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.

Ethan Austin

MD of the Techstars Western Union Accelerator

Max Kelly

Managing Director of Techstars London

Lesa Mitchell

Managing Director

Vijay Tirathrai

Managing Director

Mark Tortorella

Advisor

Nathanial Zola

MD

Past deals in Michigan

Inpathy

Non Equity Assistance in 2023
Inpathy is a social app creating empathetic communities through transparency, normalizing moods, and recreating the human experience.

Inpathy

Convertible Note in 2023
Inpathy is a social app creating empathetic communities through transparency, normalizing moods, and recreating the human experience.

Shift_Up

Pre Seed Round in 2021
Switch_Up offers training in computer hardware, the internet, computer software, troubleshooting, and customer service. It provides a thorough introduction to computer networking. They study modern networking technologies and protocols, as well as practical applications and network troubleshooting. Learn how to manage software and users, and configure hardware, along with the main components of an operating system.

Innovakote

Pre Seed Round in 2021
Innovakote extracts wasted powder coating into fresh powder through its proprietary recycling process, eliminating waste and reducing the carbon footprint of the industry’s supply chain. It was founded in 2018 and is headquartered in Kent City, Michigan.

HiddenLogin

Pre Seed Round in 2021
HiddenLogin is alias manager that creates a unique alias for every site people visit. A protective layer between real identity and every site visited. Create and manage aliases more conveniently than using real identity. Email masks- Never use real email on sites again. HiddenLogin gives a brand new one for every site visit, that forwards to inbox. Phone Alias- Separate companies from personal life. Don't let them in inbox. HiddenLogin gives a separate phone number to use for anything online to keep spam and company interactions away from family and friends. 2-factor authentication, shipping notifications, or any other phone interaction can be done with HiddenLogin number.

Lingco LLC

Pre Seed Round in 2020
Lingco LLC is a language-learning platform founded in 2018 and headquartered in East Lansing, Michigan. The company develops tools for instructors to enhance the language learning experience through its adaptive technology. Its platform, Lingco Classroom, utilizes artificial intelligence to assess students’ existing language proficiency quickly, allowing for personalized learning experiences. By analyzing initial assessments, the platform identifies students' strengths and weaknesses in vocabulary and grammar, enabling instructors to tailor their teaching strategies accordingly. Additionally, it provides real-time insights into student performance and utilizes machine learning to recommend specific activities and content for instructors to assign, ultimately helping students achieve fluency.

REZA

Pre Seed Round in 2020
REZA designs and manufactures electronic footwear by implementing new light technology. The company’s product keep users safe at night apart from being a shoe accessory. The company is based in the United States.

Tennibot

Pre Seed Round in 2020
Tennibot, Inc. specializes in developing an autonomous robotic tennis ball collector, designed to operate effectively on both clay and hard court surfaces. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, the company aims to enhance the tennis experience for players globally by offering innovative solutions for ball collection. As the first of its kind in the market, Tennibot's product addresses the needs of tennis enthusiasts by streamlining the retrieval process, allowing players to focus more on their game.

Paladin

Pre Seed Round in 2020
Paladin is the largest independent manufacturer of performance-driven coupler systems and attachment tools for carriers, from small compact tool carriers to large excavators, wheel loaders, tractors and truck chassis. It brings together eight industry-leading brands with more than 200 years of combined experience to offer hundreds of innovative products for all makes and models.

ToDooly

Pre Seed Round in 2020
ToDoolie LLC is an online platform based in Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan, that connects homeowners in the Metro-Detroit area with local high school and college students seeking part-time work. Launched in 2017, the platform facilitates the hiring of students for a variety of outdoor tasks, including yard work, cleaning, moving, party assistance, errands, and painting services, all priced at $20 per hour plus a $5 booking fee. ToDoolie focuses on simple tasks and does not offer specialized services that require professional expertise, ensuring that the tasks are suitable for students. This marketplace fosters community interaction by enabling students to earn money while assisting neighbors with their to-do lists.

Airspace Link

Pre Seed Round in 2019
Airspace Link digitizes local airspace for urban air mobility. It provides government, citizen, and business drone solutions to support local government airspace management, fostering citizen empowerment, and business innovation through consumer and b2b air logistical support and services. It was founded in 2018 and is based in Detroit, Michigan.

Le Car

Pre Seed Round in 2019
To simplify the car buying process and empower people to make better mobility choices. Le Car matches people to vehicles aligned with their needs and wants.

PPAP Manager

Pre Seed Round in 2019
PPAP Manager offers a cloud-based platform specifically designed to streamline the Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) in the automotive industry. By facilitating effective communication between suppliers and customers, the platform significantly enhances the efficiency of supplier management and reduces the risk of delays in new program launches. It automates and optimizes the PPAP approval time, allowing clients to manage the approval process securely while saving time and minimizing costs related to poor quality. As a result, PPAP Manager helps organizations ensure compliance with industry standards and improve overall product quality, potentially cutting approval time by up to 50%.

AgHelp

Pre Seed Round in 2019
AgHelp, Inc. operates an online platform that provides job listing services for workers and employers. Its platform enables employers to employ workers for permanent, seasonal, trade, skilled, or other agricultural related jobs. The company also provides support services, such as migrant education programs, migrant head start programs, immigration services, legal services, and job training programs. The company was founded in 2017 and is based in Belding, Michigan.

Polysync

Seed Round in 2018
Polysync Technologies, Inc. specializes in creating a platform for the development, testing, and deployment of driverless vehicle applications. Established in 2013 and headquartered in Portland, Oregon, with additional offices in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Palo Alto, California, and Europe, Polysync offers software tools and services that facilitate the research, development, and production of autonomous vehicle components. Its solutions are utilized by automotive engineering services, developers, government agencies, and universities globally, enabling safer and more efficient advancements in autonomous mobility. Polysync's products are currently operational in over 17 countries, underscoring its impact on the autonomous vehicle industry.

Clicktivated

Pre Seed Round in 2018
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.

FreshCar

Funding Round in 2017
Carma offers a software platform for vehicle subscriptions.

Fathom

Convertible Note in 2017
Fathom Drones Inc., founded in 2014 and based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, specializes in developing portable underwater drones designed for user-friendly exploration of aquatic environments. The company's flagship product, the Fathom One, allows users to control the drone via a smartphone application from a dry location, providing an innovative way to experience underwater life without getting wet. Equipped with an onboard camera and a turbine that directs water through its shell, the drone delivers live video feeds without lag, enhancing the exploration experience for consumers. Fathom aims to make underwater exploration accessible and affordable for a wide range of users.

Seeva

Convertible Note in 2017
SEEVA Technologies, Inc. manufactures visibility systems for commercial and passenger vehicle perception. Its solution uses visibility technologies to heat and apply washer fluid to clear off snow, ice, mud, sand, dirt and bugs. The company's product includes QwikTherm system that cleans vehicle’s sensors, cameras, radar, and windshield. SEEVA Technologies, Inc. was founded in 2017 and is based in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Derq

Seed Round in 2017
Derq Inc. is a company founded in 2016 and based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, that specializes in artificial intelligence and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology to enhance road safety. The company has developed a real-time predictive analytics platform that aims to predict and prevent car accidents by connecting vehicles, drivers, and infrastructure. Derq's platform utilizes data from existing road infrastructure and deployable sensors to create a unified view of all road users, enabling the prediction of their movements around the clock. This system feeds a live dashboard for road operators and sends alerts to connected vehicles, facilitating improved decision-making and accident prevention. By leveraging advanced analytics, driver behavior modeling, and deep learning methods, Derq contributes to the creation of safer and smarter roadways.

Paladin

Pre Seed Round in 2017
Paladin is the largest independent manufacturer of performance-driven coupler systems and attachment tools for carriers, from small compact tool carriers to large excavators, wheel loaders, tractors and truck chassis. It brings together eight industry-leading brands with more than 200 years of combined experience to offer hundreds of innovative products for all makes and models.

Polysync

Seed Round in 2016
Polysync Technologies, Inc. specializes in creating a platform for the development, testing, and deployment of driverless vehicle applications. Established in 2013 and headquartered in Portland, Oregon, with additional offices in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Palo Alto, California, and Europe, Polysync offers software tools and services that facilitate the research, development, and production of autonomous vehicle components. Its solutions are utilized by automotive engineering services, developers, government agencies, and universities globally, enabling safer and more efficient advancements in autonomous mobility. Polysync's products are currently operational in over 17 countries, underscoring its impact on the autonomous vehicle industry.

GoKid

Seed Round in 2016
GoKid Corporation develops mobile applications for carpooling for schools, teams, and active families in the United States. The company’s products include GoKid Carpool, an app that facilitates organization and management of carpools; GoKid Connect, a mobility software that connects schools and parents through a web portal and GoKid mobile app; and GoKid for Parents, an app for family carpooling. Its application allows parents to schedule and manage carpools with their trusted network of friends, families, and neighbors; and includes GPS-based tracking of cars, live mapping functionality, in-app texting, and automatic alerts. The company’s application can be accessed through smartphones and desktop. GoKid Corporation was incorporated in 2015 and is based in New York, New York with an additional office in Detroit, Michigan.

backstitch

Seed Round in 2016
backstitch Inc. operates a platform for personalized employee communications. The company’s platform enables users to create for business communicators; provides team members with push notifications, internal content, industry news, and more; and allows users to realize trends and behaviors, identify department allies, and measure the ROI of communications and engagement. It also builds an application that integrates curated media monitoring platform. The company was founded in 2012 and is based in Kansas City, Missouri.

Polysync

Pre Seed Round in 2015
Polysync Technologies, Inc. specializes in creating a platform for the development, testing, and deployment of driverless vehicle applications. Established in 2013 and headquartered in Portland, Oregon, with additional offices in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Palo Alto, California, and Europe, Polysync offers software tools and services that facilitate the research, development, and production of autonomous vehicle components. Its solutions are utilized by automotive engineering services, developers, government agencies, and universities globally, enabling safer and more efficient advancements in autonomous mobility. Polysync's products are currently operational in over 17 countries, underscoring its impact on the autonomous vehicle industry.

Elegus Technologies

Seed Round in 2015
Elegus Technologies, Inc. develops and commercializes separator membranes made from nanoscale fibers. It membranes satisfy the requirements of multiple energy storage technologies, including lithium-ion batteries, lithium-sulfur batteries, lithium-air batteries, and more. The company was incorporated in 2014 and is based in Detroit, Michigan.

Sweet

Seed Round in 2015
Sweet is a service designed to help consumers reduce their mobile phone expenses without compromising on coverage. The company identifies opportunities for savings, as nearly 70% of U.S. wireless subscribers are currently overpaying for their plans. Customers can save an average of $300 per year by utilizing Sweet's platform, which simplifies the process of switching carriers. By handling communications with service providers, Sweet ensures a quick and easy sign-up experience. The company prioritizes customer privacy and security, employing advanced encryption methods to protect personal information. Sweet collaborates with major carriers to provide nationwide coverage and reliable service. The company is supported by experienced entrepreneurs from well-known firms, enhancing its credibility in the telecommunications market.

DriveShare

Seed Round in 2015
DriveShare brings the “sharing economy” into the car enthusiast’s garage. Classic and exotic car enthusiasts can now offset their car ownership costs by renting their cars to pre-screened, highly qualified renters. Every rental includes up to $1 million in insurance protection and access to the most comprehensive full-service roadside program designed specifically for classic and exotic cars. Whether a person is looking for a 1956 Chevrolet BelAir for a night out on the town or a 1979 Ferrari 308 for a drive down the coast, Classics&Exotics is looking to connect owners with renters and is free to join with no costly membership fees. The mission of Classics&Exotics is “To make these amazing vehicles available to the masses"

SkySpecs

Seed Round in 2014
SkySpecs automates the inspection, diagnostics, and maintenance of utility scale wind turbines with custom autonomous drones. The company develops an affordable form of energy, through the use of an automated drone inspection service and analytics platform that allows for repeatability, high-quality data, and safer inspections. SkySpecs was founded on 2012 and is based in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Fetchnotes

Seed Round in 2012
Fetchnotes, Inc. provides online notes taking service. The service helps user to capture and organize short notes like books to read, ideas and shopping lists. Fetchnotes, Inc. was incorporated in 2012 and is based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. As of April 13, 2015, Fetchnotes, Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Driftt, Inc.

Ambassador

Seed Round in 2011
Ambassador provides referral, partner, and affiliate tracking and management. Ambassador is the best way to reward customers for promoting products online. Ambassador provides an end-to-end solution: you can create, track, and manage all your custom referral programs from a single dashboard. Build on the Ambassador API to seamlessly integrate into your own application, you can also integrate Ambassador into many popular 3rd party CRM, Email and Billing applications.