Techstars Seattle
Facts
- HQ
- Seattle
- Sectors
- Accelerator, Startup Support
- Founded
- 2010
Remitly launches Remitly Global Card — Visa debit account with preferred FX, USD/USDC balances, instant P2P and 0% APR line
Remitly launched the Remitly Global Card, a Visa debit card and linked account that lets cross-border customers get paid, spend, save, and send money across countries with direct deposits, fee-free local spending, and global ATM access. The card, issued via Lead Bank with a Stripe wallet and funds held at Fifth Third Bank, includes preferred FX rates, support for USD or USDC balances, instant P2P transfers between Remitly cards, and a US 0% APR open-end line of credit for eligible users.
Remitly CEO Matt Oppenheimer Steps Down After 15 Years, Succeeded by Former Amazon Exec Sebastian Gunningham
Remitly CEO and co-founder Matt Oppenheimer is stepping down after nearly 15 years to become chairman, with former Amazon executive Sebastian Gunningham taking over as CEO on Feb. 19. The company, valued at nearly $3 billion, recently reported strong Q4 growth, including a 35% increase in send volume to $20.8 billion and adjusted EBITDA nearly doubling to $88.6 million.
Seattle Startup Accelerator Foundations Expands to San Francisco with New 5,000-Sq-Ft Location in Q2 2024
Seattle-based startup accelerator Foundations is opening a new 5,000-square-foot location in San Francisco to support founders who split time between the two tech hubs, responding to shifting market dynamics and growing startup momentum in the Bay Area. The expansion aims to bridge Seattle and San Francisco communities without abandoning Seattle, enabling members to access both spaces starting in Q2 2024.
Seattle Service Providers Launch Service Provider Capital's New Pacific Northwest Fund to Invest in Early-Stage Tech Startups
Seattle service providers Minh Le, Craig Sherman, and David Wickwire are leading a new Pacific Northwest fund for Service Provider Capital, which invests in early-stage tech startups by co-investing alongside venture firms. SPC's unique model pools professionals from startup support sectors to back a broad array of local companies across multiple U.S. regions.
Seattle's Founders' Co-op Raises $50M Sixth Fund to Back Early-Stage Pacific Northwest Tech Startups
Seattle venture firm Founders' Co-op has raised a $50 million sixth fund, focusing on early-stage Pacific Northwest tech startups with initial investments of $1 million to $1.5 million. Founded in 2008, the firm has backed billion-dollar companies like Remitly, Outreach, and Auth0 and aims to invest in about 30 new companies without targeting specific verticals.
Seattle Startup Community Foundations Doubles Capitol Hill Space, Plans Bellevue Expansion to Support Growing Members
Seattle startup community Foundations, founded by Aviel Ginzburg, is doubling its Capitol Hill office space and planning an expansion in Bellevue to support its 236 members, including 55 founders-in-residence. The community offers a no-equity, no-fee environment that helps startups grow together, with recent graduates choosing to remain engaged as the program evolves.
Seattle Opens AI House and Foundations Startup Hubs Amid Growing AI Ecosystem
Seattle launched two new startup hubs, AI House and Foundations, to support its growing AI ecosystem, hosting events with notable figures like venture capitalist Vinod Khosla and Mayor Bruce Harrell. These hubs aim to foster collaboration and growth within Seattle's burgeoning AI startup community.
Jessica Kamada’s Swizzle Ventures Raises $6.6M Fund to Invest in Women’s Health Startups in Seattle
Jessica Kamada, founder of Seattle-based Swizzle Ventures, raised $6.6 million for a new fund focused on investing in about 30 women’s health and wealth startups. Despite lacking a traditional VC background, she leveraged her experience in consumer tech growth and highlighted the significant economic potential in women’s health to attract investors.
Seattle's Foundations Launches Founder-in-Residence Program Without Equity Requirement for Early-Stage Startups
Seattle-based startup community Foundations has launched a new Founder-in-Residence program designed to support early-stage founders without requiring equity. The program offers mentorship, accepts companies at various development stages, and operates on a rolling basis with a typical six-month participation.
Aviel Ginzburg and Team Launch Foundations to Foster Seattle’s Startup Community with In-Person Support Network
Foundations, a new startup community group led by Aviel Ginzburg and others in Seattle, aims to create a supportive 'serendipity factory' for early-stage founders by fostering in-person connections among entrepreneurs, mentors, and investors. The group hosted a launch party in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood to build a vibrant local tech startup ecosystem.
Aviel Ginzburg Launches Seattle Foundations to Support Tech Startups with Non-Equity Accelerator in Capitol Hill
Aviel Ginzburg and a team of entrepreneurs are launching Seattle Foundations, a new invite-only entrepreneurial community and shared workspace in Seattle, aiming to support tech founders with mentorship and resources without taking equity. The initiative, set to open later this year in Capitol Hill, will offer co-working space, events, and six-month memberships focused on startup acceleration.
Techstars cuts executives and cancels flagship Seattle program as Y Combinator pulls ahead
Techstars, once a leading global accelerator, has been eclipsed by Y Combinator and is now facing executive departures, program closures, and the surprising termination of its flagship Seattle program; the article analyzes strategic choices that contributed to Techstars’ decline. The authors, familiar with Techstars through founding and running its Seattle program and corporate partnerships, offer an insiders’ view of decisions that strengthened YC while weakening Techstars.
Techstars Seattle Demo Day 2024 Unveils 24 Startups Poised to Rival 2011 Unicorn Trio Including Discoverist and TalkStack AI
The 2024 Techstars Seattle Demo Day showcased 24 startups, with experts optimistic that this cohort could rival the successful 2011 group that included three billion-dollar companies. Notable startups like Discoverist and TalkStack AI are leveraging AI for personalized retail recommendations and conversation analysis, respectively.
Yifan Zhang Joins AI2 Incubator as Managing Director; Dropbox, Marchex, and Seattle Startups Appoint New Tech Leaders
Yifan Zhang, former Loftium co-founder, is joining the AI2 Incubator as managing director starting February 2024, while several Seattle tech companies made key executive hires including Dropbox, Marchex, Simply Augmented, and Chainguard.
University of Washington’s CoMotion Innovation Arm Moving to Condon Hall Near Startup Hall in 2023
The University of Washington's innovation arm, CoMotion, will relocate from the Blume building to Condon Hall near Startup Hall later this year, expanding its space and event capabilities. Startup Hall is part of the Portage Bay Crossing neighborhood, which aims to foster research, education, and entrepreneurship.
Unpluq CEO Caroline Cadwell Introduces NFC Tag and App to Promote Mindful Smartphone Use
Caroline Cadwell, CEO of Unpluq, discusses how her startup helps users mindfully manage smartphone and app use by creating intentional barriers to curb addictive behaviors. The company offers an Android app, an NFC keychain tag, and a premium subscription to encourage conscious technology habits.
Seattle Startup Valid8 Financial Raises $1.25M Debt to Support Forensic Accounting in Major White-Collar Crime Cases
Seattle startup Valid8 Financial offers a forensic accounting platform used by lawyers, CPAs, and government agencies to analyze money flows in white-collar crime cases and financial disputes. Founded in 2017, Valid8 recently raised $1.25 million in debt financing and serves clients like law and CPA firms as well as six states for fraud investigations.
Founders’ Co-op celebrates 15 years, reflecting on 2008 founding and mission to fund Pacific Northwest technical founders
Founders’ Co-op marks its 15th year, reflecting on founding in 2008 and its mission to build a day-zero launchpad for technical founders in the Pacific Northwest and connect them to Series A+ capital. The partners describe learning the hard lessons of venture investing—how VC’s long, deliberate cycles and irrevocable decisions differ from startup speed and scale.
Former Starbucks Exec Adam Brotman and Investor Andy Sack Raise $10M for Forum3 to Expand NFT Loyalty Tech
Seattle tech veterans Adam Brotman and Andy Sack raised $10 million to launch Forum3, a startup offering NFT-based customer engagement tech designed to simplify blockchain use for consumer brands. Forum3 aims to provide a white-labeled version of Starbucks' NFT loyalty program, Odyssey, removing cryptocurrency barriers for users.
Techstars CEO Maelle Gavet Highlights Economic Downturn Challenges and Startup Support Role Amid $2.5B Raised by Accelerated Firms
Maelle Gavet, CEO of Techstars, warns of a significant market reset in the tech industry due to an economic downturn but highlights Techstars’ role in helping startups build resilient businesses and secure funding. Since launching in 2006, Techstars has accelerated nearly 3,000 startups, with its Seattle program producing over 130 companies that have raised $2.5 billion collectively.
Round, founded by ex-Microsoft leaders Ryan Fuller, Mani Gill and Brian Jansen, raises $12M seed to build vetted network for senior tech leaders
Round, a Seattle startup founded by former Microsoft leaders, raised a $12 million seed round to build a vetted network for senior tech leaders; other Pacific Northwest deals include PTO Exchange's $5.4 million raise and funding and licensing activity at PupPod.
CoderPad acquires Seattle startup AdaptiLab’s technical interviewing platform as founders James Wu and Allen Lu launch a new developer-focused company
Seattle startup AdaptiLab has sold its technical interviewing platform to CoderPad; terms were not disclosed. Founders James Wu and Allen Lu, who raised $1.8M in a 2019 seed and $2.2M total, are launching a new developer-focused company later this year with existing and new investors.
StormX signs five-year, eight-figure jersey patch deal with Portland Trail Blazers starting 2021-22
Seattle crypto startup StormX signed a five-year, eight-figure jersey patch deal with the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers starting in the 2021-22 season, becoming the first cryptocurrency company to sponsor an NBA jersey. The agreement includes in-arena branding, exclusive blockchain partner rights, international marketing/distribution rights, and highlights StormX’s growth (3M+ app downloads, $209M token market value).
Techstars Seattle launches 12th virtual cohort of 10 startups in January, achieves gender parity for first time
Techstars Seattle launched its 12th cohort as a fully virtual 3-month accelerator in January, applying lessons from the pandemic to expand investor outreach and eliminate commutes while accepting trade-offs in-person networking. The cohort of 10 startups — led to gender parity for the first time — includes alumni-backed ecosystem growth and highlights founders like Afriblocks operating across Harare and Los Angeles.
Founders’ Co-op closes $50M Fund V to back pre-seed and seed Pacific Northwest startups
Founders’ Co-op announced the close of its fifth fund, a $50M largest-to-date vehicle focused on pre-seed and seed investments in Pacific Northwest technical founding teams, highlighting the region's growth since 2008 and the firm's track record with over 200 portfolio companies.
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Chris DeVore Managing Director
