US-based Techstars, a worldwide network that helps entrepreneurs succeed, is on a mission to make innovation accessible to everyone, everywhere. The accelerator today announced the launch of a new programme called the Launchpool Web3 Techstars Accelerator.
This programme will work with entrepreneurs building blockchain technology and tokenisation protocols driving towards the decentralised future of finance.
Techstars partners for the new programme
The Launchpool Web3 Techstars Accelerator programme will run in partnership with Alphabit Fund – a regulated cryptocurrency and digital asset investment fund; and Launchpool – a regulatory compliant investment platform that offers private seed guaranteed investment opportunities to its member community.
According to Techstars GM Gagan Bhatia, “Blockchain technology has the potential to shift the control of monetary value and information and disrupt global business processes, as the internet did in the early 2000s. Working with Alphabit and the Launchpool community to support leading companies in this space is an incredible opportunity and an investment in the decentralised economy of the future.”
Techstars has experience and expertise in the blockchain space, with many companies in its portfolio including Chainalysis, who last week announced a $100M (approx €84.35M) round and valuation of $4.2B (approx €3.54B).
What to expect from the programme?
Located in London, the Launchpool Web3 Techstars Accelerator will work with ten startups each year over a three-month period. During this time, startups will receive funding, hands-on mentorship from Techstars, Alphabit, and Launchpool, access to curated workshops and resources, admittance to the Techstars global network for good, and exposure to a minimum viable community.
Speaking about the partnership, Shane McQuillian, VP Strategy, Alphabit, says, “Launchpool is thrilled to be partnering with Techstars and Alphabit to bring the Launchpool Web3 Techstars Accelerator to the crypto world. As firm believers in a multichain future, and being passionate about mainstream adoption, this first-of-its-kind accelerator is proud to be chain agnostic. With a killer lineup of mentors that represent a diverse cross-section of the blockchain space to work together, we feel we can really help founders and BUIDLers bring something truly innovative to the wider crypto industry.”
The applications for the programme will open on 13th September 2021 and will be accepted through 1st December 2021. And, the first year of the accelerator will operate from March 2022 through June 2022.
About Alphabit and Launchpool
Alphabit specialises in cryptoasset investments. It aims to advance the overall development of the sector by investing in and sharing its expertise with visionary and innovative projects.
As a regulated crypto asset fund, Alphabit claims to invest in companies at the cutting edge of the blockchain revolution. It believes, supports, and invests in the decentralised economy, with a generous portfolio of startups, protocols, and DeFi solutions that address an alternative to the traditional financial systems.
As for Launchpool, it leverages communities, knowledge, expertise, contacts and capital to provide crypto projects with the best possible start. It is a regulatory compliant initiative started in 2020, by the Alphabit Digital Currency Fund and aims to provide fair guaranteed access to early stages of project raises to the retail community.
With the ethos of ‘Egalitarian Investment’, Launchpool counts over 35,000 investors across the world. They believe in the idea of ‘being your own VC’, and support the startups ecosystem with a minimum viable community, resources, access to funding opportunities, and enabling partnerships across the blockchain ecosystem.
“Entrepreneurs can change the world”
Techstars was founded in 2006 by David Cohen, Brad Feld, Jared Polis, and David Brown. The Techstars worldwide network helps entrepreneurs succeed. It began with three simple ideas – entrepreneurs create a better future for everyone, collaboration drives innovation, and great ideas can come from anywhere. And with that, the company is on a mission to enable every person on the planet to contribute to, and benefit from, the success of entrepreneurs.
The company offers accelerator programmes and venture capital funds by connecting startups, investors, corporations, and cities to help build thriving startup communities. As of today, Techstars has invested in more than 2,500 companies with a combined market cap of more than $200B (approx €168.71B).