It Changed Everything: Why Techstars Is Better for Founders
Nov 06, 2023
Monumental takeaways
On average, Techstars companies go on to raise more than $2M of outside capital after our accelerator programs. Hear firsthand from three portfolio company founders on how Techstars catapulted their fundraising efforts with program exposure, investor connections, and more.
In 2020, Mustafa Syed, Founder of REZA, received his first check ever. That check came from Techstars after he participated in the Techstars Sports Accelerator powered by Indy. The 21-year-old said, “It changed everything for me.”
Syed had dropped out of university to move to China to work on his light-up shoe production. He called that move, “a leap of faith.”
It worked. REZA, which means laser in Japanese, has projected $13 million in revenue in the coming year. Quite a jump from the first year when the company did $180,000 in revenue. Syed is clear about participating in a Techstars program.
You have to believe and love what you’re doing
“You are never going to lose,” said Syed. “No matter how you attack the program, the connections you make, there’s going to be something monumental that you take away.”
For Beatriz Ayala, the founder of Musicasa, a peer-to-peer platform connecting homes with musicians hosting intimate, curated, and private home concert experiences, the Techstars investor pipeline strategy leads to the best chance to get that first yes. She recognizes that fundraising is all about your story and the energy that you bring to the game. Techstars helped her perfect it.
“It’s a journey,” said Ayala.
Despite having resilience as her superpower, Jessica Bussert, founder of Wave Therapeutics, knows she has to make the most of every pitch opportunity in order to bring her technology to market. Partly because as a transgender woman, she knows realistically, the deal flow numbers aren’t in her favor. Techstars proved to be part of the answer to improving those chances.
“I don’t think you can overstate the value of the network, especially to a startup trying to figure out the landscape,” said Bussert.
Are you ready to revolutionize your startup journey? Join our accelerator programs today and unlock unprecedented opportunities with Techstars by your side. Together, we'll amplify your fundraising efforts, connect you with influential investors, and provide invaluable support on your path to success.
