Startup Accelerator Network Techstars Joins The Studio Rush
forbes | January 16, 2019
One of tech's most recognizable startup accelerator programs is getting in on the rush to try a new model of company creation: the startup studio.Techstars announced on Wednesday that it's launched Techstars Studio, a program to "co-create" companies through its network of entrepreneur alumni and corporate partners. Based out of Techstar's home base of Boulder, Colorado, Techstars Studio will be led by Sendgrid cofounder Isaac Saldana and Mike Rowan, formerly a vice president of SendGrid Labs.The startup studio has already signed up the support of more than 25 corporate partners and advisors, Techstars co-CEO David Cohen says. The goal: to help match entrepreneurs from Techstars' extensive alumni network to startup ideas, or help them spin out ideas from corporations that might give up intellectual property in exchange for equity in the new venture. "It allows our alumni to find the next thing through Techstars," Cohen says. "They want to leverage our brand and resources as they look. And the corporate partners were saying, 'We love running these accelerators with you, but we have some of our own ideas. You know all these entrepreneurs. Can you help us find the next people who can come and work on this concept?' So we were hearing it from both sides."