Techstars and J.P. Morgan Launch Fifth Founder Catalyst Program Anywhere in the US
Jan 09, 2023
January 9, 2023 — Techstars, a global investment business that provides access to capital, one-on-one mentorship, and programming for early-stage entrepreneurs, and leading global financial services firm J.P. Morgan, open applications today for their 5th Founder Catalyst Program. This program will support 30 women across the United States as the first “anywhere”, or, regionally agnostic cohort. All women and non-binary entrepreneurs are encouraged to apply and there will be a concerted effort to increase the reach to Asian & Pacific Islander (API) communities for this opportunity.
Founders in the program will receive valuable startup education, mentorship, community building, and access to the Techstars worldwide network of entrepreneurs, mentors, investors, and corporate partners. Participants will hone their entrepreneurial skills, better understand their target customers, and dig deeply into the innovative solutions they are offering.
The program will take place from April through June, 2023, in a virtual, part-time format.
When reflecting on her time as a Founder Catalyst participant, Ana Sofia Guzman, Founder of Binibi wrote, “I would wholeheartedly recommend the Techstars Female Founder Catalyst to any early stage company. The network, resources and mentorship are unparalleled and will help you get a completely different point of view on your business and how to address your most pressing challenges. I have walked away not only with a strengthened network of peers and mentors, but with tools to help us scale and grow.”
The previous four Techstars Founder Catalyst cohorts (Atlanta, Washington DC, Miami, and Oakland) in partnership with J.P. Morgan have supported over 80 graduates, and 11 founders have been accepted to a Techstars accelerator (28% acceptance rate). In addition, these programs have led to nearly 1,400 mentor connections, six product launches, more than $1.5 million raised, and dozens of active investor conversations.
“JPMorgan Chase has long been committed to supporting Asian entrepreneurs in growing their businesses,” says Vivian Young, global head of Asian & Pacific Islander Affairs. “I’m excited to welcome a new class of early-stage founders as part of this first-ever virtual cohort. Together, we will enable them to contribute more to their local communities and our larger economy.”
All women & non-binary founded, early-stage companies in the US (with an additional call to API women) are encouraged to apply today. We are accepting applications through March 1, 2023. For questions, please contact foundercatalyst@techstars.com. Early applications will be prioritized.
About Techstars
The Techstars worldwide network helps entrepreneurs succeed. Founded in 2006, Techstars began with three simple ideas—entrepreneurs create a better future for everyone, collaboration drives innovation, and great ideas can come from anywhere. Now we are on a mission to enable every person on the planet to contribute to, and benefit from, the success of entrepreneurs. In addition to operating accelerator programs and venture capital funds, we do this by connecting startups, investors, corporations, and cities to help build thriving startup communities. Techstars has invested in more than 3,000 companies with a combined market cap of more than $140B. www.techstars.com
About JPMorgan Chase
This Founder Catalyst program is supported by J.P. Morgan's Innovation Economy business unit, its Women on the Move initiative and the Office of Asian & Pacific Islander Affairs.. Through the Innovation Economy division, J.P. Morgan serves high-growth, early-stage companies, and founders with solutions they need to scale quickly, from credit and financing to treasury and payments, international banking, access to the Investment Bank, asset management, and more. The Women on the Move initiative fuels female ambition and advances financial equality by providing greater access to capital, networking, expertise, and advice to female clients, serving women-owned or women-run businesses at all stages of development, from start-ups through large corporations. The Office of Asian & Pacific Islander Affairs is a global initiative dedicated to advancing equity and inclusion for Asian and Pacific Islander employees, customers, clients and communities worldwide.
Media contact:
Matthew Grossman