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.

FJ Labs is a U.S.-based investment firm established in 2015 by Fabrice Grinda. The firm operates with a stage-agnostic approach, primarily targeting marketplaces and consumer-facing startups. FJ Labs focuses its investments on seed and Series A rounds, with a financial commitment ranging from $50,000 to $5,000,000. The firm has invested in a variety of notable companies, including Alibaba Group, beepi, BrightRoll, Betterment, and ADORE ME.

Insight Partners is a global private equity and venture capital firm established in 1995, specializing in growth-stage investments in the software, internet, and data services sectors. Headquartered in New York City, with additional offices in London, Tel Aviv, and Palo Alto, the firm manages over $75 billion in assets and has invested in more than 750 companies worldwide. Insight Partners focuses on partnering with high-growth technology and software companies that are driving significant change in their industries. The firm aims to support visionary executives by providing practical, hands-on expertise throughout their growth journey, from initial investment to public offering. With a strong commitment to fostering a culture of growth and opportunity, Insight Partners has seen over 55 portfolio companies achieve IPO status.

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.

ALSTIN Capital invests in rapidly growing European technology companies in the sectors FinTech, InsurTech, CyberSecurity, RegTech, and Mobility. Founded in 2011, ALSTIN provides between 1-3 Mio. EUR in Series A and B rounds. They do not solely invest in convincing technology, but above all in the entrepreneurs behind the technology. In addition, they support their entrepreneurs with capital and know-how so that they can grow faster and more successfully. The basis of their investment is the conviction that entrepreneurial know-how, long-term transaction experience, international networks and sales excellence are the success factors for sustainable growth.

SBI Investment Co., Ltd. is an investment arm of SBI Holdings, Inc. specializing in venture capital and growth capital investment. It primarily invests in the field of information technology, bio-life science, fitech, healthcare, environment, communication services, consumer discretionary and energy and other sectors that have growth potential. The firm seeks to invest in China and Southeast Asia. It prefers to exit its investment through IPO and M&A. SBI Investment Co., Ltd. was founded in June 7, 1996 and is based in Tokyo, Japan.

Speedinvest GmbH is a venture capital firm founded in 2011 and based in Vienna, Austria, specializing in early-stage investments in technology-related startups across Europe. The firm focuses on sectors such as deep tech, fintech, health, industrial tech, consumer marketplaces, software as a service, and climate tech. Speedinvest typically invests between €0.25 million and €3 million in pre-seed to Series A stages, aiming to take minority stakes of up to 20% in its portfolio companies. The firm emphasizes operational support, often taking on active roles within the companies it invests in for periods ranging from six months to a year. With additional offices in cities including San Francisco, Berlin, Paris, London, and Munich, Speedinvest seeks to leverage a global network to enhance its contributions to Europe’s startup ecosystem.

Avid Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm based in New York, founded in 2020 by Adrienne Lerner. The firm specializes in investing in Series A and B companies within the consumer internet, fintech, and software sectors. Avid Ventures focuses on supporting exceptional founders who are creating transformative businesses in North America, Europe, and Israel. By concentrating on these areas, the firm aims to drive innovation and growth in key industries.

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation is a not-for-profit organization established on June 30, 1969, through the merger of the Old Dominion Foundation and the Avalon Foundation. Its primary mission is to enhance, promote, and defend the roles of the humanities and the arts in fostering human flourishing and contributing to the well-being of diverse and democratic societies. The Foundation manages a diverse investment portfolio, allocating its assets across various categories, including private equity, public equities, real assets, diversified strategies, and fixed income and cash. Through its initiatives and funding, the foundation aims to support cultural institutions, education, and scholarly research, thereby reinforcing the importance of the arts and humanities in contemporary society.

Accel is a venture capital firm founded in 1983 and based in Palo Alto, California, with additional offices in San Francisco, London, and Bangalore. The firm specializes in early and growth-stage investments, focusing on technology sectors such as software, big data, cloud technologies, fintech, healthcare, and digital media. Accel is known for backing innovative entrepreneurs and has a history of investing in notable companies including Facebook, Dropbox, and Spotify. With over three decades of experience, Accel employs dedicated teams that utilize market-specific strategies to identify and support the next generation of industry leaders. The firm manages approximately $9.6 billion and carries out investments typically ranging from $5 million to $15 million, aiming to foster the development of world-class, category-defining businesses globally.