Investor directory

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 RoundSeed RoundArtificial IntelligenceMachine LearningSeries AShow 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 Banks

Beem

Seed Round in 2022
Line Financial is a Public Benefit Corporation that delivers revolving lines of credit on its app as well as at online and in-store essential shopping destinations like pharmacies, grocery stores and more without credit-history, pay-slips, or credit-scores. Line is eliminating FICO, Credit and all other types of cards that don't belong in a post COVID world.

Lenco

Seed Round in 2021
Lenco is a Neobank that makes current bank accounts and tools for SMEs to grow in Africa. It make bank accounts easy to open and free to manage for businesses in Africa, while also providing tools that helps the businesses grow

Linxe

Pre Seed Round in 2021
Linxe's vision is to build a truly inclusive financial services platform, one that generates credit history and provides an entry point for unbanked individuals that are too commonly overlooked by large institutional banks in Colombia and Latin America more broadly.

Fonbnk

Funding Round in 2021
Fonbnk provides borderless banking infrastructure directly to unbanked people around the world using the mobile internet. Utilizing the Company’s Airtime Wallet, anyone with a prepaid mobile SIM card and a verified online identity can now have a FREE global stored value (bank or current) account by recharging their existing mobile phones.

Level

Pre Seed Round in 2021
Level Builds financial services for the new economy. They collectively have decades of experience designing and delivering innovative financial services designed around specific needs. With complementary skills and knowledge, they have built Level technology to support an outstanding customer experience and provide the banking services you deserve.

Level

Pre Seed Round in 2021
Level Builds financial services for the new economy. They collectively have decades of experience designing and delivering innovative financial services designed around specific needs. With complementary skills and knowledge, they have built Level technology to support an outstanding customer experience and provide the banking services you deserve.

Level

Pre Seed Round in 2021
Level Builds financial services for the new economy. They collectively have decades of experience designing and delivering innovative financial services designed around specific needs. With complementary skills and knowledge, they have built Level technology to support an outstanding customer experience and provide the banking services you deserve.

SoLo Funds

Series A in 2021
SoLo Funds, Inc. is a mobile money exchange and lending platform that connects lenders and borrowers, allowing users to borrow on their own terms and lenders to benefit from their contributions. Established in 2015 and based in New York City, SoLo Funds operates as an alternative financial solution, offering rapid loan options to borrowers while providing lenders with significant value. The platform has evolved from a unique lending marketplace into a comprehensive community banking solution that leverages individual capital, insurance, and banking products, supported by advanced A.I. underwriting technology.

Challenger Finance

Pre Seed Round in 2020
Challenger makes it easy for payments and money transfer businesses to issue digital bank accounts to their customers to drive customer loyalty.

OfColor

Pre Seed Round in 2020
OfColor serves large enterprises that need to ensure the financial health of their employees of color, providing curated content, AI-driven financial advice, and banking tools built around how we save, spend, and build our legacies differently.

Beem

Pre Seed Round in 2020
Line Financial is a Public Benefit Corporation that delivers revolving lines of credit on its app as well as at online and in-store essential shopping destinations like pharmacies, grocery stores and more without credit-history, pay-slips, or credit-scores. Line is eliminating FICO, Credit and all other types of cards that don't belong in a post COVID world.

StoreCash

Seed Round in 2020
StoreCash provides the only solution for the unbanked to request, receive and instantly use funds on a mobile device without needing a bank account. They do this by partnering with merchants to utilize closed loop technology. StoreCash is currently working towards a pilot with Western Union to provide WU users with the opportunity to give money senders a free option, meanwhile the merchant oversees the transaction fees.

Muse Finance

Pre Seed Round in 2020
Muse offers multi-currency business accounts, simple cash flow forecasting, and efficient financing for small businesses.

Toucan

Pre Seed Round in 2020
Toucan is an application designed to enhance money management by fostering collaboration between users and trusted individuals. Its mission revolves around boosting financial confidence by providing timely support to those in need. The company specializes in assisting banks in supporting customers who may be vulnerable, leveraging partnerships with charities and government entities. Notably, Toucan collaborates with The Money and Mental Health Policy Institute as part of an initiative aimed at improving financial services through innovative solutions. Additionally, the platform facilitates creators of digital goods, content, and services in selling their offerings to customers, streamlining the process for both parties involved.

Lifesaver

Pre Seed Round in 2019
Lifesaver is a universal mobile banking front-end that turns legacy financial institutions into cutting-edge digital players. Through Lifesaver, people can open, fund, track, and transfer between accounts simply and instantly. Banks and credit unions on the platform enjoy the ability to rapidly deploy feature-rich mobile banking services with no development or maintenance.

StoreCash

Pre Seed Round in 2019
StoreCash provides the only solution for the unbanked to request, receive and instantly use funds on a mobile device without needing a bank account. They do this by partnering with merchants to utilize closed loop technology. StoreCash is currently working towards a pilot with Western Union to provide WU users with the opportunity to give money senders a free option, meanwhile the merchant oversees the transaction fees.

North Loop

Pre Seed Round in 2019
Borderless banking for global citizens

Level

Pre Seed Round in 2019
Level Builds financial services for the new economy. They collectively have decades of experience designing and delivering innovative financial services designed around specific needs. With complementary skills and knowledge, they have built Level technology to support an outstanding customer experience and provide the banking services you deserve.

Nira

Seed Round in 2019
Promote financial inclusion by creating simple, transparent products that empower individuals to live a life of choice and freedom.

SoLo Funds

Pre Seed Round in 2018
SoLo Funds, Inc. is a mobile money exchange and lending platform that connects lenders and borrowers, allowing users to borrow on their own terms and lenders to benefit from their contributions. Established in 2015 and based in New York City, SoLo Funds operates as an alternative financial solution, offering rapid loan options to borrowers while providing lenders with significant value. The platform has evolved from a unique lending marketplace into a comprehensive community banking solution that leverages individual capital, insurance, and banking products, supported by advanced A.I. underwriting technology.

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
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.

Novo

Convertible Note in 2017
Novo Platform Inc. is a modern banking platform that develops applications designed to integrate banking activities for businesses. Founded in 2016 and based in New York, the company provides users with tools to receive analytical insights and alerts related to fraudulent activities in their banking data. Novo partners with a network of FDIC-insured community banks, enabling it to offer banking products directly to consumers while emphasizing transparency and user experience. Initially focusing on depository banking products, Novo plans to expand into more profitable segments as it grows.

Novo

Pre Seed Round in 2017
Novo Platform Inc. is a modern banking platform that develops applications designed to integrate banking activities for businesses. Founded in 2016 and based in New York, the company provides users with tools to receive analytical insights and alerts related to fraudulent activities in their banking data. Novo partners with a network of FDIC-insured community banks, enabling it to offer banking products directly to consumers while emphasizing transparency and user experience. Initially focusing on depository banking products, Novo plans to expand into more profitable segments as it grows.

Cogni

Seed Round in 2017
Cogni is a New York-based company that offers a digital banking platform designed for pan-European businesses. The platform provides business accounts that support multiple currencies and incorporates artificial intelligence-driven financial tools. By integrating banking, commerce, and lifestyle services into a single application, Cogni aims to streamline financial management for its users. The company was previously known as Bizbaze.

Branch

Series A in 2017
Branch is a financial technology company that partners with employers to provide hourly workers with accessible banking services. It aims to help employees manage their finances by offering a zero-fee bank account, free instant access to earned wages, and auto-budgeting tools. This service not only assists employers in attracting and retaining talent but also reduces costs associated with traditional payment methods like paper checks and paycards. By positioning itself as a financial wellness benefit, Branch addresses the needs of working Americans, promoting financial growth and stability.

Omnio

Pre Seed Round in 2017
Omnio, Inc. is a financial services provider that caters to banks, credit unions, airlines, and retailers with a range of digital solutions. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in London, the company specializes in banking-as-a-service offerings, including digital banking, managed services, digital payments, and application solutions. Notably, Omnio incorporates Domec's loyalty platform and Sercle, a prominent credit union platform in the UK that supports over 130 small financial institutions. The company's cloud-based digital platform enables businesses to deliver reliable banking and payment services tailored to meet the evolving needs of their customers. With a presence in Europe, Australia, North America, and Africa, Omnio collaborates with various global enterprises and government organizations to provide innovative financial products.

Abe AI

Seed Round in 2017
Abe builds conversational banking solutions for progressive banks.

B2B Pay

Non Equity Assistance in 2017
B2B Pay offers virtual bank accounts for companies that exports into Europe which collects payments domestically. Its mission is to make international business transactions as quick and as cheap as possible with complete transparency about costs. It simplifies the bureaucratic process and eliminates the need for back and forth paperwork. The partners of the company are BARCLAYS, techstars, Nordea Startup Accelerator, Nestholma Venture Accelerator, and Tekes Venture Capital. B2B Pay is a Finland-based company that was founded in 2015 by Neil Ambikar and Kasper Souren.

Branch

Seed Round in 2016
Branch is a financial technology company that partners with employers to provide hourly workers with accessible banking services. It aims to help employees manage their finances by offering a zero-fee bank account, free instant access to earned wages, and auto-budgeting tools. This service not only assists employers in attracting and retaining talent but also reduces costs associated with traditional payment methods like paper checks and paycards. By positioning itself as a financial wellness benefit, Branch addresses the needs of working Americans, promoting financial growth and stability.

Mantl

Convertible Note in 2016
Mantl is the first customer-centric outer core ecosystem that gives banks and credit unions the flexibility to innovate using modern technology, while owning their brand throughout the entire customer lifecycle.

B2B Pay

Seed Round in 2016
B2B Pay offers virtual bank accounts for companies that exports into Europe which collects payments domestically. Its mission is to make international business transactions as quick and as cheap as possible with complete transparency about costs. It simplifies the bureaucratic process and eliminates the need for back and forth paperwork. The partners of the company are BARCLAYS, techstars, Nordea Startup Accelerator, Nestholma Venture Accelerator, and Tekes Venture Capital. B2B Pay is a Finland-based company that was founded in 2015 by Neil Ambikar and Kasper Souren.

dopay

Seed Round in 2016
dopay is a cloud-based payroll and cash management service that aims to address the challenges faced by companies with unbanked employees. With approximately 2 billion people globally lacking bank accounts, many businesses struggle with handling large volumes of cash for salary payments. dopay provides a solution by enabling employers to electronically calculate and disburse salaries through its platform. Employees receive a DoPay card and app, which offer a comprehensive banking experience, facilitating cashless transactions. The company has partnered with Barclays to deliver payroll services to various multinationals, embassies, and local enterprises in Egypt, with plans to expand into other regions that are predominantly unbanked.

Atlas Holdings

Seed Round in 2015
Atlas provides mobile banking online. James Schuler and Mickey Costa founded it in 2014, with its headquarters in Malibu in California.

Akouba

Seed Round in 2015
Akouba is a the first SAAS platform to provide community and regional banks with an online, end-to-end, small business lending solutionAkouba is committed to helping financial institutions provide businesses with the capital they need to succeed, in a way that is simple, quick and cost effective for both the bank and the customer.

dopay

Seed Round in 2015
dopay is a cloud-based payroll and cash management service that aims to address the challenges faced by companies with unbanked employees. With approximately 2 billion people globally lacking bank accounts, many businesses struggle with handling large volumes of cash for salary payments. dopay provides a solution by enabling employers to electronically calculate and disburse salaries through its platform. Employees receive a DoPay card and app, which offer a comprehensive banking experience, facilitating cashless transactions. The company has partnered with Barclays to deliver payroll services to various multinationals, embassies, and local enterprises in Egypt, with plans to expand into other regions that are predominantly unbanked.

Atlas Holdings

Seed Round in 2015
Atlas provides mobile banking online. James Schuler and Mickey Costa founded it in 2014, with its headquarters in Malibu in California.

dopay

Seed Round in 2014
dopay is a cloud-based payroll and cash management service that aims to address the challenges faced by companies with unbanked employees. With approximately 2 billion people globally lacking bank accounts, many businesses struggle with handling large volumes of cash for salary payments. dopay provides a solution by enabling employers to electronically calculate and disburse salaries through its platform. Employees receive a DoPay card and app, which offer a comprehensive banking experience, facilitating cashless transactions. The company has partnered with Barclays to deliver payroll services to various multinationals, embassies, and local enterprises in Egypt, with plans to expand into other regions that are predominantly unbanked.