By Misti Cain, Managing Director, Techstars San Diego powered by SDSU

👋 Hi, from the new Managing Director of Techstars San Diego powered by San Diego State University!

I started mentoring with Techstars in 2018 thanks to a serendipitous plane ride where I sat next to Ryan Kuder, then-Manging Director of Techstars Anywhere. Since 2018 when Ryan invited me to be a mentor, I’ve been a lead mentor, all-star mentor, Give First award winner, Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Investor, Venture Partner and now Managing Director for Techstars. 

I’m a recovering digital marketing strategist and previous founder. As a founder, I helped startups and enterprise companies with their exit, merger, and acquisition action plans. Over my career, I’ve also helped startups raise over $30 million and assisted with two startup exits. I’m passionate about reducing the startup failure rate and helping founders do more than they could on their own.

Techstars San Diego powered by SDSU is in the third year of its initial three-year contract (learn more here). Our program believes that good ideas can come from anywhere. We want business- and revenue-model diverse founders that can leverage the advantages of both the San Diego ecosystem and the research, talent, and resources of San Diego State University.

Being part of Techstars San Diego powered by SDSU means access to an invaluable network of experienced and successful entrepreneurs, mentors, staff, faculty, and alumni who are more than willing to help and support the success of the startups in the program. This program is unique in that, while it’s geographically positioned in one of America’s finest cities, the desire is to champion worldwide innovation - bringing together startups from different parts of the world to come together and exchange ideas, experiences, and knowledge, enriching each other and helping each other succeed.

The San Diego tech community has been nothing short of magnanimous. Everyone has championed, supported, and collaborated with me from the second I was introduced to the scene. My goal is to graciously pay it back (and forward) as I step into this role. I look forward to complementing the amazing work that’s already been accomplished and bring my entrepreneurial, growth, and strategic experience to the team.

Let’s build!

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