IVCA Feature: Techstars Chicago to Facilitate a Hybrid Program for 2022

March 30, 2022Last week (March 23rd) applications closed for the 2022 Techstars Chicago, the process that determines its “Class” of companies for the the new accelerator program year. The mentoring and program was done in person pre-pandemic, but as many organizations have evolved through the era, Techstars will have in-person requirements at the beginning and end of the accelerator, with the rest of time allowing companies or potential start-ups to work remotely or through co-working settings.

Techstars Chicago is an annual mentorship course that allows those entrepreneurs, start-ups and companies to participate in a 13 week forum that teaches them how to improve and execute their business ideas. It culminates on Demo Day, an opportunity for the participants to pitch their businesses to interested investors based on what they’ve learned. In 2022, the program is scheduled to begin on June 6th, and culminate on September 1st, the date for Demo Day.

Techstars is based in Boulder, Colorado, and has a global footprint. The Chicago branch began locally as Excelerate Labs – which was the brainchild of Sandbox Industries, the I2A Fund, Sam Yagan (OK Cupid, Sparknotes) and Troy Henikoff – before it merged with Techstars in 2013. Troy Henikoff was the primary Managing Director until Logan LaHive took the reins in 2017. The current Managing Director is Neal Salés-Griffin, an associate in Venture Capital and a Chicago founder, who began in July of 2019, and has guided the program through the pandemic era.

Links to articles describing updates to the program in 2022 …

Techstars and J.P. Morgan Partner to Invest in Diverse Entrepreneurs

Chicago will also participate in this new partnership: “Techstars today announced a new accelerator program powered by J.P. Morgan that will invest more than $80 million in diverse entrepreneurs and founders across the country.”

READ MORE: https://www.techstars.com/newsroom/techstars-and-j-p-morgan-partner-to-invest-in-diverse-entrepreneurs

Neal Sáles-Griffin Profile
Neal Sáles-Griffin is an entrepreneur, teacher, and nonprofit leader. He co-founded the first beginner focused in-person coding bootcamp, and most recently ran for mayor of Chicago. He’s currently the Managing Director of Techstars Chicago Accelerator and Techstars Chicago Powered by J.P. Morgan, and is an Adjunct Professor at Northwestern University’s McCormick School of Engineering where he teaches entrepreneurship.

READ MORE: https://www.techstars.com/the-line/5-questions/5-questions-with-neal-sales-griffin-managing-director-of-techstars-chicago-jp-morgan

Techstars Investors Information

Our investment approach is fundamentally driven by our worldwide network of managing directors. These passionate leaders interact with startup founders on a daily basis, guiding, mentoring, and cultivating them along their journey. The sheer scale of our reach results in a diversified strategy that provides investors with a uniquely qualified deal flow.

READ MORE: https://www.techstars.com/investors
For general information (“The Line”) on Techstars North America, click on www.techstars.com/the-line/north-america, and the full website is available by clicking on www.Techstars.com