Techstars

100x Impact Accelerator is a venture accelerator that backs impact ventures capable of improving hundreds of millions of lives through systemic change. They provide catalytic capital, world-class expertise, and access to a community of mentors, advisors, and funders, all focused on deep systems-change support. Their ventures deliver impact across education, climate, healthcare, and other global challenges. 100x Impact operates with the mission to scale social innovations that can achieve systemic change, recognizing that while the world has many social innovations, very few scale effectively. They are powered by LSE (London School of Economics) and leverage evidence-based research, expert guidance, and global convening reach. Their approach combines funding with LSE's academic rigor and venture insights shared across the ecosystem to drive impact at scale. The organization has established itself as a significant player in the impact investing ecosystem by backing 35 ventures that have collectively impacted 144 million lives across 45 countries. They have demonstrated their effectiveness by helping ventures secure substantially more capital after completing their program, with participants raising 15 times more funding. Their focus on creating 'impact unicorns' and sharing proven insights globally positions them as a catalyst for scaling impactful solutions worldwide.

Accelerating Asia Ventures is the leading early-stage venture capital accelerator in Southeast Asia and South Asia, focusing specifically on pre-Series A startups. They operate as both an accelerator and VC fund, targeting high-potential founders with real traction and grit who may not have traditional backgrounds but demonstrate strong business fundamentals. Their mission centers on investing in the region's best pre-Series A startups by providing capital, credibility, and hands-on partnership to help founders reach the next level. Licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, they fill a crucial gap in the funding ecosystem by focusing on startups that are 6-18 months away from institutional funding - companies with robust products at early stages of customer traction that are often overlooked by other investors. Accelerating Asia serves as a catalyst for positive change by backing undiscovered entrepreneurs and providing investor partners with systematic access to innovation in Asia's most dynamic markets. They focus not just on financial returns but on profitability, growth, and impact, operating with the guiding belief that entrepreneurs are one of humanity's greatest catalysts for positive change.

Access Ventures is an innovative impact multiplier that leverages catalytic capital to drive economic prosperity, social equity, and environmental sustainability in communities. They operate as dreamers, doers, and risk-takers who use blended finance approaches to create lasting transformative change, guided by the belief that people are at the heart of any true community transformation. Their mission is to revolutionize the global investment landscape through a blended finance approach and a "one-pocket mindset," proving that financial return and social impact can coexist while improving access and agency for all. They meet complex challenges with creativity, high tolerance for risk, and willingness to be catalytic with capital, emphasizing the development of the next generation of change-makers. Access Ventures serves as a catalyst for change in the impact investing ecosystem, bridging gaps between traditional finance and social impact through their deep understanding of catalytic and blended finance strategies. With 10 years of experience empowering change, they have established themselves as community-focused impact multipliers who teach, advise, and invest in ways that yield both high financial returns and significant community impact, fostering a resilient and dynamic economy where every person can thrive.

Accion is a global nonprofit dedicated to building a fair and inclusive economy by expanding access to responsible financial services. Founded in 1961, Accion works at the intersection of fintech, investment, and advisory to scale solutions that improve financial health for underserved populations. Through its investment strategies, advisory services, and research initiatives, Accion supports companies and financial institutions reaching millions of people across emerging markets. Its work spans digital banking, credit, payments, and climate-focused financial tools, helping individuals and small businesses gain access to the financial systems they need to grow and thrive.

Acumen is a venture philanthropy organization that invests in visionary entrepreneurs building transformational companies from seed to scale. They focus on funding bold entrepreneurs who are creating inclusive solutions across sectors like sustainable agriculture, quality education, renewable energy, healthy communities, dignified jobs, and gender equality. Their mission is to break the cycle of poverty through patient capital investments in high-innovation, high-impact enterprises. They operate by deploying philanthropic capital to shape markets and support entrepreneurs who are addressing the world's toughest poverty-related challenges, investing where traditional funders won't. Acumen Ventures has established itself as a significant force in the impact investing ecosystem since 2001, with an A to Z directory of portfolio companies spanning over two decades. They matter because they've reinvented the rules of return, prioritizing impact alongside financial sustainability and helping to demonstrate that venture philanthropy can drive meaningful systemic change in underserved communities globally.

AirMiners is a leading platform advancing the carbon dioxide removal (CDR) industry through community, education, and early-stage venture support. Founded in 2017, the organization brings together scientists, founders, investors, and operators to accelerate the development and deployment of carbon removal solutions. Through its Launchpad accelerator and Kiloton Fund, AirMiners supports early-stage startups building technologies to remove CO2 from the atmosphere. The platform also operates one of the largest communities in the CDR space, helping talent, capital, and ideas converge to scale the industry.

Alante Capital is an early-stage venture capital fund that invests in climate tech, deep tech, AI and enterprise software companies focused on modernizing the fashion, home and outdoor industries. They back innovation that reduces carbon emissions and brings circularity to these consumer industries that collectively represent a $4 trillion market. Founded by Karla and Leslie, Alante was created to enable investors, entrepreneurs and business leaders to come together and reimagine the future of industry while finding solutions to pressing global problems and addressing climate change. They work across the entire value chain with a diversified approach, investing in technologies that transform how products are designed, made, sold, used and recovered. Alante addresses critical challenges in often-overlooked yet ubiquitous industries where overconsumption has resulted in staggering waste, opaque supply chains have enabled forced labor and hazardous conditions, and record-low prices have increased environmental and social costs exponentially. They believe in achieving transformative impact without compromising returns, helping companies integrate solutions that make industry lifecycles safer, cleaner, more efficient and more sustainable.

AlphaLab is a nationally recognized startup accelerator based in Pittsburgh, supporting early-stage companies across software, hardware, life sciences, and robotics. Founded in 2008 and powered by Innovation Works, AlphaLab provides founders with capital, mentorship, and a structured program to accelerate growth. The platform operates multiple specialized tracks, including AlphaLab (software), AlphaLab Gear (hardware), AlphaLab Health (life sciences), and Robotics Factory, offering tailored support depending on the company’s sector. AlphaLab has played a key role in building Pittsburgh into a leading innovation hub, helping startups move from idea to scalable venture.