Andres Barreto is the Managing Director of Techstars Economic Mobility Powered by Samvid Ventures and Techstars NYC. 

Andres previously ran Techstars Boulder and Techstars Miami. Prior to joining Techstars as MD, Andres founded early mobile ad network Onswipe (Techstars 2011), pioneer music streaming service Grooveshark, Pre-Seed Fund Firstrock Capital, economic development-focused investment firm Socialatom Group, and computer science education non-profit Coderise.  

01. What are you looking for in startups for Techstars Economic Mobility Powered by Samvid Ventures?

We are looking for founders building high-growth, scalable solutions for the 120 million Americans and nearly 40% of U.S. households classified as low- or moderate-income (LMI), representing a massive and underpenetrated market with strong demand across essential services.

We look for founders who have a deep understanding of their customers’ pain and a proven ability to build and execute quickly.

We’re particularly drawn to startups leveraging emerging technologies such as mobile, embedded finance, and AI to deliver products that are significantly better, faster, and more affordable than legacy alternatives. These companies should have a clear wedge into high-frequency, high-need problems and a pathway to venture-scale economics through tech-driven innovation.

We prioritize sectors like housing, healthcare, financial services, workforce development, education, the future of work, insurance & benefits access, and legal support, where modern infrastructure now makes it possible to serve LMI consumers at scale with efficiency, retention, and strong margins.

02. What are some of the biggest learnings from your career and entrepreneurial journey that you bring to being a Techstars MD? 

As a serial VC-backed founder and Techstars alum, I’ve now served as Managing Director for Techstars Boulder, Miami, and NYC. That experience has allowed me to work with hundreds of startups and see countless permutations of what drives success and, more importantly, what leads to failure.

The biggest learning I bring is an obsession with helping founders reach product-market fit faster. For those who have found it, I focus on helping them retain and expand it. Most startup advice is geared toward post-PMF companies, but in reality, it often takes 3 to 5 years to reach product-market fit, and many never get there, even after raising tens or hundreds of millions.

After seeing many outcomes, I’ve developed a more structured and quantitative approach to helping founders navigate the journey to PMF. My core belief is that the purpose of a startup is not to raise money or scale prematurely but to find a market segment that retains and expands usage of the product—because that’s what ultimately drives exponential growth. Everything else is a means to that end.

03. What is your favorite thing about the New York startup scene?

New York City has an unparalleled density and diversity of industry and consumer segments that are a microcosm of national and global markets; within a few blocks, you can reach customers and investors alike, allowing founders to iterate quickly and unlock access to markets and capital in a short period. 

04. What advice do you have for founders applying to the Techstars Economic Mobility powered by Samvid Ventures program?

As a program team, we review thousands of applications. To make your application stand out, please avoid using marketing jargon and focus on clear communication. Make sure to identify your ideal customer profile and clearly explain the problem they face. When describing your solution, use straightforward language and stick to the facts. Our goal is to understand your company well enough to invite you for an interview; we’re not looking to be persuaded to invest just based on your written application.

05. What do our partners, Samvid Ventures bring to the accelerator?

Samvid Ventures was founded on the belief that expanding opportunity, especially for those facing systemic barriers, must happen faster. Their mission to build more inclusive economies focuses on education, entrepreneurship, and healthcare. This accelerator reflects their conviction that the private sector, and innovative founders in particular, can help lead that effort.

Their commitment is clear through the dedicated accelerator space in New York, hands-on support, and resources for founders, including guidance on social enterprise models and non-dilutive funding. We’re excited to see the new strategies and business models that emerge from this collaboration.

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