CoFoundersLab Competitors

Techstars helps founders scale their startups into world-changing businesses. Founded in 2006, Techstars is on a mission to invest in startups to enable more capital to flow to more entrepreneurs around the world in order to deliver exceptional returns to our investors. We do this by operating accelerator programs and venture capital funds, as well as by connecting startups, investors, corporations, and cities to help build thriving startup communities. Our results show why Techstars is Better for Founders than any other global accelerator: On average, 74.5% of Techstars companies will raise money within 3 years of their program; 18.5% of Techstars portfolio companies have exited 5 years after their program and 31.1% after eight years. (PitchBook June 2023)

Y Combinator is the leading startup accelerator for entrepreneurs. Since 2005, YC has invested in over 5,400 companies, including Airbnb, Dropbox, Stripe, Reddit, Instacart, DoorDash, and Coinbase. Today, YC has built the most powerful startup community in the world alongside the products and programs to support founders for the life of their company.

Extra Credit Ventures invests in rounds made available to us through existing founder relationships led by exceptional sector-specific VCs. A unifying thread through our portfolio is that you'll recognize the investors already on the cap table - i.e. solid diligence, sensible terms, and a path to follow-on funding. We're typically the last money in and will take the round to full subscription or beyond. We look for total allocations in the $100k-200k range. ECV connects university faculty, entrepreneurship center directors, administrators, alumni, and friends who know these founders well and are never surprised by their ingenuity, hustle, and success. We're sector-agnostic and source deals nationwide, investing in founders working in the industries they plan to disrupt. ECV is not affiliated with any particular university though the GPs, LPs, and founders may be affiliated in various ways.