This site uses cookies to improve your experience. To help us insure we adhere to various privacy regulations, please select your country/region of residence. If you do not select a country, we will assume you are from the United States. Select your Cookie Settings or view our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Cookie Settings
Cookies and similar technologies are used on this website for proper function of the website, for tracking performance analytics and for marketing purposes. We and some of our third-party providers may use cookie data for various purposes. Please review the cookie settings below and choose your preference.
Used for the proper function of the website
Used for monitoring website traffic and interactions
Cookie Settings
Cookies and similar technologies are used on this website for proper function of the website, for tracking performance analytics and for marketing purposes. We and some of our third-party providers may use cookie data for various purposes. Please review the cookie settings below and choose your preference.
Strictly Necessary: Used for the proper function of the website
Performance/Analytics: Used for monitoring website traffic and interactions
Portfolio company leaders from across the country touched down in the Windy City to connect with fellow Rise of the Rest-backed founders on tactical tools for turbulent times. If you’re building a company in 2025, the headlines are loud: market whiplash, trade realignments, AI acceleration, geopolitical shockwaves.
It’s what led me to San Francisco, and, ultimately, what drew me to 500 Startups. When I moved to San Francisco in 2012, I was working on my fourth startup and looking to join an accelerator. When I moved to San Francisco in 2012, I was working on my fourth startup and looking to join an accelerator.
I have never been more optimistic about the impact that the tech startup community is having on cities in America or about the role that cities outside of San Francisco / Silicon Valley can play in our future. Changes in the Software World & in Venture Capital. Changes in the Startup Ecosystem.
These days, there are a ton of options for you if you''re a startup seeking guidence. We''ve done a lot to make sure startups get all the help we can get--and it''s leading to higher companies getting off the ground. Just like a startup accelorator, a VC program would also really help on the fundraising side.
NOT spending time on the accelerator building the product. The product should be live if we hope to raise capital. The most valuable resource the accelerator provides is the network, so use all my time to navigate that network. Here are some truths about what accelerators can be for startups: A small filter.
At Rise of the Rest, we’ve spent years traversing the country, spotlighting emerging startup hubs, and building a network of entrepreneurial champions and ecosystem builders beyond Silicon Valley, New York City, and Boston. Internally, we’ve begun using the term “founder-market-geography fit” to describe this idea. Let’s get into it.
The venture capital screening call is an important step to get right in due diligence. In this Dreamit Dose, associates Alana Hill and I, Elliot Levy , offer five things we wish founders knew after screening over 1,000 startups in the last year. Startup databases include Crunchbase, AngelList, Pitchbook, and more.
It’s been a crazy journey for us from a small first batch of startups in our Silicon Valley Accelerator to running accelerators across the globe and investing in founders from over 76 countries. Over the past nine years, the venture capital landscape has dramatically changed.
Two prominent entrepreneurs share their views on starting a business plus 10 tips every first-time founder should have. A founders journey when taking on the challenge of launching a startup is filled with highs and lows.Their path to success will have challenges, setbacks, and moments of doubt.
Across the world, various economic development organizations, government agencies, and non-profits are putting in admirable and well-intentioned efforts to develop startup ecosystems. Very little time and effort is spent helping professional, full time investors raise capital for venture funds.
For first-stage entrepreneurs who have achieved initial success and want to grow further, the EO Accelerator (EOA) learning program serves as a catalyst for entrepreneurs aiming to surpass US$1 million in revenue. One reason behind the value EO Accelerator creates is that EO treats Accelerators as equals on par with regular EO members.
Many startups now go through accelerators and have mentors passing through each day with advice – usually it’s conflicting. There are bootcamps, startup classes, video interviews – the sources are now endless. What is a founder to do? Improving startup productivity ? Startup Lessons'
One of the questions I heard most often from commenters was: “if Techstars is an example of a failed accelerator, what does a good one look like?” This post is an effort to unpack what’s required of a startupaccelerator to truly serve the needs of high-performing founders. This has not been our experience.
If 500 has learned one thing from investing in over 75 countries, it’s the importance of placing bets in all the right founders and helping build ecosystems for them to thrive in. One of these often-overlooked regions is Russia, which despite challenges, has a booming tech and startup ecosystem. Thirty hand-selected startups took.
This list needs no explanation: 1) You need a technical co-founder. 11) This accelerator is really hard to get into. 12) We''re using lean startup methodology. This list needs no explanation: 1) You need a technical co-founder. 11) This accelerator is really hard to get into. Venture Capital & Technology'
I often speak about co-founder fighting and how this ends in lawsuits but this has become much more prevalent. I’d encourage you to watch this quick 3-minute video with some views on what I call “ The Co-Founder Mythology ” that is perpetuated in Silicon Valley. Lawsuits are particularly common amongst co-founders.
I've heard a lot of VCs tell founders they need co-founders--and that they wouldn't look at a business at a very early stage without a co-founder. A lot of accelerators treat solo founders the same way--making it an implied requirement to participate. The same holds true for VC funds.
We have collected a wide range of freebies, contests, accelerators, online communities, and VCs designed for student tech founders. The Kauffman Foundation found 47% of US tech founders held degrees in STEM while 34% held degrees in business, finance, and accounting. 1) Freebies for Student Tech Founders. Right here.
Sesie Bonsi is the founder and CEO of Bleu , a financial technology platform focused on enabling touchless payment experiences. But most venture-backed startups are “still overwhelmingly white, male, Ivy-League-educated and based in Silicon Valley,” according to a study conducted by RateMyInvestor and Diversity VC. Share on Twitter.
Every time he opens his mouth about founder diversity, he seems completely out of his league to address the topic. However, in this moment, I think one''s career in venture capital depends on changing your perspective. As I guy, I know how hard it is for us to do either of those things, let alone do both at the same time.
million pre-A funding round, the FinTech startup aims to expand its regional footprint while laying the groundwork for future global growth. Notably, the round saw participation from Jason Gardner, founder and former CEO of Marqeta, who made this investment his first in the MEA region. With its just closed $5.2
I’m a female founder. I don’t have a technical co-founder. These are all of the things I heard from a founder that I recently backed. So what about all of the above statements—things that founders widely hold to be true barriers to fundraising? The startup ecosystem is a terrific manufacturer of bad fundraising advice.
With major global companies like BNP Paribas, PwC, Deloitte, FIFA, Abercrombie, and Capgemini in its fold, Maki is accelerating the use of its AI agents throughout companies’ human resources. As with so many other AI startups, AI agents are driving Maki’s model to transform HR, specifically talent recruitment and management.
The trio will introduce a new accelerator program in Japan. Techstars Tokyo builds upon the organization’s ecosystem development initiatives, which have historically supported entrepreneurs in their early stages through programs like Founder Catalyst and Startup Weekend.
If its a top tier accelerator like Ycombinator you should definitely do it. I have worked in finance and well as been though Techstars and have seen it all in the world of startups. The answer is YES. If you get an offer from YC , take it How to build a $20M fuel business.
Let me start by saying that Clayton is one of the most influential people on my thoughts about markets that led to both the concept behind my first startup and my main theses in investing. Startup Grind was a truly awesome conference and Derek the consumate host. He spoke about ROCE (return on capital employed).
Nearly every successful tech startup I’ve observed over the past 20 years has gone through a similar growth pattern: Innovate, systematize then scale operations. Innovate In the early years of a startup there is a lot of kinetic energy of enthusiastic innovators looking to launch a product that changes how an industry works.
Blair Silverberg is co-founder and CEO of Hum Capital , a financial services company using technology to accelerate the fundraising process. For many founders in the startup community, a “founder-friendly” investor is one who stays relatively hands off. Factor in founder friendliness.
In support of military Veteran-founded startups, the Fund focuses on space, AI, and cybersecurity leveraging a veteran’s leadership. Head of Global Operations of The Founder Institute, the world’s largest pre-seed startupaccelerator, and the Co-Founder & COO of the Vet-Tech StartupAccelerator.
Virtual reality and AR have the potential to transform a number of areas within real estate and the building process: Property walkthroughs that can accelerate the sales process for residential brokers. According to the founders, properties using the VirtualAPT content have seen over 300 percent increase for new building lease-ups.
Co-founders Halen Mattison and Luke Neise announced the closing of an $8 million seed round for their startup G eneral Galactic , a pioneer in fossil-free fuel generation technology. The $8 million seed round brings the startup’s total investment in the company to $10 million.
Amid these turbulent times, the VC accelerator industry has emerged as a stalwart player. There is an unprecedented amount of information or knowledge that is now freely available to guide founders (e.g., the free YC Startup School courses). Finally, the talent pool for tech startups has broadened immensely.
Co-founders Kushal Byatnal and Eli Badgio lead Extend’s mission to revolutionize unstructured data workflows with precision and scale. Documents are often the system of record for mission-critical business data, but reliably extracting that data has always been a challenge,” said Eli Badgio, co-founder and CTO. “We
Proven ability to lead high-performing teams, drive operational excellence, and improve startup outcomes across sectors and regions. programs at German Accelerator, specializing in global startup expansion and cross-border growth. programs at German Accelerator, specializing in global startup expansion and cross-border growth.
Fintech startup Parafin innovatively tackles this challenge through its embedded finance infrastructure used by partners such as DoorDash, Amazon, and others. Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy yet banks do not have their backs, says CEO and co-founder Sahill Poddar. and Canada.
One of the points I tried to make is that as venture capital investors as an industry we seem to have a healthy disdain for public market investors. When you accelerate too quickly often a pull back is inevitable as you recalibrate. I encouraged them to stay in shorter-term space, higher per-unit costs but no capital outlays.
The Future Africa Fund kicked off in 2015 when Iyinoluwa Aboyeji and Nadayar Enegesi , co-founders of US-based and African-focused talent company Andela, wrote checks to African startups as angel investors. This is because most of the capital in Africa for promising startups is typically distributed among many investors.
miles to visit founders, college campuses, co-investors, ecosystem builders, and communities in rising cities. Rise of the Rest Senior Associate, James Barlia , and Senior Director of Strategy, Jamie Rodota , also headed to the Palmetto State to meet with local investors and judge the College of Charleston Founders Club’s pitch competition.
The order is important because I fell in love with the product before I even knew about the company, and the hustle of its founder/CEO Sandro Roco. I was working at a venture-backed apparel startup for 4 years and saw the power of building digitally-native brands through Facebook and Instagram (TikTok was still nascent).
His startup, College Cash , allows brands to petition users to create photo and video marketing content highlighting their product or service, with the wrinkle being that content creators are paid by the brands in the form of credits that go directly toward paying down their student loan debt. Demetrius Curry, CEO of College Cash.
Venture capitalists may control capital, but one currency that they’re always in search of is an elusive, evolving one: deal flow. Betting early on the next big startup is enough to cement the entire return of a fund (and then some) — and help that plucky investor make a name for themselves.
They''re new to the gig, super excited about all its potential, and getting out there selling founders hope for that one big gamechanging deal. They just move too painfully slow to work with startups. That''s really all I have to give to the founders I back. It takes longer to get to know the founders.
Register Jakarta-based startup BintanGo , a platform facilitating content creators in monetizing their work, has recently secured $2.2 This round of funding has gained support from Contents Technologies, Transcend Capital Partners, and existing backers Investible and eWTP Tech Innovation Fund. million in funding support.
Time and time again i hear about founders that have bigger egos then anything else rejecting offers from top tier VC's (like YC ) and eventually leading thier companies to fail. Any other accelerator is not the same There is simply nothing else that compares to the quality of these VC's for PRE SEED investment.
We organize all of the trending information in your field so you don't have to. Join 24,000+ users and stay up to date on the latest articles your peers are reading.
You know about us, now we want to get to know you!
Let's personalize your content
Let's get even more personalized
We recognize your account from another site in our network, please click 'Send Email' below to continue with verifying your account and setting a password.
Let's personalize your content