🎙️In this episode of the VNTR Podcast, we sit down with David Cohen, founder of Techstars, to explore how the accelerator model evolved, what makes a great founder, and why Techstars backed nearly 5,000 companies globally with 22 unicorns in its portfolio
We dive into👨🏼💻
- How to spot a great founder team (and what gets you rejected)
- Why the “give first” philosophy powers the Techstars network
- What corporates keep getting wrong about innovation
- How Techstars became a sustainable investment engine
- The future of accelerators, AI in startups, and what’s next
If you’re building, investing, or scaling in tech, this is the episode to watch
🔹 David Cohen is the Founder and CEO of Techstars, a pre-seed investor that provides access to capital, programming, and connections to early-stage entrepreneurs. Since founding Techstars in 2006, the company has invested in more than 4,000 startups, including notable investments in over 20 unicorns such as Alloy, Chainalysis, Classpass, DataRobot, Digital Ocean, Outreach, Pillpack, Remitly, SalesLoft, SendGrid, and Zipline
VNTR is building the world’s largest investor community by sharing lessons, hosting events, and offering opportunities.
Active VC investors can join by claiming a free investor account at https://app.vntr.vc
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Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:49 Welcome David Cohen, founder of Techstars
05:56 Techstars by the Numbers: Global Reach and Billion-Dollar Impact
08:57 A Well-Networked Co-Founder — The Key to Success?
11:40 Your Journey Doesn’t End with One Startup
13:44 Only 2% Get In: Techstars’ Formula for Picking Startups
15:44 Do Solo Founders Stand a Chance?
19:59 When to Quit Your Startup: The Line Between Grit and Burnout
22:52 Why Accelerators Must Evolve (or Disappear)
25:32 The Emotional Side of Startups: How Founders Stay Sane
32:09 The Secret Filter for Early-Stage Investors
35:19 How Startups Should Think About Capital, Networks, and Long-Term Play
46:05 Why Tech Innovation Can’t Be Stopped
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🔹 VNTR Website: https://app.vntr.vc
🔹 VNTR Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vntrcapital
🔹 VNTR Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vntrcap
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Hosts:
🔹 Yuri G. Rabinovich https://www.linkedin.com/in/byuric
🔹 Niko Leon https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikoleon
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Guest:
🔹 David Cohen https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidgcohen/
https://www.techstars.com/
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