Why Techstars: Interviews, Careers, & Portfolio

Techstars Overview

Techstars is a global investment firm which provides access to one-on-one mentorship, a worldwide network, capital, and customized programming for early-stage entrepreneurs.

If startups want to apply for Techstars’ program, they will be evaluated by the Managing Director of the said program they applied to, along with a committee composed of different members of the Techstars network.

If a company gets accepted, Techstars receive 6% common stock. In return, the startup receives $20,000 plus a $100,000 convertible note, lifelong access to Techstars network, $1M+ worth of perks, and 3-month accelerator program – composed of mentorship, growth, and investment phase.

On the last day of the accelerator program, the 10-12 selected companies pitch publicly in front of investors, corporate partners, and Techstars alumni on the demo-day.

Jared Polis, David Brown, Brad Feld, and David Cohen founded Techstars in Boulder, CO in 2006.

Techstars AUM

According to the firm’s publicly available data published on their website, Techstars has $850 million in assets under management as of February 01, 2022.

Techstars Interview Process & Questions

Firms can have distinct interview processes with each candidate. But if you interview at Techstars (or a firm like it), there’s a high chance you’ll experience and go through the following:

• 4-6 rounds of interviews
• Junior investment professionals or the HR team will handle your initial interviews while the more senior folks take over for the later part
• The entire interview process can take several weeks (unless it is “on-cycle” or “on-campus” recruiting)

At Techstars, the interviews will be a mixture of fit questions, technical/investing questions, and behavioral questions.

Check out my Growth Equity Interview Guide if you need help acing your interviews.

Why Techstars

“Why this firm” is one of the frequently asked and definitely a crucial question during interviews. 

Firms like to know if their candidates have specific motivations for the application – and not simply sending CV to any firm that is hiring.

If you’ve done networking, make sure to mention whoever you’ve met and how they’ve made a really positive impression.

Another good practice is researching the firm. For this, you can try listening to interviews with the firm’s founders, investors, or senior executives.

This talk with Kerty Levy, Managing Director of the Techstars Boston Accelerator, on how to make your application stand out is a good start:

More interview

• David Cohen and Brad Feld, Techstars co-founders, speak with various mentors and founders
• Sneak peek of what it looks like to be in a Techstars program

Techstars Case Study

Interviewees almost always have to conduct a case study during interviews. Case studies help firms assess the level of technical knowledge and communication skills of candidates.

Most case studies require investment recommendations and financial modeling. However, cold calling case study may also be required for junior roles.

To excel at case studies, check out my Growth Equity Interview Guide.

Techstars Salary & Compensation

According to Glassdoor, analysts at Techstars are making $109,494 per year. This figure represents the median and can still vary depending on several factors such as your experience, education, and skills. No recent data for analyst hires.

Associate

Techstars Careers, Jobs, & Internships

To see job openings at Techstars, you can check out our job board where you will also see other open roles at similar firms.

Techstars Portfolio & Investments

The notable investment portfolio of the firm includes Chainalysis, DataRobot, and Remitly. According to Crunchbase, Techstars has 5,658 investments and 10 funds.

Notable Transaction: Peerby

Peerby makes it possible for people to borrow and lend household items with their neighbors. Users can look for items by browsing through listings or posting requested items.

There’s a membership fee for Borrowers. On the other hand, Lenders can lend for free or rent the things they have. All items are covered with warranty to protect against damages and theft.

Peerby is one of the 10 startups that presented in Techstars London 2013 Demo Day and graduated from Techstars’ bootcamp-style 13 week program.

On May 31, 2022, Peerby raised €2.3 million in a funding round led by Loyal – a Toronto-based tech and impact fund. Existing shareholders and the Dutch impact investor Shamrock Ventures also participated in the funding round.

Next Steps

Interested in applying at Techstars? Before you do, make sure to check out my Growth Equity Interview Guide.

This self-paced online course will equip you with technical knowledge, mental models, and topic mastery which will help you gain a competitive edge over other qualified candidates who are also aiming to land the role you’d be applying for.

Start learning today!