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.
Qualifi empowers recruiters to find the best candidates faster by enabling on-demand phone interviews. Qualifi’s frictionless screening platform saves both recruiters and candidates time while maintaining a human touch. The best candidates are off the market in 10 days and typical phone interviews have been shown to add 6-8 days to an already long hiring process. With Qualifi, the majority of candidate responses happen on Day 1. Our recruiters scale effectively and win talent with speed.
Wave Therapeutics
Seed Round in 2021
Bussert Medical is a Biotechnology Company.
Kintail is a business intelligence and integrations platform for Commercial Construction.
Pierce Aerospace is a Remote ID UAS Service Supplier (RID-USS) focused on practical and robust integration of Remote ID services into the UAS ecosystem. As an industry leader, Pierce Aerospace serves on the Unmanned Aircraft Safety Team, ASTM F38 UAS Remote ID Committee, and the FAA’s Drone Advisory Committee Task Groups for Remote ID and Waivers. Funds from the US Air Force and the State of Indiana support the development of Pierce Aerospace’s Flight Portal ID suite of Remote ID technologies. Flight Portal ID was nominated as Indiana’s Innovation of the Year by Techpoint and was awarded first place in Remote ID technology by AUVSI’s Xcellence’s Awards. Pierce Aerospace is headquartered in Indianapolis, IN, The Racing Capital of the World.
STRE.ME is a provider of strategy and training services used to simplify and create cultures of awareness and accountability. The company's SaaS platform improves patient satisfaction, outcomes, and hospital profitability by tackling the annual spend in healthcare on premature deaths and avoidable health costs which result from biases and inequities. Its platform enables HR and diversity leaders in healthcare to train, set, track, and view progress towards boosting organizational outcomes, like patient satisfaction. STRE.ME was founded in 2018 and is headquartered in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Ateios is enabling a new generation of thin and flexible electronics with our ultra-thin, conformable, and customizable batteries.
The company's current focus is zinc-oxide batteries, that achieve 2-5x higher energy density compared to coin cells. Ateios’ novel manufacturing process allows customizable batteries that can be shaped around the needs of the product.
The company was founded in 2018.
Civic Champs, Inc. is a software developer that provides an application designed to assist nonprofit organizations in managing volunteer activities and tracking essential data for grant applications. The app utilizes geofencing technology to monitor volunteer check-ins and check-outs, streamlining the process of hour tracking and engagement. In addition to time management, the platform facilitates small donations, event scheduling, and mentorship tracking, while offering real-time data access and feedback mechanisms. Founded in 2019 and headquartered in Bloomington, Indiana, with an additional office in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Civic Champs aims to reduce the administrative burden on nonprofits by automating volunteer management tasks. The application is available for download on both the App Store and Google Play.
ConverSight.ai is artificial intelligence and analytics-based platform that uncovers actionable business insights for enterprises through natural language conversations and enables them to take action instantly. The platform generates tremendous efficiencies across organizational hierarchies from junior to senior leadership, reducing our customer report generation costs by over 50%. The company was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in Indianapolis.
F2K Inc. is an esports organization founded in 2015 and based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The company develops and streams esports teams and games, focusing on a diverse range of content, including card games and educational resources related to esports. F2K aggregates streamers into its network, enabling them to monetize their content while leveraging their reach to promote its own products. The organization is committed to fostering diversity within the gaming community, actively supporting underserved groups, including women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ individuals. This commitment not only enhances F2K's brand reputation but also allows it to reach a broader and more diverse audience. Additionally, F2K sells apparel online and is engaged in creating and licensing its own intellectual property, positioning itself as a forward-thinking entity in the evolving landscape of gaming and esports.
Qualifi empowers recruiters to find the best candidates faster by enabling on-demand phone interviews. Qualifi’s frictionless screening platform saves both recruiters and candidates time while maintaining a human touch. The best candidates are off the market in 10 days and typical phone interviews have been shown to add 6-8 days to an already long hiring process. With Qualifi, the majority of candidate responses happen on Day 1. Our recruiters scale effectively and win talent with speed.
Recycled Granite, founded in 2009 by Julie Rizzo, specializes in manufacturing sustainable building materials by repurposing stone waste from the countertop fabrication industry. The company produces a diverse range of eco-friendly products, including stone veneer, pavers, fire pits, and various home goods. By converting scrap granite into usable materials, Recycled Granite provides customers with an environmentally responsible alternative to traditional landscaping products, helping to reduce landfill waste and conserve natural resources.
MITO Material Solutions, Inc. is a specialty chemical company based in Indianapolis, Indiana, with an additional office in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Founded in 2016, the company focuses on developing and manufacturing graphene-based hybrid polymer modifiers and additives that significantly enhance material performance across various industries. One of its key products, the MITO T-Series, is a nano-additive that, when mixed with epoxies or resins, can increase the toughness of composite parts by 100% while reducing the likelihood of mechanical failure by 80%. This versatility allows industries to either enhance product toughness or decrease the quantity of materials used. The T-Series is particularly beneficial for the recreational vehicle and boating sectors, where it toughens fiberglass structures, as well as for the aerospace industry, where it enables manufacturers to reduce part weight without compromising toughness, resulting in substantial cost savings. MITO Material Solutions aims to improve the durability and performance of materials in applications such as ester resins, epoxies, and thermoplastics.
Ateios is enabling a new generation of thin and flexible electronics with our ultra-thin, conformable, and customizable batteries.
The company's current focus is zinc-oxide batteries, that achieve 2-5x higher energy density compared to coin cells. Ateios’ novel manufacturing process allows customizable batteries that can be shaped around the needs of the product.
The company was founded in 2018.
ConverSight.ai is artificial intelligence and analytics-based platform that uncovers actionable business insights for enterprises through natural language conversations and enables them to take action instantly. The platform generates tremendous efficiencies across organizational hierarchies from junior to senior leadership, reducing our customer report generation costs by over 50%. The company was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in Indianapolis.
SmileML, Inc. designs and develops emotion recognition software. It offers user research software that analyzes user emotion in interview videos, transcribes speech, and allows to share insight with collaborative tools. The company was founded in 2017 and is based in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Hurry Home is a real estate firm financing houses through shared ownership, enabling renters to become homeowners. It uses capital from investors to offer a new financial product that enables buyers to earn equity in their home while paying close to or less than what rent would be for the same property, and investors reap a competitive return. Jada Mclean and John Gibbons established the firm in South Bend, Indiana in 2018.
Aerotronic Inc. is a manufacturer of drones and unmanned aerial systems, established in 2016 and headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. The company specializes in advanced data analytics for power line inspections, offering a more efficient and cost-effective alternative to traditional manual methods. Their flagship product, Dauntless, is a hybrid single rotor helicopter equipped with remote sensing technology, enabling both hover and forward flight. This system allows for high-speed data capture using manned, unmanned, and ground-based vehicles, significantly reducing inspection costs to $1,000 per mile while maintaining an 80% profit margin. Aerotronic's proprietary analytics platform provides clients with access to processed data via a web portal, facilitating 3D time-series data access and predictive maintenance insights through machine learning. The company is also exploring additional revenue streams through a marketplace for vegetation management services. With a team that includes experienced professionals in aerospace engineering and manufacturing, Aerotronic has conducted inspections for utility companies and responded to emergency situations, showcasing its capabilities in the energy sector.
Inscope Medical Solutions, Inc. specializes in the development of innovative disposable video laryngoscopes designed to enhance the intubation process. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Jeffersonville, Indiana, the company offers a device that provides a clear view of a patient’s airway while facilitating the removal of secretions through integrated suction. This ergonomic laryngoscope allows for one-handed operation, enabling clinicians to focus on the precise placement of endotracheal tubes. By making video laryngoscopy accessible in various medical settings, including operating rooms, intensive care units, and emergency departments, Inscope Medical Solutions aims to improve the speed and safety of this critical procedure. Its technology includes a wireless video module that streams live visuals to a tablet, thereby enhancing the clinician's ability to visualize the airway during intubation.
Formstack, LLC provides online form building software that enables businesses to create and manage web forms directly in a browser. This software allows users to collect, manage, route, and host data for various purposes, including signup forms, surveys, order forms, and event registrations. Key features include conditional logic, data collection tools, payment processing, and security measures, along with integrations for various applications. Formstack also offers solutions such as a conversion kit for data gathering, portals for sharing forms, and automated workflows to streamline repetitive tasks. The company serves a diverse clientele, including Fortune 500 companies, small businesses, nonprofits, educational institutions, and government agencies. Founded in 2006 and based in Indianapolis, Indiana, Formstack was previously known as FormSpring, LLC until its name change in 2011. Additionally, Formstack Sign provides electronic signature capabilities to enhance workflow efficiency, offering features like mobile signing and in-person signing options.