If you’re a member of an innovative startup with a unique product or business idea, it’s pretty likely that you’ve heard of the Techstars accelerator. The company’s mission is to help entrepreneurs succeed in a world where the overall percentage is far greater for failed startups than it is for successful ones.
In the 3D printing world, the accelerator has helped launch UK-based Open Bionics, and offered a major leg up to 3D printing startup Kwambio when it was getting started. Kwambio got a membership to and joined the Techstars Boston Accelerator Program in 2015, which gained the startup and its platform a full summer of participation and $1.2 million in angel funding from Techstars and other sources.
According to a Techstars post by the company’s Senior Vice President of Accelerators Daniel Feld, “Our mentorship-driven accelerator programs invest in founders to help them do more faster. Over the past 10 years we have helped over 1,274 companies grow and raise over $4.4 billion in funding, with a market cap of $11.4 billion.”
The organization has a worldwide network of more than 10,000 founders, investors, mentors, and partners that work together to help startups get their start. Last month, Techstars announced that it was now accepting applications for the network’s latest programs, which include seven new accelerators, one of which is the Stanley+Techstars Additive Manufacturing Accelerator.
The mentorship-driven accelerator is a three-year partnership between Techstars and Stanley Black & Decker, the $11 billion S&P 500, FORTUNE 500, and global digital industrial company. Recently, Stanley Black & Decker and Techstars, announced that the application period for the accelerator, which is centered around additive manufacturing, was open until April 8, 2018.
“Additive manufacturing startups are encouraged to apply for the Stanley+Techstars Additive Manufacturing Accelerator,” Founder and Co-CEO of Techstars David Brown wrote.
“This mentorship-driven accelerator, in partnership with Techstars and $11 billion global digital industrial Stanley Black & Decker, is looking to identify 10 additive manufacturing startups to come to Hartford, Connecticut in Q3 2018 with applications opening in January 2018.”
Entrepreneurs and startups accepted into this program will re-locate to Hartford for the duration at Stanley Black & Decker’s new Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence, called Manufactory 4.0, and will have access to resources and mentoring.
According to Claudia Reuter, the Managing Director for the Stanley+Techstars Additive Manufacturing Accelerator, “The Hartford area is filled with smart, educated people who are doing big things across many industries. But it doesn’t have quite the startup scene of Boston or NYC… yet!”
Next week – Monday, February 26th, to be exact – Techstars will be hosting a free, interactive “Ask Me Anything (AMA)” webinar, which will give interested entrepreneurs the chance to learn more about this specific, 3D printing-focused accelerator program.
This free webinar will be held at 11 am EST, and there are still spots available; you can sign up for the AMA webinar here.
We already know that the objective of the Stanley+Techstars Additive Manufacturing Accelerator is to find innovative companies in the additive manufacturing space. But next week’s webinar, hosted by Techstars, will give you more details on what to expect from the program.
Tim Hatch, the Vice President for Innovation & Technology at Stanley Black and Decker, and Jenny Lawton, COO of Techstars and former CEO of MakerBot, will be joining the webinar to answer all of your questions. Don’t forget to sign up now for this free, interactive “Ask Me Anything (AMA)” webinar!
Will you be attending this webinar? Discuss this and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com or share your thoughts below.
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