Techstars Chicago 2026

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.