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.

Focus

Pre Seed Round Seed Round Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Series A Show more

http://techstars.com/ventures

https://crunchbase.com/organization/techstars

https://facebook.com/techstars

https://linkedin.com/company/techstars

https://twitter.com/techstars

https://www.capitaliq.com/CIQDotNet/company.aspx?companyId=431767203

https://www.privateequityinternational.com/database/#/profile?id=14977

Ethan Austin

MD of the Techstars Western Union Accelerator

Mark Tortorella

Advisor

Nathanial Zola

MD

Past deals in Accounting

LittleNewt

Seed Round in 2021

LittleNewt is a tax preparation and practice management platform specifically designed for independent CPA firms. It offers real-time integration with clients' accounting systems, allowing for seamless data exchange. Utilizing artificial intelligence and automation, LittleNewt enables the instant creation of tax returns and provides accurate year-round tax information. This innovative approach helps small CPA firms streamline their tax compliance processes, enhancing efficiency and speed in managing their clients' tax needs.

Accountancy Cloud

Pre Seed Round in 2020

The Accountancy Cloud is a technology and financial services business, specialising in online accountancy, and more - all tailored to tech startups, venture-backed, and small to medium sized businesses. The Accountancy Cloud s unique in that it offers both online accounting software and a full accountancy service backed by a team of experts. Each client gets their own account manager and accountant, and all company tax submissions (including the company year end) are included in the flat monthly fee. With online access to friendly tax and finance pro's that really know startups and you have a trusted partner that can give you the confidence to scale-up.

Muse Finance

Pre Seed Round in 2020

Muse offers multi-currency business accounts, simple cash flow forecasting, and efficient financing for small businesses.

Lance

Pre Seed Round in 2019

Lance Global, Inc. specializes in developing expense management and tax prediction software tailored for freelancers. Founded in 2017 and based in New York, the company’s platform centralizes essential financial tasks, allowing users to manage invoices, payments, and accounts efficiently. The software not only organizes expenses and maximizes tax deductions but also aids freelancers in registering their businesses. Recognizing the unique challenges faced by freelancers, Lance aims to provide a mobile-first, intuitive solution that streamlines financial management and supports the growth of its users.

PROFIT

Pre Seed Round in 2019

PROFIT was started by two small business owners. They used four different software platforms to bank, budget, manage spend and track profitability. This was inconvenient, costly, fragmented, and wasted valuable time. They decided to build the first All-in-One bank that budgets, manages spend and tracks profitability so business owners can make better financial decisions.

Gilded

Pre Seed Round in 2019

Gilded Inc is a New Orleans-based company founded in 2018 that specializes in digital asset accounting and payment solutions for businesses. It offers a platform that simplifies the accounting process for companies utilizing cryptocurrency, enabling them to efficiently manage transactions. Gilded aggregates crypto transactions from various sources, such as wallets, exchanges, and payment processors, and seamlessly integrates this data into traditional accounting systems like QuickBooks, Xero, Netsuite, and Intacct. Additionally, Gilded provides invoicing and accounting software tailored for businesses and accounting firms, thereby supporting the growing number of enterprises engaged with digital assets.

Commissiontrac

Pre Seed Round in 2018

The first cloud based application of record for all things commissions and accounting. Streamline the back office process from transactional data collection to invoicing, balancing accounting ledgers, depositing cash-receipts and making agent commission payments.

CashDirector

Seed Round in 2018

CashDirector S.A. is a company based in Warsaw, Poland, with additional offices in London, Palo Alto, and Paris. Founded in 2012, CashDirector specializes in designing and developing accounting platforms tailored for banks and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The platform offers a range of services including online banking, automation of financial tasks, cash flow management, invoice issuance, tax filing, and lead generation. By integrating innovative technology, such as AI accounting robots, CashDirector enables real-time booking of business transactions and bank operations. The platform aims to help banks differentiate themselves in a competitive market by providing value-added services that assist SMEs in managing cash flow and payments effectively. This support not only addresses the critical issue of cash management, which contributes to a significant percentage of SME failures, but also fosters long-term relationships and loyalty between banks and their SME clients.

CashDirector

Pre Seed Round in 2018

ScaleFactor

Seed Round in 2017

ScaleFactor provides accounting and finance software with automated bookkeeping, proactive alerts, and other features. It is a smart accounting and finance software that changes the way modern businesses operate. By automating complex accounting tasks and translating financial information into usable business insights, ScaleFactor is enabling business owners, managers, and entrepreneurs to focus on what they love: running and growing their business. The company was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Austin, Texas.

Optio

Seed Round in 2017

Managing personal finances is hard. Not only it is hard, it is not fun either. Studies have shown that this is a universal challenge around the world. Low level of financial literacy, outdated approach to managing personal finances and low income are among some of the reasons, to name a few. Still, it is a vital part of our lives. If we are not able to manage our finances properly, we all face the risk of a financial crisis. That’s why we decided to create OptioAI, AI powered service, which interacts with users in the form of chat bot. It gathers information from you, gets the data from your bank, analyses your goals, plans your budget, monitors your income and spending, makes necessary adjustments in the budget lines based on real-time data and helps you to maintain healthy finances. The more information OptioAI analyses from its users, the smarter and the more efficient it becomes. With OptioAI, managing personal finances is going to become easy and fun!

ScaleFactor

Pre Seed Round in 2017

Pilot

Seed Round in 2017

Pilot.com, Inc. is a financial services company that specializes in bookkeeping, tax preparation, and CFO services tailored for startups and small businesses. Established in 2016 and based in San Francisco, California, Pilot pairs each client with a dedicated account manager to ensure personalized bookkeeping support. The company utilizes an advanced platform that automates accrual basis bookkeeping, providing clients with accurate financial reports on demand. In addition to bookkeeping, Pilot offers CFO services that include annual budgeting, ongoing financial support, pitch assessments, and fundraising strategies. Formerly known as Zapgram, Inc., the company rebranded in July 2017 to reflect its focus on delivering high-quality financial solutions for growing businesses.

ScaleFactor

Convertible Note in 2017

Valid8

Seed Round in 2017

Valid8 Financial, Inc. is a company that specializes in developing a software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform aimed at accounting and finance professionals. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Shoreline, Washington, Valid8 addresses the challenges faced by the accounting services industry, which is valued at $100 billion annually in the United States. The company focuses on automating the collection of verified financial intelligence, which has traditionally relied on manual processes and sampling methods. By leveraging automation, artificial intelligence, and data science, Valid8 aims to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of financial data collection, thereby modernizing practices within an industry that is increasingly impacted by technological advancements.

Bokio

Pre Seed Round in 2017

Bokio AB is a Swedish company based in Gothenburg, established in 2015, that specializes in developing and marketing accounting software tailored for small business owners. The software facilitates bookkeeping, invoicing, and payroll services through the use of artificial intelligence, allowing users to manage their financial tasks independently. In addition to its core accounting features, Bokio functions as a marketplace, offering additional services that simplify various aspects of running a small business. These services include assistance in finding optimal insurance and pension solutions, as well as options for invoice sales to enhance liquidity. Bokio also provides services for sending payslips and invoices by handling printing, envelopes, and postage.

Mentio

Seed Round in 2015

Mentio monitors your business and gives you actionable advice. Mentio provides you with the most important “To Do’s” to improve your financials freeing you to run the rest of the business. Mentio generates these “To Do’s” by analyzing your business on different areas of your business comparing you to past performance, others in your industry and best practices. It is all on your mobile devices giving you access anytime, anywhere enabling you to get things done no matter where you are. Mentio connects to your cloud accounting software analyzing your financials on a regular basis and providing recommendations on how to improve.

Kapta

Seed Round in 2014

Kapta, Inc. provides an enterprise key account management platform for account management teams. It offers Kapta, a web-based Software-as-a-Service application that enables users to manage risk, measure satisfaction, and know which accounts require attention; capture data on customer expectations; build configurable templates to bring process consistency to the account plans; generate detailed customer reports; and pull existing customer records and contacts from Salesforce.com and display them in Kapta. The company was founded in 2011 and is based in Boulder, Colorado.

Bench

Convertible Note in 2012

Bench Accounting Inc. is a fintech company based in Vancouver, Canada, that specializes in providing online bookkeeping services for small businesses. Founded in 2012, the company combines intuitive software with a dedicated team of professional bookkeepers to automate accounting tasks, allowing clients to manage their finances more efficiently. Bench offers a range of services, including monthly financial statements, year-end financials, and year-round tax support, ensuring that business owners have access to comprehensive financial reporting and expert assistance. With a focus on affordability and convenience, Bench aims to streamline the bookkeeping process, empowering clients to concentrate on growing their businesses. The company has raised significant funding to support its operations and currently employs a workforce dedicated to serving thousands of clients across Canada.

Cloudability

Seed Round in 2012

Cloudability Inc. specializes in cloud cost management software, designed to help organizations monitor, manage, and optimize their cloud expenditures. The platform provides tools for tracking cloud spending through budget alerts, report scheduling, and customizable dashboards, enabling users to gain insights into their financial performance. Features such as Anomaly Detection allow for the identification of unusual spending patterns, while the True Cost Explorer facilitates detailed analysis of vendor billing. Cloudability’s solutions cater to various stakeholders, including IT operations, finance teams, and executives, offering real-time data and analytics for effective financial governance. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Portland, Oregon, Cloudability also has offices in Seattle, Boulder, Sydney, and London, and operates as a subsidiary of Apptio, Inc.

Cloudability

Seed Round in 2011