Last week while I was off the grid for my Q1 vacation, TechStars announced that we are doing a Boston program this summer. Applications for both the Boston and the Boulder programs are open until March 21, 2009 at 11:59:59 PM MDT, but apply before 3/1/09 and be eligible to attend TechStars for a Day.
We launched the original TechStars program in January 2007. We’ve now run TechStars in Boulder for two years and have had a dynamite time, helped create some super companies (we’ve had 20 companies go through the program, 2 have been profitably acquired, 2 are profitable, and 12 have been funded), and have been able to contribute meaningfully to the Boulder entrepreneurial scene.
In October, I spent a few days in Boston with Amy. Among other things, I arranged a “nerd dinner” for some of my old Boston friends, including Shawn Broderick, Warren Katz, Colin Angle, Eran Egozy, and Steve Munroe. While I have regular contact with each of them, they hadn’t been together in a gang for a while so we enjoyed a rambunctious meal at Sel de la Terre (thanks Warren for dinner) and ended up talking about entrepreneurship in Boston for a while. There was a lot of discussion about how to energize the community more, what we had been doing in Boulder, and who was doing what to whom. As part of the discussion, Eran told me I had to get together with Bill Warner, who had been thinking of some of the same things.
Coincidentally I’d been connected with Bill a few weeks earlier by David Cohen. Bill was considering investing in EventVue (one of the TechStars 2007 companies), was interested in talking more about it, TechStars, and Boston. We had lunch scheduled for the next day. I’d never met Bill, but I knew of him from MIT and his experience as the founder of Avid and Wildfire, and had seen him speak about his experiences (I think at an MIT Enterprise Forum event) when I was living in Boston.
We had an awesome lunch and hit it off immediately. Bill totally got TechStars and our mentor driven approach and said, in short “we’ve got to do this in Boston.” A logical next step was to have Bill come out to Boulder, spend a day really immersed in things with David, and figure out if it made sense. We did this and the three of us got more excited about the idea of doing TechStars in Boston, but realized we needed to find “a David” to run things on a daily basis.
We made our list of potential David’s, checked it twice, and started calling. Shawn Broderick was at the top of the list. I’ve known and worked with Shawn since 1988 – he was the third employee at Feld Technologies, I was the lead angel investor in Genetic Anomalies which had a very successful acquisition by THQ, and am an investor in TrustPlus. Shawn was a perfect fit, spent time with David in Boulder, and voila, we decided to do TechStars Boston.
Wade Roush at Xconomy Boston has a thorough interview up with David Cohen titled TechStars “Entrepreneurship Boot Camp” Comes to Boston: An Interview with Co-founder David Cohen that goes deeper in to the why and how. Shawn has hit the ground running and we are totally psyched with how the Boston program is coming together.
Having spent 1983 to 1995 in Boston, this is a wonderful “going full circle moment” for me. I’m planning on spending some chunks of time in Boston this summer both with our investments (we’ve got two in Boston), TechStars, MIT, and old friends. Bill – thanks for being the spark that got this started!
this is great news. I was introduced to Shawn some time ago but we never managed to meet up due to scheduling conflicts.
Comment by markslater — February 24, 2009 @ 7:23 pm
this is great news. I was introduced to Shawn some time ago but we never managed to meet up due to scheduling conflicts.
i am loosely associated with a group that might submit – might need to ask shawn for an extension though!
webinnovators run by Beisel at Venrock would be a great partner as well
Comment by markslater — February 24, 2009 @ 7:24 pm
David Beisel is already on board as a TechStars mentor – see http://www.techstars.org/mentors
Comment by David G. Cohen — February 24, 2009 @ 8:16 pm
[...] turns out that TechStars will be edging into YCombinator territory with the announcement that they will be hosting a program in Boston this summer: TechStars announced that we are doing a [...]
Pingback by Is There Room for YCombinator and TechStars in One Town? | nPost Blog — February 24, 2009 @ 1:30 pm
[...] Dutch French German Greek Italian Japenese Korean Portuguese Russian Spanish < TechStars Boston | February 25, [...]
Pingback by Tonight In Seattle — February 25, 2009 @ 5:04 am
This is fantastic news for Boston. I met with Shawn this week. Look forward to being involved with the program
Comment by dharmesh — February 28, 2009 @ 7:03 pm
Any idea how to contact Eran Egozy?
Comment by Eran Muskat — March 15, 2009 @ 11:27 am
Yes – send me an email with what you are looking to ask him and I’ll get it to him.
Comment by Brad Feld — March 15, 2009 @ 12:15 pm
Thanks, how can I get your email?
Comment by Eran Muskat — March 15, 2009 @ 12:29 pm
brad@feld.com
Comment by Brad Feld — March 15, 2009 @ 12:32 pm
Thanks David G. Cohen.I just got more info from techstars website.
This is a so good program.
Comment by mathew — April 29, 2009 @ 8:58 am
I have heard from my brother who live in boston about Techstars.Some Hope I can use this program to help my first company succeed soon.
Comment by Manhattan NY — May 7, 2009 @ 10:35 pm
I will search for more info about techstars,hoping involved with the program soon.
Comment by ManhattanNY — May 13, 2009 @ 12:56 am
Thanks a lot,David.I will search for more info about techstars,hoping involved with the program soon.
Comment by Essay — May 13, 2009 @ 11:14 pm
I as introduced to Shawn some time ago but we never managed to meet up due to scheduling conflicts. I am loosely associated with a group that might submit – might need to ask shawn for an extension though!
Comment by clubpenguincheats — June 11, 2009 @ 8:06 am
Well – the 2009 Boston program is off and running so you’ll have to wait to 2010. But – definitely apply!
Comment by Brad Feld — June 12, 2009 @ 12:52 am
Taking the lead is the brilliant and funny Shawn Broderick. I met Shawn for the first time last week in Boulder, and have a great respect for what he has accomplished. If Boston had a David Cohen, it would be Shawn.
Comment by commercial mailboxes — June 15, 2009 @ 7:09 pm
TechStars will operate programs concurrently in both Boulder and Boston starting in the summer of 2009. Applications for both locations are open now and run through March 21.
Comment by Road Accident Claim — June 17, 2009 @ 8:19 am
AccelGolf has posted its number, and it’s in the TechStars clubhouse with its geodata-based golf application for smartphones.
Comment by Electric Train Sets — June 19, 2009 @ 1:11 pm
Big news this morning! TechStars will be adding a Boston program for this summer. Very exciting. Taking the lead is the brilliant and funny …
Comment by directory submission — June 21, 2009 @ 1:19 pm
If Boston had a David Cohen, it would be Shawn. Passion for startups, grownded, well respected, and an uncanny ability to pull off a bad joke (perhaps I mean ability to heckle, and if so, your turn Shawn).
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Comment by Markweee — August 5, 2009 @ 4:47 am
[...] do we have some interesting companies coming out of Boulder, we also have a bunch coming out of our new Boston program as well. In all, we had 19 companies go through the program this summer. I expect at least 14 of [...]
Pingback by TechStars 2009 Demo Day in Mountain View – 9/30/09 — September 21, 2009 @ 8:11 pm
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Comment by phd in accounting — September 22, 2009 @ 7:05 pm
[...] do we have some interesting companies coming out of Boulder, we also have a bunch coming out of our new Boston program as well. In all, we had 19 companies go through the program this summer. I expect at least 14 of [...]
Pingback by TechStars » Seed capital and mentorship for startups — September 27, 2009 @ 8:43 am
Wow, Boston is truly a destination for that. I have been there twice for vacations. Good luck with the coming event. Must be fun to spend up to weeks there..
Comment by concrete sealer — October 3, 2009 @ 8:03 pm
I as introduced to Shawn some time ago but we never managed to meet up due to scheduling conflicts.
Comment by bahamas cruise deals — October 9, 2009 @ 7:48 am
go techstars!
Comment by minigames — October 13, 2009 @ 11:22 pm
My last gf lived in Boston and I had been there for three times, lol.. Must be fun to attend the Techstars. With so many companies joining the event, we just can get many informative references!
Comment by Rent To Buy — October 15, 2009 @ 1:06 am
Though, I am too late to attend this program, otherwise i need some details as for joining it.
Comment by BookAPP — October 31, 2009 @ 9:20 am
Though, I am too late to attend this program, otherwise i need some details as for joining it.
Comment by classic video games — November 1, 2009 @ 12:32 am
Take a look at http://www.techstars.org
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Comment by Brad Feld — November 1, 2009 @ 12:36 am
I think Boston is the only place of having fun and enjoyment, I would be staying there in near future. When you are going with family, the place must be peaceful and have the basic infrastructure. Boston has all the facilities.
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Comment by website screenshot — November 30, 2009 @ 6:04 am
[...] Seattle Yesterday, TechStars announced that it is a launching a new program in Seattle. This will be the third program that TechStars runs – with the other two being in Boulder [...]
Pingback by TechStars Seattle — December 17, 2009 @ 8:57 pm
TechStars is expanding its reach to Boston region. We would like to partner with you through Speed Venture Summit to offer further services to New England's entreprenuers. Look forward to working with you.
Comment by brain dumps — December 30, 2009 @ 5:52 pm
Super – I’ll introduce you to Shawn Broderick who runs the Boston program.
Comment by Brad Feld — December 30, 2009 @ 5:55 pm
Good to see the program expanding. We need more entrepreneurs to keep building opportunity, innovation and new jobs.
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