simplifies data science by acquiring, validating, storing, and securing data while also managing administrative tasks related to data preparation and analysis. This includes cleaning and planning data, as well as generating reports to facilitate stakeholder engagement. Voyance’s technology enables organizations to address critical questions, such as forecasting revenue, detecting fraudulent transactions, and assessing customer churn. The company is currently piloting its services with various institutions, including banks and fintech firms, across Africa and the United Arab Emirates.

Dawafast

Seed Round in 2022
Dawafast is a pharmaceutical manufacturing firm headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, that operates an online pharmacy shopping platform. This platform is designed to offer a wide range of pharmaceutical products to consumers, emphasizing quality delivery services. By connecting end-users directly to pharmacy products, Dawafast aims to provide an efficient shopping experience while ensuring affordability for its customers.

Voyance

Pre Seed Round in 2022
Voyance is a big data company that leverages machine learning to help businesses make informed predictions about future outcomes. Its platform simplifies data science by acquiring, validating, storing, and securing data while also managing administrative tasks related to data preparation and analysis. This includes cleaning and planning data, as well as generating reports to facilitate stakeholder engagement. Voyance’s technology enables organizations to address critical questions, such as forecasting revenue, detecting fraudulent transactions, and assessing customer churn. The company is currently piloting its services with various institutions, including banks and fintech firms, across Africa and the United Arab Emirates.

Autobia

Pre Seed Round in 2022
Autobia, established in 2021 and headquartered in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, operates a B2B marketplace platform designed to address infrastructure and after-sales challenges within the automotive industry. The company connects wholesalers and resellers by providing integrated digital, operational, and logistical solutions, facilitating seamless trade of spare parts globally.

AlGooru

Pre Seed Round in 2021
AlGooru is a Saudi-based educational platform that connects students with qualified private tutors for a wide range of subjects, including academic, vocational, and recreational areas. Through its dynamic tutor matching service, AlGooru offers both online and in-person tutoring options, allowing users to find vetted tutors quickly and efficiently. The platform is designed to cater to the individual needs of students, facilitating personalized long-term subscriptions that enhance the learning experience. By providing access to a diverse pool of tutors from various disciplines, AlGooru aims to support motivated learners in achieving their educational goals.

StrategyConnect

Seed Round in 2021
StrategyConnect is a technology-driven aggregator based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, specializing in the recruitment of expert talent to support businesses in executing critical projects efficiently. Founded in 2017, the company focuses on operationalizing agile teams by seamlessly connecting organizations with management consultants and tech engineers. Its platform facilitates the recruitment process by simplifying project complexities and enabling organizations to source talent that aligns with specific job requirements, thereby expanding their access to external expertise beyond local talent pools. This approach empowers businesses, particularly those in the Middle East, to fulfill their talent needs in a cost-effective manner.

Workathlon

Seed Round in 2020
Workathlon is an AI-powered recruitment solution specifically designed for the hospitality industry, providing essential tools to connect employers with top talent. The company offers a range of services, including headhunting, recruiting, and HR consulting, which help clients optimize their staffing processes and reduce hiring costs. With over thirty thousand hospitality professionals utilizing its platform, Workathlon serves as a key resource for job seekers researching potential employers. The company has established partnerships with more than 350 businesses, including hotels, restaurants, tour operators, and yachts across multiple regions, such as Greece, Cyprus, Germany, Malta, the UAE, and Switzerland. By combining advanced marketing practices with recruitment services, Workathlon positions itself as a vital player in the hospitality workforce landscape.

EduChain

Seed Round in 2020
EduChain Inc. is a company based in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, that specializes in developing enterprise software tools for blockchain-enabled digital document management. Founded in 2016, EduChain offers a secure digital platform for the issuance, sharing, and verification of academic documents. Its flagship solution allows academic institutions to issue official credentials such as diplomas, transcripts, and certificates digitally. By utilizing blockchain infrastructure, EduChain enables instant issuance and authentication of these records, empowering registrars with control over document management and granting students authority over who can access their academic information. This innovative approach helps educational institutions reduce administrative costs, streamline processing times, and explore new revenue opportunities.

Lancify

Pre Seed Round in 2020
Lancify is a company based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, founded in 2017. It operates an online platform that connects student freelancers with companies, offering a range of services including project management, web development, graphic design, and digital marketing. Lancify also provides courses to teach young people new-age skills related to the latest SaaS tools, such as creating websites with Webflow or building design systems with Figma. These courses are designed to be engaging and immediately applicable to freelance projects, helping individuals build careers in the freelance marketplace. The company is backed by notable investors including Techstars.

Cake

Pre Seed Round in 2019
Equity should be a piece of cake. We’re on a mission to simplify companies issuing and transferring shares, options and notes, and keeping your owners sweet. Started in Australia, we now help startups in Singapore, US, UK, India, UAE, New Zealand and growing fast!

Derq

Seed Round in 2017
Derq Inc., established in 2016 and headquartered in Dubai, specializes in developing artificial intelligence and V2X technology to predict and prevent car accidents. The company's core business involves creating a real-time predictive analytics platform that unifies data from various road users and predicts their movements continuously. This platform feeds into a live dashboard accessible to road owners and operators, while also sending alerts to connected vehicles via patented V2X technology. Derq aims to eliminate crashes, save lives, and create safer, smarter roadways through its innovative AI-driven solutions.
Spot something off? Help us improve by flagging any incorrect or outdated information. Just email us at support@teaserclub.com. Your feedback is most welcome.