Techstars

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Channel • 5 Shows

Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship

Monthly
Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship

Updated 05/04/2021
Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship

Updated 09/12/2020
Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship

Updated weekly
Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship

Every two weeks

6 JAN

The Long Game of Venture and Generosity with David Hornik

In this episode of the Give First podcast, Brad Feld talks with David Hornik, founding partner at Lobby Capital. David shares how a relationship driven approach has shaped his career in venture capital, from investing to community building. He reflects on why generosity compounds over time, how trust creates durable networks, and why long term thinking matters in both business and life. The conversation also touches on the origins of the Lobby conference, David’s connection to Adam Grant’s Give and Take, and how the Give First mindset shows up in his work with founders, students, and investors. David Hornik LinkedIn ➡️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidhornik/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

6 Jan

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29 min
23/09/2025

AI First Leaders | Andy Sack & Adam Brotman on Scaling with the AI Wave

In this episode of the Give First podcast, David Cohen sits down with longtime Techstars friend Andy Sack and former Starbucks Chief Digital Officer Adam Brotman, co-CEOs of Forum3 and co-authors of AI First: The Playbook for a Future-Proof Business and Brand. They explore why AI isn’t just another vertical, but the foundation of how companies will be built, operated, and scaled in the years ahead. Andy and Adam share insights from their work on what it means to be an “AI-native” founder, why iteration and prompting are becoming core entrepreneurial skills, and how disruption could lead to billion-dollar companies run by just a handful of people. The conversation covers practical takeaways for entrepreneurs, lessons from their entrepreneurial journeys, and why adopting an AI-first mindset may be the difference between thriving and being left behind in the next wave of innovation. Get Andy and Adam’s book ➡️ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D8TZDR74?ref=KC_GS_GB_US Follow Andy Sack on LinkedIn ➡️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/andysack/ Follow Adam Brotman on LinkedIn ➡️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/adambrotman/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

23/09/2025

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25 min
07/01/2021

Andy Sack on Give First and Creating a Startup Ecosystem from Scratch

Andy Sack has been a technology entrepreneur, angel investor and venture capitalist for 25 years — and is one of the godfathers of the Seattle startup community. He was managing director for Techstars Seattle, founder and executive chairman for Lighter Capital, and cofounder of seed stage fund Founder's Co-op. He participated in the first Techstars Boston Startup Weekend and was so moved by the experience that he decided to run a Techstars Startup Weekend in Seattle. As Andy says, “(I gave) a talk to the Techstars Boston class and it was supposed to be one hour. Three hours later after talking and answering questions, I left the building, and I was moved to tears.” He rallied the venture capital community in Seattle to support entrepreneurs through Techstars, creating a vibrant startup ecosystem that didn't previously exist. Three different unicorn startups (valued over a billion dollars) came out of Andy's 2011 Class of Techstars Seattle. Follow Andy on Twitter: @AndySack Learn more about his favorite charitable organizations: Two Screens for Teachers - Gives teachers a second computer screen so they can see their students while teaching remotely. Rainier Scholars - Creates pathways to college graduation for hard-working, low-income students and provides access to transformative educational opportunities. REST - Helps women on the street get out of troubled situations and abusive relationships and gives them a place to live. Techstars personnel and/or guests who speak in this podcast express their own opinions, and not the opinion of either Techstars or any company discussed in this podcast. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities are for illustrative and/or informational purposes only and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. Furthermore, this content is not directed at nor intended for use by any investor or prospective investor, and may not under any circumstances be relied upon when making a decision to invest in any fund managed by Techstars. Certain of Techstars funds own (or may own in the future) securities in some of the companies discussed in this podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

07/01/2021

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26 min
13/10/2020

Finding Motivation by Battling Yourself – with Shastri Mahadeo

When Unioncrate cofounder Shastri Mahadeo struggled with predicting demand for his specialty tea and matcha import business, he discovered that this was a common supply chain management problem among suppliers of consumer packaged goods (CPG). He met a developer at a Techstars Startup Weekend, and their solution led to the founding of Unioncrate. Their supply chain platform simplifies operations and demand planning for consumer goods companies. “What keeps me going,” says Shastri, “is that I'm in a constant battle with myself. I don't care about the money. I'm just curious if I can do it.” He explains the importance of believing in what you’re doing, especially when others don’t share your vision. Listen to Shastri’s story about how he brought his supply chain solution to the CPG marketplace, and how he overcame challenges along the way. He advises fellow entrepreneurs to home in on a specific problem to solve, get feedback from industry insiders, focus on investors that believe in you, and hire people who share your enthusiasm. Techstars personnel and/or guests who speak in this podcast express their own opinions, and not the opinion of either Techstars or any company discussed in this podcast. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities are for illustrative and/or informational purposes only and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. Furthermore, this content is not directed at nor intended for use by any investor or prospective investor, and may not under any circumstances be relied upon when making a decision to invest in any fund managed by Techstars. Certain of Techstars funds own (or may own in the future) securities in some of the companies discussed in this podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

13/10/2020

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20 min
18/11/2020

Succeeding in Your Startup with the Support of Your Crew – with Tiffany Dufu

The Cru founder Tiffany Dufu has dedicated her life to “advancing women and girls,” harnessing their ingenuity and talent for global benefit. The Cru matches circles of women who collaborate, both online and in person, to meet their life goals. Tiffany was lucky to have her own crew of supportive women around her and she wanted to create this kind of network for fellow women entrepreneurs. “At the end of the day,” says Tiffany, “the most important part of my journey was a crew. It was recognizing that I couldn't do this by myself.” She explains that although women have family, friends, and coworkers all around them, they often view their “personal and professional journeys as if it’s a solo endeavor, not a team sport.” Listen to Tiffany’s story about overcoming the odds of being a Woman of Color startup founder, the valuable lessons in her book, “Drop the Ball: Achieving More by Doing Less,” and how Cru members want a platform that fosters intentionality, accountability, and commitment. Follow Tiffany Dufu on Twitter: @tdufu Follow The Cru on Twitter: @findyourcru Follow Jenny Fielding on Twitter: @jefielding Techstars personnel and/or guests who speak in this podcast express their own opinions, and not the opinion of either Techstars or any company discussed in this podcast. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities are for illustrative and/or informational purposes only and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. Furthermore, this content is not directed at nor intended for use by any investor or prospective investor, and may not under any circumstances be relied upon when making a decision to invest in any fund managed by Techstars. Certain of Techstars funds own (or may own in the future) securities in some of the companies discussed in this podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

18/11/2020

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29 min
28/10/2020

Know the Problem That You’re Trying to Solve — with Jonathan Levin

As a startup in the frontier market of cryptocurrency, Chainalysis made a name for themselves as a government investigation service for cryptocurrency. Graduates of the New York Barclays Accelerator, powered by Techstars, they now provide cryptocurrency analysis that helps organizations manage risk in cryptocurrency markets to expand its possibilities. Cofounder Jonathan Levin explains that the key to startup growth is to “double down on where you're finding that product market fit in the early days and understand why people are buying from you.” Jonathan talks about being excited by your vision, having a passion for solving a global problem, and the challenges of finding investors in a frontier market. He explains the importance of building upon your initial customers, knowing when to hire your first product and HR managers, and "building a great culture of people who are deeply mission-focused." Techstars personnel and/or guests who speak in this podcast express their own opinions, and not the opinion of either Techstars or any company discussed in this podcast. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities are for illustrative and/or informational purposes only and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. Furthermore, this content is not directed at nor intended for use by any investor or prospective investor, and may not under any circumstances be relied upon when making a decision to invest in any fund managed by Techstars. Certain of Techstars funds own (or may own in the future) securities in some of the companies discussed in this podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

28/10/2020

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25 min
31/10/2023

The Perfect Storm with Elizabeth Kraus

For 20 years, Elizabeth Kraus was busy being an entrepreneur. So busy and stressed, she wasn’t eating well, had wild energy swings and barely slept despite training for, and tackling long-distance triathlons. A host of other medical challenges led to a thyroid and hormone imbalance diagnosis and medication which she said, “put a band aid solution on all these health issues.” Until the band aid ripped off. “It was the perfect storm of disaster,” said Kraus, the chief investment officer for MergeLane Venture Capital Fund. “My body completely shut down in 2023.” Listen as Kraus and David Cohen, longtime friends with frequent career intersections, discuss the breakdown, the warning signs and how she clawed her way back to, almost, normalcy. Kraus recently announced after eight years and investments in 54 female-led companies, MergeLane has made their final investment. Kraus plans to write a book and start a podcast. “I think lots of people who are earlier in their career just think, well, I'll deal with the health stuff later because I'm young. What could really go wrong?” A lot, as it turns out. Tune in for more. Follow David Cohen on Twitter @davidcohen Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

31/10/2023

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34 min
14/04/2021

Creating Demand for Breakthrough Climate Tech, with Nan Ransohoff and Shawn Drost

New and breakthrough technologies are essential to solving our planet’s climate crisis. We need tech that replaces high CO2-emitting processes, tech that removes carbon from our atmospheres, tech that connects it all — and more. That’s why Hannah Davis, Program Director of the Techstars Sustainability Accelerator in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, is talking with Nan Ransohoff, Head of Climate at Stripe, and Shawn Drost, CEO at Diversified Hydrogen. Listen for a dive into the importance of creating demand for new climate-friendly technologies, plus a clear explanation of why hydrogen is such an important element of climate solutions — and how it’s being used now. Follow Nan on Twitter @nanransohoff Follow Shawn on Twitter @shawndrost Techstars personnel and/or guests who speak in this podcast express their own opinions, and not the opinion of either Techstars or any company discussed in this podcast. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities are for illustrative and/or informational purposes only and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. Furthermore, this content is not directed at nor intended for use by any investor or prospective investor, and may not under any circumstances be relied upon when making a decision to invest in any fund managed by Techstars. Certain of Techstars funds own (or may own in the future) securities in some of the companies discussed in this podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

14/04/2021

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20 min
23/02/2021

What Exactly Is Going On With Our Planet? with Dr. Kamal Kapadia

We’re all trying to wrap our minds around climate change, its enormous consequences if left unchecked, and how people and organizations can fight it. In this first episode of the Techstars Climate Tech podcast, host Cody Simms, SVP for Climate & Sustainability at Techstars, talks with Dr. Kamal Kapadia, Cofounder of Terra.do, about the big questions, like what exactly is going on with our planet, and what our lives may look like in 20 or 50 years, before diving into the ways that technology can help. Listen for answers to these key questions: What are the biggest, hardest problems to solve about climate change?Where is technology a solution? Policy?Where is technology ready, but in need of marketplace support?How can entrepreneurs and startups help? The good news? Kamal is an intelligent optimist, and she offers a lot of reasons why we can be hopeful. Follow Kamal on Twitter @kamal_kapadia Techstars personnel and/or guests who speak in this podcast express their own opinions, and not the opinion of either Techstars or any company discussed in this podcast. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities are for illustrative and/or informational purposes only and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. Furthermore, this content is not directed at nor intended for use by any investor or prospective investor, and may not under any circumstances be relied upon when making a decision to invest in any fund managed by Techstars. Certain of Techstars funds own (or may own in the future) securities in some of the companies discussed in this podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

23/02/2021

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32 min
01/06/2021

How To Start and Grow a Renewable Energy Company, with Steph Speirs and Yoav Lurie

Renewable energy startups — and the entrepreneurs who found them — are crucial to the fight against climate change. These founders are smart, driven, and agile enough to see the opportunities in energy right now, and dive in. This is a fascinating time in energy, as renewable sources become cheaper and easier to democratize, reaching a more racially and economically diverse set of users, and big utility companies are also starting to see the need to get on board with sustainable initiatives. It wasn’t long ago that climate tech was unpopular. We’re grateful to see that changing. But here are some words of wisdom from Yoav to other entrepreneurs who are doing the right thing, even when no one else believes in their mission: “Don't be afraid to do the unpopular thing, because the rest of the world is just going to catch up.” Listen to learn about community solar, energy savings at home, learning to work with utility companies, the importance of infrastructure, and more. Follow Solstice on Twitter @solarforgood Follow Yoav on Twitter @yoavlurie Techstars personnel and/or guests who speak in this podcast express their own opinions, and not the opinion of either Techstars or any company discussed in this podcast. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities are for illustrative and/or informational purposes only and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. Furthermore, this content is not directed at nor intended for use by any investor or prospective investor, and may not under any circumstances be relied upon when making a decision to invest in any fund managed by Techstars. Certain of Techstars funds own (or may own in the future) securities in some of the companies discussed in this podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

01/06/2021

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25 min

The Techstars Podcast Network looks to elevate and amplify voices and stories from around the Techstars worldwide network, showcasing the points of view of founders, investors, mentors, and innovation leaders.

Website

Techstars

Top Shows

The Long Game of Venture and Generosity with David Hornik

AI First Leaders | Andy Sack & Adam Brotman on Scaling with the AI Wave

Andy Sack on Give First and Creating a Startup Ecosystem from Scratch

Finding Motivation by Battling Yourself – with Shastri Mahadeo

Succeeding in Your Startup with the Support of Your Crew – with Tiffany Dufu

Know the Problem That You’re Trying to Solve — with Jonathan Levin

The Perfect Storm with Elizabeth Kraus

Creating Demand for Breakthrough Climate Tech, with Nan Ransohoff and Shawn Drost

What Exactly Is Going On With Our Planet? with Dr. Kamal Kapadia

How To Start and Grow a Renewable Energy Company, with Steph Speirs and Yoav Lurie

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