Techstars London

Proud of Techstars’s portfolio company, Zipline, hitting a $7.6bn valuation 👏 Onwards and upwards! https://lnkd.in/dMz39v_G

Alexa Bruce is a founder I knew I wanted to back from our very first conversations, a deeply technical subject-matter expert who also knows how to spot and convince top-tier talent to join her mission. We want to back more excellent female founders. Yes, our industry is improving, but too many exceptional operators are still under-estimated. I see it every day. If you know brilliant women at the earliest stages of building and thinking about raising, please comment below or put them in touch.

If you’ve been on the fence about applying to Techstars, this is your sign - applications close in 48 hours. Take it from Erol Ayvaz founder of Serve First CX (Techstars ’24): Since completing the program: - Raised £4.6M in seed funding, including an investor they met at Demo Day - Tripled ARR in the months after the program - Appointed multiple board members incl. chair met through Techstars As Erol said himself... “Techstars was pivotal for ServeFirst. The program didn’t just refine our pitch - it gave us the network, mentorship, and confidence to reach investors we wouldn’t have met otherwise. Several of the investors in our seed round came directly through Techstars. The momentum we built during the program was a key driver in closing the round.” If you’re building something ambitious and want to make meaningful progress fast, apply now. #Techstars #Startups #VentureCapital #Fundraising #Accelerator

Last week, Georgina Smithwick (MD, Techstars) and Usman Gul (Co-Founder & CEO, Metal) shared what it really takes to nail your pre-seed/seed round. Here are the five key takeaways: 1️⃣ Focus on the right investors Define your opportunity space - stage, sector, geography, and round size, and only target investors who actually invest in that zone. 2️⃣ Create a repeatable way to reach investors Fundraising shouldn’t rely on luck or “heroics.” Treat it like sales. Build a structured, measurable process for outreach and follow-up. Part of that process is learning how to open doors effectively: if you’re targeting a fund, reach out to one of their portfolio founders and ask for an intro. A warm connection through someone they already trust will move things forward much faster than a cold email. 3️⃣ Track leading indicators Pay attention to your opt-in and conversion rates between first and second calls. Data will tell you more than one-off feedback ever will. 4️⃣ Keep momentum high The strongest predictor of success is process velocity. Keep investors moving through your funnel, those who stall should be replaced quickly. 5️⃣ Get your collateral right Strong decks, clear messaging, and tight written materials build credibility and earn the next conversation. You can rewatch the full session via the link in the comments. BONUS: Comment below if you’re building a startup - or know someone who is - and we’ll send you our Office Hours application link.

Raising your first round is one of the hardest parts of building a startup. Join us for a live session where you will gain practical insights on how to frame traction, think about valuation, and build genuine momentum in your raise—while avoiding the common pitfalls that turn investors off. 📆 October 22nd at 12:00pm ET 🔗 https://luma.com/o6ziv0n2 Learn from 🎤 Georgina Smithwick, Managing Director at Techstars London 🎤 Usman Gul, Founder & CEO of Metal

Founder raising your first round? Let’s make it easier. Raising pre-seed and seed funding is one of the toughest parts of building a startup - especially when you’re trying to figure out what investors actually look for, what traction really means, and how to tell a story that cuts through the noise. Join us for “How to Raise Pre-Seed and Seed”, a live session with Georgina Smithwick, Managing Director at Techstars London, and Usman Gul, Founder & CEO of Metal - the AI-powered fundraising OS backed by a16z. Gul previously raised $120M+ for his first startup (backed by First Round Capital and Harry Stebbings’ 20VC) and now helps founders supercharge their own raise. Together, they’ll share insider tips on how top investors evaluate founders, what red flags to avoid, and how to build real momentum in your round. Expect a candid, tactical conversation with examples you can apply immediately. 📅 Next Wednesday, October 22 · 17:00 BST (12:00 ET) 💻 Live on Zoom + LinkedIn 🔗 Register via the link in comments #startups #fundraising #earlystage #founder #techstars #accelerator

Great reflections from our MD Georgina Smithwick on why students should build startups 👇 We’re seeing incredible talent emerging straight out of universities across Europe and beyond - and we’re here to back them. If you’re an early founder already building your startup - applications for our next Techstars program are open now. Link to apply in the comments! 👇

Big update from Techstars for founders 🚀 Earlier this year, Techstars announced updated investment terms - increasing our total investment to $220,000 on improved, founder-friendly terms. Starting with our upcoming London program, for which applications are now open (link in the comments!), every company accepted into Techstars will receive: 💸 $220K total investment ⚖️ Structured as $200K via an uncapped MFN SAFE and $20K for ~5% common equity 🌍 Plus lifelong access to the Techstars network of 8,000+ founders, mentors, and investors This will be the first Techstars London cohort we’re sourcing under these new terms - and applications are now open. If you’ve been thinking about joining Techstars, now’s the time. 👇 Links in the comments to: - The full Techstars investment terms update - The application #TechstarsLondon #Techstars #Startups #Founders #Funding #Accelerator #VentureCapital

Tonight our MD Georgie Smithwick joins the stage at the University of Oxford and University of Cambridge AI Entrepreneurship Evening at Keble College, Oxford. The evening will bring together some of the most ambitious founders, researchers, and investors in AI - and launches the Oxbridge AI Challenge & Oxbridge AI X 2025. ✨ Highlights: - Fireside chat with Georgie on her founder journey and investing in AI - Startup pitches over dinner - Networking with the Oxford & Cambridge AI community Looking forward to meeting founders who are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in AI. #Techstars #AI #Entrepreneurship #FounderJourney #Oxford #Cambridge

One of the best things about Techstars London? During program, we bring in experienced, successful founders for no-holds-barred, 1-1 sessions where our founders can ask anything and learn directly from those who’ve been in the trenches. This year, we had the privilege of hosting Krishna Raj Raja, founder of SupportLogic. He shared candid lessons from his journey that every early-stage founder should take to heart: - Naivety is a strength - don’t overthink the risks, fresh eyes lead to new ways to look at problems. -Ask for advice, not money (“If you ask for advice, you often get money”). - Founder-led sales are non-negotiable for your first 20–50 customers. - Customer feedback is your true north - not industry noise or trends. - Product-market fit isn’t one moment, it’s a continuous process. - ROI stories are weak early on - lean into your personal story and why you started. - For enterprise, don’t sell too soon - a “well-baked” product builds trust. In sum: Your story, scrappiness, and founder-led sales are your unfair advantage in the early days. Big thanks to Krishna for sharing his journey with our founders 🙌 Applications for Techstars London 2025 are now open - if you’re building something bold and want access to this kind of experience and network, apply with the link in the comments below!