§ Accelerator Batch · Chicago, IL
Techstars Chicago 2025: 1-startup cohort offering $20K plus $200K convertible note for 5% equity.
Rebranded from Excelerate Labs. Operated from 1871 startup hub with 150+ mentors including Match.com CEO Sam Yagan and Grubhub cofounder Mike Evans. Offered $18K seed funding plus optional $100K convertible debt. Over 13 weeks, founders participated in structured sprints, attended skill-building workshops, and received direct mentorship from experienced operators.
Participating companies received $20K in seed capital in exchange for 5% equity, plus a $200K SAFE to support growth post-acceleration. The core value of the program extended far beyond capital. Founders gained direct access to Techstars' network of 10,000+ mentors—including successful founders, institutional investors, and subject matter experts across industries and geographies. This mentorship addressed critical challenges: product-market fit validation, go-to-market strategy, fundraising strategy, team building, and operational scaling. The 13-week program culminated in Demo Day, where founders pitched progress and traction to a carefully curated audience of institutional venture investors, corporate partners, and media. Successful demo days created momentum for follow-on funding rounds and strategic partnerships.
Notable alumni include: Orbotix, Next Big Sound, GrabCAD.
Techstars Chicago 2025 is a cohort or batch run by Techstars.
Batch start: Jun 1, 2025. Batch end: Aug 31, 2025.
Cohort size is listed as approximately 1 companies.
Location is described as: Chicago, IL.
We list 1 portfolio company tied to this batch on this page.
