Techstars

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Channel • 6 Shows

Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship

Updated Jun 25
Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship

Updated Feb 17
Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship

Updated Weekly
Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship

Updated Biweekly
Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship

Updated 04/05/2021
Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship

Updated 12/09/2020

Jun 25

Founders First, Always

In this episode of Your Startup Community, Chris Heivly breaks down the first principle of the Boulder Thesis: entrepreneurs must lead the startup community. It sounds simple. It is not. Chris unpacks why governments, universities, and economic developers, no matter how well-resourced or well-intentioned, cannot substitute for founder-led leadership. Drawing from his own experience in rooms full of civic planners without a single current founder present, he makes the case that startup communities are living systems, not strategic plans. Because you can remove friction. You can create the conditions for collisions. But you cannot engineer entrepreneurial energy from a conference room. The goal is not a managed community. It is a community where founders are heard, elevated, and in the room. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 25

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15 min
11/20/2025

How Great Mentorship Transforms Founders and Ecosystems

In this episode of Your Startup Community, Chris Heivly explores why mentorship is one of the most influential forces in any startup community. He breaks down how true mentorship works in practice and why it is more about trust, consistency, and honest connection than formal structures or titles. Chris also explains why great mentorship benefits both sides and how it strengthens the relationships that hold a community together. He offers a look at the common misconceptions founders and mentors bring into the process and highlights what makes mentorship meaningful, accessible, and impactful. From vulnerability to shared experiences to showing up when it matters, Chris outlines the simple behaviors that help communities grow stronger. If you are building, mentoring, or supporting founders, this episode will give you a grounded perspective on why mentorship matters and how to approach it with intention. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

11/20/2025

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17 min
09/22/2021

Justin Field / Enhancing Government Policy and Funding for Climate Technology Startups

Until recently, startups and VCs in the climate technology space haven’t had a lot of resources or reach. Government has been particularly hostile toward innovative startups, crippling funding and opportunities -- but the NVCA (National Venture Capital Association) is working with the federal government to change that. A record amount of capital is streaming in, bills are passing robustly, and the NVCA is committed to making sure the best technologies win big and do well. This unified front promises to organize and coordinate voices so entrepreneurs in fields like carbon capture can feel more confident, impactful and profitable. Connect with our guest: Justin Field, NCVA: https://nvca.org/about-us/staff/justin-field/ NCVA on social: https://twitter.com/nvca Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

09/22/2021

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37 min
Feb 17

Burn Bright, Not Out: James Oliver Jr. on Founder Mental Wellness

In this episode of the Give First podcast, David Cohen sits down with James Oliver Jr., Techstars alum, entrepreneur, and author of Burn Bright, Not Out. James shares his journey navigating the pressures of high achievement and the hidden cost of hustle culture. He introduces the Burn Bright Spectrum, a framework to help founders recognize the difference between healthy ambition and burnout, and explains why rest, micro-wins, and alignment are essential to long term success. The conversation explores founder mental health, breaking stigma in the startup community, and how sustainable performance drives deeper impact than constant grind. Follow James Oliver Jr. on LinkedIn ➡️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-oliver-jr/ Order Burn Bright, Not Out ➡️ https://www.amazon.com/Burn-Bright-Not-Out-ShatteringThe-ebook/dp/B0GG8FCCQZ Check out the Kabila Founder Mental Health Fund ➡️ https://give.socialgoodfund.org/KabilaMentalHealth?ref=ab_7QGjqr7P0pr7QGjqr7P0pr Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 17

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24 min
04/05/2021

Crossover: Talking Through It + Give First! Talking through unicorns, NFTs, and giving first with David Cohen

In this special episode, Give First host David Cohen and Talking Through It host Neal Sáles-Griffin take turns interviewing each other: it’s two Techstars podcasts in one. David discusses with Neal on how giving first grew the Chicago startup ecosystem, and then Neal talks through today’s hot issues with David. Today’s Topics: Finding Unicorns Crypto, NFTs, What’s Next? Dream Dinner Guest This Week’s Startup to Watch: https://hey.com/. Plus, listen to Neal’s conversation with Hey and Basecamp founder Jason Fried here. If you haven’t seen it yet, check out the National Geographic documentary series City So Real, a portrait of contemporary Chicago, including Neal’s candidacy in the 2019 mayoral election. 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.

04/05/2021

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26 min
Jun 11

Stop Fundraising and Start Building

In this episode of Your Startup Community, Chris Heivly challenges one of the most deeply held beliefs in startup culture: that raising capital is the same as building a company. Drawing from his recent Raleigh Durham Startup Week, where over 2,700 founders and community builders gathered, Chris unpacks why the answer founders give about what is blocking their progress reveals a much deeper problem. Capital matters. But capital is not a strategy. And when founders and community leaders treat funding as the finish line, they risk skipping the harder, more important work. Because the goal is not a community full of funded startups. It is a community full of durable companies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 11

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14 min
05/15/2025

Brad Feld Returns: The Power Behind “Give First”

In this special episode of the Give First podcast, David Cohen is joined once again by co-host Brad Feld, back after nearly two years away from the spotlight. Brad shares why he stepped back, what brought him back, and the deeper thinking behind his new book, Give First: The Power of Mentorship. They dive into the origins of the Give First philosophy, how it grew from a simple idea into a powerful movement influencing startup communities worldwide, and why giving without expecting immediate returns continues to shape entrepreneurship today. Order your copy of Give First: The Power of Mentorship here. Follow David Cohen on LinkedIn and Twitter Follow Brad Feld on LinkedIn and Twitter Listen & subscribe to the Give First podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

05/15/2025

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26 min
04/14/2021

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.

04/14/2021

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20 min
02/23/2021

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.

02/23/2021

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32 min
06/01/2021

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.

06/01/2021

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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.