Techstars is a global startup accelerator founded in 2006, headquartered in Boulder, Colorado. It provides a supportive environment for entrepreneurs through various programs, including mentorship-driven accelerators, startup programs, and corporate innovation partnerships. Techstars connects founders with a vast network of mentors, investors, and industry experts to foster company growth. The organization operates multiple accelerator programs worldwide, focusing on diverse sectors such as mobility, retail, and social impact. It also manages a venture capital fund that invests in innovative technology companies at early stages. With over 1,000 companies in its accelerator portfolio, Techstars has developed a reputation for nurturing successful startups across various markets, helping them scale and achieve significant valuations.
Antler is a global early-stage venture capital firm founded in Singapore in 2017, focused on investing in technology companies poised to shape the future. With offices in major entrepreneurial hubs across six continents, including London, New York, Singapore, and Sydney, Antler has invested in and supported the formation of over 200 startups. The firm emphasizes inclusivity, with 40% of its portfolio companies having at least one female co-founder, representing founders from 70 different nationalities. Antler's approach involves identifying exceptional individuals, forming complementary co-founder teams, and validating business models. It provides a comprehensive support system that spans from pre-seed investments through to Series C funding, establishing long-term relationships with portfolio companies.
As one of the largest and most active venture capital fund partners in Central and Eastern Europe our mission is to create new ways of equity funding for innovative small and medium-sized enterprises with high growth potential as well as more traditional businesses for the purpose of establishing a sustainable and competitive SME and enterprise ecosystem both in Hungary and in the region
Startup Wise Guys is one of the most active early stage investors in the broader CEE region and Nordics, has been voted Top VC fund in the CEE in year 2019. To help techy startup founders become true entrepreneurs, we are running a world class startup accelerator since 2012. We have accelerated more than 165 startups, focusing on B2B SaaS, Fintech and Cybersecurity. Portfolio has already had 2 major exits and overall startup survival and success rate is above 77%. The intensive 3 month accelerator program is focused on validating, developing and selling products to business customers. Over 200 international and local mentors help startups move through those stages much faster than they would on their own. Founders are also prepared to sell their vision to investors, and the program culminates Demo Days & major tech event visits, where startups get to present to venture capitalists and angel investors. Post program, startups join the alumni community of 145+ startups in more than 40 countries and become eligible for invite-only alumni events such as SWG Getaway focused on business development, fundraising and experience sharing.
Bossa Nova Investimentos e Administração S.A. is a prominent venture capital firm based in São Paulo, Brazil, specializing in pre-seed, seed, startup, and early-stage investments. Established in 2010, it has positioned itself as a leading investor in the Brazilian market, particularly in the technology sector, with a focus on software, service development, mobile applications, SaaS, and B2B solutions. Bossa Nova actively engages in minority investments, primarily funding projects within the range of R$0.1 million to R$0.8 million. The firm has also expanded its investment activities to include companies in the United States, both directly and through co-investment platforms, making it a significant player in the venture capital landscape.
Right Side Capital Management is a venture capital firm based in San Francisco, California, that focuses on early-stage investments in technology startups. Established in 2010, the firm specializes in the pre-seed round, targeting companies that are in the development stage prior to achieving full product-market fit. RSCM typically invests in a range of technology sectors, including consumer internet and cloud companies, and prefers to finance startups located outside of major hubs like Silicon Valley and New York City. The firm executes 75 to 100 investments annually, with typical round sizes ranging from $50,000 to $500,000 and pre-money valuations between $1 million and $3 million. RSCM aims to provide entrepreneurs with timely feedback, delivering decisions within two weeks. Since its inception, the firm has made approximately 200 investments across 19 states, focusing on capital-efficient business models that require modest lifetime capital to succeed.
Plug and Play is a prominent seed and early-stage investor based in Silicon Valley, specializing in innovative startups across various sectors, including Fintech, Insurtech, and Health & Wellness. The firm operates 12 industry-specific accelerator programs annually, connecting high-quality startups with major corporations and strategic partners. In addition to accelerator programs, Plug and Play participates in Seed, Angel, and Series A funding, co-investing with over 180 venture capital partners. Their Startup Camp provides a 10-week intensive program for entrepreneurs to refine their business models, while their global network of mentors and advisors supports startups in product development and investor presentations. With a portfolio exceeding 600 startups, Plug and Play has been instrumental in the growth of market leaders and continues to facilitate innovation by bringing together key stakeholders worldwide, including corporations, venture capitalists, and government entities.
SOSV is a venture capital firm headquartered in New Jersey, focused on seed-to-growth stage investments in sectors such as biotechnology, hardware, robotics, and cross-border software, particularly in Asia. Established in 1995, SOSV operates several global accelerator programs, including HAX for hardware, IndieBio and RebelBio for life sciences, Chinaccelerator and MOX for cross-border internet, Food-X for disruptive food technologies, and dlab for blockchain innovations. The firm invests in approximately 150 companies annually and emphasizes a strategy that combines early-stage funding with extensive support, facilitating product development, customer acquisition, and scaling. SOSV's commitment to nurturing revolutionary deep technologies and its proven track record position it among the top 10% of venture capital funds worldwide.
Entrepreneur First, founded in 2011 and headquartered in London, is a company builder that focuses on creating technology startups by investing in individuals before they have formed teams or developed ideas. The firm operates an intensive six-month program aimed at providing comprehensive support during the crucial early stages of a startup's development. Entrepreneur First selects participants based solely on their technical talent and has successfully launched over 100 startups valued at over $1 billion. With offices in various international locations, including Singapore, Berlin, and Bangalore, the firm offers financial stipends and seed funding to selected candidates. It typically takes a 10 percent equity stake in the startups it supports and has garnered backing from prominent investors in the venture capital space.
APX is an early-stage startup investor and accelerator in Berlin backed by Axel Springer and Porsche. Investing across sectors, APX is looking for ambitious founding teams with scalable, digital ideas and global aspirations to support them in becoming successful venture companies. Since 2018, APX has invested in more than 60 companies from 20 different countries together with more than 100 co-investors.