That’s a wrap for Techstars’ 2023 Founder Catalyst and DC cohorts

On Thursday, a pair of Techstars events will mark the end of two cohorts’ journeys through some of the entrepreneurial support organization’s key programs in DC and Baltimore.

In Charm City, the story began back in October, when 33 founders began the ten-week Techstars Founder Catalyst program, sponsored by Stanley Black & Decker. The pre-accelerator launched with an in-person event hosted by UpSurge Baltimore.

Since that inaugural gathering, the founders, all of whom are rooted in the mid-Atlantic region, have taken sessions with experts, Stanley Black & Decker staff and seasoned entrepreneurs. These programs covered a range of topics, including engaging with big companies, pitching, storytelling and mental health.

“Our Founder Catalyst team selected founders and startups we saw great promise in,” Program Manager Audra Gibson said in an email. “It has been a joy to foster an environment of collaborative learning where entrepreneurs can be intentionally curious, experiment, and build the next generation of exciting companies.”

Techstars Catalyst aims to help companies that could then apply to Techstars accelerators. According to Gibson, since the initiation of this sixth cohort, two participants have successfully entered the Techstars NYC Accelerator 2023 Winter class, while 16 startups applied for one of Techstars’ accelerators.

“The Founder Catalyst program helped us refine our pitch and storytelling to get us to the next step, said Pratik Desai, founder of 1to1. “We were accepted into the Techstars NYC accelerator and couldn’t have gotten in without all the help!”

Come Thursday, this cohort will participate in a showcase at McGuire Hall on the Loyola University campus.

Register for Techstars Founder Catalyst’s showcase

See the list of cohort companies

Meanwhile, down in the DMV, Techstars DC Managing Director Adam Phillips is wrapping his own accelerator, Techstars Washington DC Powered by J.P. Morgan with its own demo day in Arlington, Virginia on Thursday.

According to an announcement, the 24 companies in this cohort come from throughout the world and work in such industries as education, cybersecurity, finance, health and beyond. Phillips highlighted that this program aimed to make diversity and inclusion a major priority.

“While talent is distributed equally, opportunity is not,” he said in a statement. “It’s about changing the entire ecosystem.  Backing diverse founders leads to a reinvestment in their communities and expanding access for others. This program represents Techstars and J.P. Morgan’s belief that diversity and inclusion are the catalysts of innovation and growth.”

Register for the Techstars Washington DC demo day