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.

500 Global, formerly known as 500 Startups, is a venture capital firm and incubator based in Mountain View, California, founded in 2010. The firm specializes in seed investments, primarily focusing on early-stage technology and financial services startups across various sectors, including biotech, e-commerce, fintech, and digital healthcare. 500 Global operates a four-month accelerator program, where it typically invests between $0.05 million and $1 million for a 5 to 10 percent equity stake in companies with at least $100,000 in monthly revenue. The firm targets a global market, with particular emphasis on regions such as the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Since its inception, it has invested in over 2,200 startups and supports the growth of innovation ecosystems through educational programs and partnerships. 500 Global also prioritizes investments in companies led by minority founders, reflecting its commitment to diverse entrepreneurial leadership.

Y Combinator is a startup accelerator based in Mountain View, California, founded in 2005. It has pioneered a new funding model for early-stage startups by investing a modest amount of capital, typically around $150,000, in a large number of companies twice a year. Over a three-month program, Y Combinator collaborates closely with these startups to prepare them for investor pitches and enhance their business strategies. Each funding cycle concludes with Demo Day, where startups present to an exclusive audience of investors. Y Combinator focuses on various sectors, including business software, education, healthcare, and financial technology, among others. In addition to initial funding, it offers ongoing support through its extensive alumni network. Since its inception, Y Combinator has funded over 630 startups, contributing significantly to the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Silicon Valley and beyond.

WPP is a British creative transformation company founded in 1985, specializing in providing a wide range of communications services, including advertising, media investment, public relations, and public affairs. The company focuses on creating transformative ideas and outcomes for its clients through an integrated approach that combines communications, experience, commerce, and technology. WPP has received numerous accolades, such as being named Holding Company of the Year at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity multiple times and recognized as the Most Effective Agency Holding Group by the Effie Index. Additionally, WPP Digital enhances the group's capabilities through strategic investments and acquisitions in digital marketing and organizational transformation, while WPP Ventures serves as its corporate venture capital fund, focusing on innovative companies in the communications sector.

Sequoia Capital is a prominent venture capital firm founded in 1972 and based in Menlo Park, California. The firm specializes in investing across various stages of startups, including seed, early, and growth stages, and focuses on sectors such as technology, healthcare, financial services, internet, and mobile. Sequoia typically invests between $100,000 and $1 million in seed companies, $1 million to $10 million in early-stage ventures, and $10 million to $100 million in growth investments. The firm operates globally, with significant activities in regions like Israel, China, and India, where it partners with dynamic founders to build successful companies. Sequoia's extensive portfolio includes notable firms and offers valuable insights and resources, benefiting from decades of experience in the venture capital landscape.

MathCapital is an early-stage venture capital firm investing in marketing and advertising technology startups. The firm focused on the digital transformation of media and marketing. It seeks to invest in companies from mobile, big data, augmented reality, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence sectors. MathCapital's mission is to fund and support entrepreneurs and companies that are driving this digital transformation. MathCapital was founded in 2018 and is headquartered in New York, NY, USA.

Publicis Groupe, founded in 1926 and headquartered in Paris, France, is a leading global communications and digital advertising company. As the third-largest communications group worldwide, it offers a wide range of marketing and communication services, including traditional and digital advertising, public relations, and consulting. The firm is particularly focused on driving business transformation through an innovative blend of creativity and technology. Publicis generates over 80% of its revenue from developed markets, primarily North America and Europe, serving both local and international clients across various industries.

SOSV is a global venture capital firm founded in 1995 and headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey. Specializing in seed-to-growth stage investments, SOSV operates multiple accelerator programs worldwide, including HAX for hardware, IndieBio and RebelBio for life sciences, Chinaccelerator and MOX for cross-border internet ventures, Food-X for innovative food solutions, and dlab for blockchain technology. The firm focuses on investments in revolutionary deep technologies aimed at improving human and planetary health, as well as cross-border markets, particularly in Asia. SOSV invests in approximately 150 startups annually, providing support through its resources to accelerate product development and scaling. Over its two-decade history, SOSV has established a strong reputation, consistently ranking among the top venture capital firms globally.

East Ventures is a venture capital firm founded in 2009, with offices in Singapore, Tokyo, and Jakarta. The firm specializes in seed, early-stage, and Series A investments, focusing on technology and consumer sectors, including fintech, e-commerce, and education technology, primarily in Southeast Asia. East Ventures has supported over 170 companies across the region, with notable investments in Indonesia's unicorns such as Tokopedia and Traveloka. The firm typically invests between $0.1 million and $0.5 million and has been recognized for its consistent performance, being named the most active investor in Southeast Asia. In 2018, it launched a joint venture called EV Growth, aimed at providing growth capital to startups throughout Southeast Asia. East Ventures continues to play a significant role in nurturing the startup ecosystem in the region.

Business Growth Fund is an influential investor in small and mid-sized businesses. It was set up in 2011 to offer growing companies and ambitious entrepreneurs patient capital and strategic support. With 14 offices, they are close and relevant to the businesses they invest in. They have grown to a team of 150+ and a network that’s made up of one of the largest pools of board-level executives. Collectively, the companies in their portfolio employ close to 50,000 people. They want to see more entrepreneurs using their capital not only to scale-up their own business but also, collectively, to drive economic activity and with it increase employment, exports, and growth.