Our Full Historical Results

You might have heard us say that TechStars is “open-source” in the past. Last year we shared our Series AA Financing docs and now we’re now publishing our actual historical company results in full detail. This includes information on funding, acquisitions, failures, number of employees, etc.

Applying to and participating in a Seed Accelerator program is a big decision for nascent companies. We wanted to arm them with as much information as we could about what the program is like, as well as what the actual historical results have been.

I’m incredibly grateful to all the past companies who help us collect and allowed us to publish this data in one place for the first time. We hope that you find it useful.

If anyone has suggestions on how to improve the format (this one was inspired by Awesome Zombie), we’re all ears!

UPDATE: ReadWriteWeb has some analysis and thoughts on this data.

Get your apps in to be considered for TechStars for a Day

One of my favorite days of the year is TechStars for a Day.  It’s an invitation-only day where we invite our best and brightest TechStars applicants to come spend a full day in the Bunker.  It’s where they can get a feeling for what spending the summer with us will be like;  and it usually does not disappoint. Founders arrive fresh, ready to impress and rock, full of excitement and nervousness and curiosity.  They meet a handful of our select mentors, they meet past founders, they listen to words of wisdom.  They usually leave tired and drained, but overwhelmed at the amount of talent that surrounds them, and at the generosity and openness and experience of the mentors and past founders willing to dive in and help their companies succeed beyond wildest imaginations.  The full program is exactly like this.  Its exhausting and rewarding and exciting and eye-opening all at the same time.

TechStars for a Day (TS4AD) is March 5th this year but to be considered for it, your applications need to be in by March 2nd.  Yet we always end up turning away companies that should be invited because many fantastic companies applied before them.  Don’t be that company.  Don’t wait until the last minute.  Get us excited now about your capabilities and what you’re doing – your chances of being invited and getting into TechStars rise dramatically.  You have only 3 weeks remaining to be considered for TS4AD!

Applicant Geography

Now that the selection process for TechStars’ spring Boston program is behind us, I was curious to do some digging through the applicant data to understand a bit more about their demographics, specifically re: geography.

My a priori expectations were that the number of MA-based companies had increased 2009 to 2010, but clearly I was incorrect. I did not expect the big change in international applicants. 14% in 2009 to 24% in 2010 is a huge bump.

NB: Don’t try to add up the percentages. A company based in MA with co-founders in Zagreb is counted in all 3 columns. The goal of my math was to understand how much local (MA) and international reach we’re experiencing.

FiltrBox #4 TechStars Team Acquired

The class of 2007 TechStars is turning out to be something special, as outlined by David here.

I went over the FiltrBox offices today and presented Ari Newman and Tom Chikoore their gold shirts (my favorite TechStars tradition).

Excited for their future at Jive!

TechStars Founder Dating Meetup is Feb 10th

What are the 2 major things we look for in our portfolio companies?  Team, and idea, in that order.

But maybe you have a great idea and are still looking to build out your team.  Or maybe you’d make a fantastic entrepreneur, but are looking for a killer idea.  If you’re looking to apply to TechStars and need to round out your application, Founder Dating is the perfect place.

There’s no agenda, no lectures, no lessons;  only an opportunity to find your ideal partner-in-crime, allowing you to build the next fantastic company.  It’s a must-attend event if you’re planning on applying to the Boulder program and still need to round out your team.  Applications close on March 22nd, giving you over a month (eons on the TechStars calendar!) to crank code and perfect that prototype!

And if you can’t be here in person, we’re setting up a virtual meeting room (although nothing substitutes face-to-face!)

Details:
February 10th
4-6pm
The Bunker
RSVP Required for in-person attendees only – Click Here
Virtual Meeting Room Link for those that want to attend remotely