Learn how to do venture deals from the experts. Techstars Cofounder Brad Feld and Techstars mentor Jason Mendelson — both renowned venture capitalists, founding partners at the Foundry Group, and authors of Venture Deals: Be Smarter Than Your Lawyer and Venture Capitalist — are offering a free course Venture Deals.  Classes begin on March 7 and registration is open now. 

Raising capital can be one of the most difficult parts of the founder journey. The more you know about cap tables and term sheets, negotiating tactics and letters of intent, the better positioned you’ll be for investor meetings. 

Techstars and Kauffman Fellows are partnering to offer this free resource. Venture Deals is a seven-week, team-oriented, “learn-by-doing” online course, hosted by NovoEdu, that includes educational videos from Brad and Jason, virtual team projects, worksheets, and case studies. The class takes about four to six hours a week to complete. Participants can also earn a Statement of Accomplishment certificate that can be shared on LinkedIn profiles.

In addition, enrolled participants can sign up for four exclusive live AMA (Ask Me Anything) sessions with David Cohen, Techstars Cofounder and Chairman of the Board; Brad Feld; Jeff Harbach, President and CEO of Kauffman Fellows; and a Diversity Investor panel to ask them anything about the fundraising landscape and entrepreneurship.

The course outline includes:

• Week 1 – Introduction of key players/Form or join a team
• Week 2 – Fundraising/Finding the Right VC
• Week 3 – Capitalization Tables/Convertible Debt
• Week 4 – Term Sheets: Economics & Control
• Week 5 – Term Sheets Part Two
• Week 6 – Negotiations
• Week 7 – Letter of Intent/Getting Acquired

Learn more here.

Want to take your venture to the next level? Three Techstars accelerator programs are now accepting applications through February 28 for a summer term from June to September 2021.  Six other Techstars accelerator programs are also accepting applications through April 11 for the fall term from July to October 2021.  Techstars is the global platform for investment and innovation, connecting entrepreneurs, investors, and corporations.

Interested in joining one of these prestigious three-month accelerator programs to gain funding, mentorship and access to the Techstars worldwide network?  Start your application today. 

Want to connect  before applying? Attend an upcoming Meet and Greet event to learn about each program or request private one-on-one office hours to discuss your startup. 

The three programs running June to September 2021 are:

• Techstars Kansas City Accelerator
• Techstars Sports Accelerator Powered by Indy
• Techstars Starburst Space Accelerator

The six programs running July to October 2021 are:

• Techstars Atlanta, in partnership with Cox Enterprises
• Techstars Chicago Accelerator
• Techstars Farm to Fork Accelerator
• Techstars Iowa Accelerator
• Techstars Los Angeles Accelerator
• Techstars + Western Union Accelerator

Applications open for Techstars accelerators several times a year and stay open typically for 12 weeks. After applications close, the Techstars team will review applications for about seven weeks, and spend time getting to know even more about each team, market, progress and idea.  The goal is to notify the final group of companies being accepted within eight weeks from the application closing date.

Learn more about what a Techstars accelerator is and how to apply here.

Y Combinator (YC) is now accepting applications from startups for its remote summer 2021 program from June to August 2021.  Applications are due by March 19 but startups that submit early have a small advantage because there is more time to read and review applications.  Teams will be interviewed on a rolling basis, with interviews in April, May, or early June.

Y Combinator provides $125,000 in seed funding for startups selected for the program.  Funds are intended to get teams through six months or more of operating costs to get them the first phase – typically building something that is solid enough to raise money at a larger scale.  The three-month program also includes group office hours with other companies and YC partners, as well as introductions to the YC alumni network.  It concludes with Demo Day at which the startups present to a carefully selected, invite-only audience.

YC funds companies from anywhere in the world and in every sector.  It funds companies that just started and have nothing more than an idea, and it funds companies that have over $20M in annual revenue and over 50 employees.  Founders must have at least 10% equity in the startup to be considered a YC founder.

YC offers a standard deal of $125,000 on a post-money Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE) in return for 7% of the company when the SAFE converts.

Non-profits accepted into the accelerator will receive a donation of $100,000 and YC does not receive anything in return for the donation.

Apply here.

Learn how to start a company, with help from Y Combinator (YC) which is now accepting applications for its free Startup School, an online program and global community of founders. Meet with other founders through weekly live video chats and share tips on how to grow a startup. Keep track of your startup’s progress get ready to launch your product. Get access to more than $100,000 worth of deals on AWS, GCP, Digital Ocean, Stripe, Brex, Segment, and more.

Topics include how to get startup ideas, how to talk to users, how to pitch your startup, how to plan an MVP, how to launch, how to prioritize your time, how to set KPIs and goals, how to find the right co-founder, how to build teams and work together, how to build company culture and how to lead, among others.

For those interested in applying to YC, it is worth noting that 44% of companies accepted into YC are Startup School alumni and 69% of founders are from outside the USA

Learn more about the free Y Combinator Startup School and apply here.

MassChallenge is an exciting and competitive accelerator for promising startups from around the world. Syracuse LaunchPad companies like MedUX have gone through the program and come out with an incredible network of experts who have helped accelerate their journey. MassChallenge is now reaching out to the Syracuse innovation community to invite top talent, ideas, and technologies in its new cohort focusing on artificial intelligence and machine learning, microelectronics and sensor technologies.  

“We know that the Syracuse University Launch Pad is a leading source of innovation within those felids,” says Hugh Rossi of Mass Challenge who heads up partnerships. “I invite any Syracuse student, faculty, staff, or alumni who are working on innovations within those fields to apply to our 2021 cohort for free.  We believe our continued community partnership will serve to elevate the success of these startups through connections and mentorship.”

Members of the Syracuse University LaunchPad community who are interested in this offer, should start by joining the LaunchPad, and then reach out by e-mail to indicate their interest in MassChallenge and get connected.   

MassChallenge was established ten years ago as a non-profit organization that catalyzes innovation and entrepreneurship through collaboration.  It works sectors and alongside partners and experts to connect corporate innovators and government leadership to promising, high-impact startups. Startups admitted into MassChallenge go through a 4-month period of curriculum, mentorship, and exhibition events designed to produce avenues of growth, funding, and third-party collaboration. Currently virtual, MassChallenge has several locations across the North America and Europe.

Learn more about MassChallenge and its programs here.

We’re excited to announce the first Dorm Room Fund & LaunchPad Workshop for the spring semester, Tuesday, February 16 at 7 p.m.  The session is open to members of the LaunchPad community.  The LaunchPad at Syracuse recently announced an expanded partnership with the Dorm Room Fund (DRF), a venture capital subsidiary that invests in student startups.  Joining us for this workshop will be Jason Brooke and Jarrod Barnes, both of whom are investment partners at Dorm Room Fund.  Zoom in here for the session.

They will be speaking about customer discovery and developing an early-stage sales strategy (B2B or B2C) based on understanding your path to market and the art/science of customer acquisition.  For investors, customer traction is paramount to funding decisions.  Following the conversation, they will engage in a 30-minute Q&A with the audience, taking questions specific to the student startups in the workshop.  It will be an excellent opportunity to get insight from funders who invest in college ventures.

Brooke is an Investment Partner at Dorm Room Fund and MBA Candidate at Chicago Booth, specializing in Entrepreneurship and Finance. Jason previously worked in corporate strategy as a Principal for Kaiser Associates’ Financial Services & Payments practice. At Kaiser, Jason specialized in growth strategy assessments such as bringing new products to market, improving competitiveness, and customer segmentation. This past summer, Jason supported the Product Marketing team at Kong, a leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for full cycle API management. At Booth, he is a member of several professional clubs, including the Entrepreneurship & VC Club and the Fintech Club. Jason has a BA from Middlebury College (’13) and is passionate about ‘all things Fintech,’ soccer and skiing.

Barnes is an Investment Partner at Dorm Room Fund and a doctoral student at the University of Illinois with a research focus in Learning Design and Technology.  A native of Columbus, Ohio, he is a former student-athlete and college football coach at the Ohio State University. From launching his own startup to working as an NFL front office employee, Jarrod has continually looked to challenge the status quo.  In addition to his role as an Investment Partner with the Dorm Room Fund, he is a Venture Fellow with Unshackled Ventures.  His interests in tech and venture capital consist of educational technology, the future of work, and sports tech.

The Dorm Room Fund will also provide mentoring this spring to the most promising student startups at the Syracuse LaunchPad, as well as consider seed funding as part of the Dorm Room Fund’s Campus Organization Network (DRFCON), backed by First Round Capital. First Round provides seed-stage funding and focuses on portfolio companies’ growth during their first 18 months and Fortune Magazine dubbed First Round as the most connected venture network in the Silicon Valley. In 2012, the firm launched and funded Dorm Room Fund for college startups.  Dorm Room Fund companies are built by over 300 founders from 40 universities. Among them have been Syracuse founders & startups:  AJ Damiano and Michael Paris, PowerSpike; Attila Melegh, Indulo and Julia Haber WAYV / Home from College.

The DRF has an extensive and successful history providing pre-seed funding for college startups, investing $20,000 to help commercialize great ideas by campus innovators. 

In addition to regular office hours with the DRF team, the LaunchPad will partner on “Demo Day” styled sessions where the most investable Syracuse University student startups will have the opportunity to present their ideas to DRF partners, get feedback and be coached on when they are ready to apply for possible DRF funding.

Check for dates on our event calendar.

Want to learn more and participate in these programs?  To get started, please join the LaunchPad if you are not already a member:  https://launchpad.syr.edu/join/

You can also e-mail us at LaunchPad@syr.edu

We are pleased to announce that applications are now open to a new Syracuse University Libraries Innovation Fund coordinated by the Blackstone LaunchPad & Techstars in Bird Library.   Funding will be available annually to graduate and undergraduate students through an application process guided by the LaunchPad with campus innovation ecosystem partners. Applications are being accepted on an open rolling basis based on funding availability and monthly reviews.

Merit/milestone-based grants of up to $2,500 per award may be awarded per application, with deliverables due within six months of the award. Students or teams may apply multiple times for evolving needs, but no individual student or team may receive more than $5,000 through the program.  Awards are limited to one per team per semester.  The team leader must be a full-time student, undergraduate, or graduate level, who is currently enrolled in and pursuing a degree program at Syracuse University. Students may be a member of only one team.

Applications should be focused on a specifically defined need over a clear timeframe, with identified outcomes that will help move an idea closer to proof of concept. Permitted uses of funds are for tangible needs related to the development of a product, service or technology, regulatory or compliance consulting, prototyping costs (including purchase of materials and fabrication), professional (legal and accounting) services related to incorporation, direct costs associated with IP protection, legal costs for specialized contract work, third party testing and certification, or other costs deemed critical per the review committee comprised of members of Syracuse University’s innovation ecosystem.

Costs such as marketing, sales, business development, advertising, travel or ongoing costs such as website hosting and cloud services are not eligible. The fund does not support salaries for team members.

Applicants must complete an application form and submit a one-page business executive summary on template provided by LaunchPad@syr.edu.  Please e-mail us to request the application form which is open to LaunchPad members.  If you are not yet a member, please join here.

The application includes a project narrative, milestones, and budget. Proposals will be reviewed monthly by an interdisciplinary university innovation team against the following selection criteria:

• Innovative product, service or technology that holds the potential to make a meaningful impact;
• A sound business model and product development roadmap;
• Expected outcomes, such as the potential to position the venture to compete in business plan competitions, attract external investment, or move an idea to market;
• Reasonable budget, and demonstration that this award will have an impact on the venture’s roadmap;
• Proposed match, or ability to use this award to leverage other funding, if applicable;
• Qualifications and strength of project team
• Engagement with the Blackstone LaunchPad & Techstars at SU Libraries

Initial seed funding came from Jeffrey Rich ’67 (College of Law), partner at Rich Michaelson Magaliff LLP, and a member of the Syracuse University Libraries Advisory Board, who made a multi-year pledge of $25,000 per year for five years to Syracuse University Libraries.  The total pledge of $125,000 will help students pursue business startup ventures with the LaunchPad team at SU Libraries and will help students move ideas from concept through research and discovery to proof and commercialization.

“I wanted to contribute in a way that directly supports students’ new ventures and removes any obstacles to startup development,” Rich says.

“This is a significant funding opportunity to grow entrepreneurship and innovation broadly across campus,” said David Seaman, University Librarian and dean of the Syracuse University Libraries. “In fact, I believe this is the first campus-wide non-equity funding opportunity available to all students at Syracuse. These grants remove the barriers to growth for student ventures, while allowing students to maintain complete ownership of their business.”

The application and grant distribution process is being managed by the LaunchPad at SU Libraries. For more information and application materials, please e-mail:  LaunchPad@syr.edu

The Blackstone LaunchPad & Techstars at Syracuse University extends a warm welcome to our new LaunchPad colleagues in Texas.  The Blackstone Charitable Foundation has just announced the expansion of its signature Blackstone LaunchPad student entrepreneurship programming from two to eight campuses in The University of Texas System, bringing the initiative’s network and resources to a more diverse set of students.  This brings the total number of LaunchPad campuses across the U.S. and Ireland to 30 colleges and universities. 

The $5 million expansion in Texas will give even more students critical access to resources, opportunities and mentorship at the following campuses: UT El Paso, UT Permian Basin, UT Rio Grande Valley, UT San Antonio, UT Medical Branch and UT Southwestern. UT Austin and UT Dallas have been LaunchPad sites since 2016. With four of the six campuses included in this expansion designated Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), LaunchPad doubles the number of HSIs in its network, demonstrating a commitment to increasing inclusion in student entrepreneurship.

“Expanding LaunchPad to more UT institutions helps develop a more robust pipeline of student entrepreneurs in Texas. This experience will encourage them to generate new ideas and someday launch companies and drive job growth,” UT System Chancellor James B. Milliken said. “We are grateful to the Blackstone Charitable Foundation for its generous contribution and for its effort to reach a more diverse student population across Texas.”

UT students will be able to expand their ideas outside of the classroom by utilizing LaunchPad’s events, mentorships, and an exceptional network to help them succeed in their entrepreneurial ventures. At UT Austin and UT Dallas, LaunchPad has been available to more than 60,000 total students with more than 14,000 engaged in programming annually.

“We are incredibly excited to help student entrepreneurs bring their ideas to fruition,” said Amy Stursberg, Executive Director of the Blackstone Charitable Foundation. “LaunchPad provides an invaluable experience by helping students acquire entrepreneurial skills that will help them contribute to Texas’ economic growth and prepare them for today’s workforce.”

The Blackstone Charitable Foundation established LaunchPad in 2008 and partnered with Techstars eight years later to provide participants with access to its network of more than 10,000 mentors, invitations to signature events like Startup Week and Startup Weekend, and access to world-renowned content and startup services. With Future Founders, Blackstone LaunchPad provides a seasonal 8-week Fellowship, during which student founders receive $5,000 in non-dilutive grant funding to support their time working on advancing their ventures as well as access to workshops and advisor networks. Startup Grind also serves as an event partner and offers new student membership for LaunchPad participants.

Blackstone LaunchPad also helps student entrepreneurs navigate the complex landscape of fundraising, job placement and recruitment. LaunchPad has achieved success across campuses in the U.S. and Ireland, providing nearly 750,000 students with the access to resources, personal connections and professional networks they need to get their companies off the ground.

Reserve your spot at this exclusive Virtual Meet and Greet with Techstars Leadership February 17 at 1 p.m.  Learn more about the Techstars #GiveFirst culture, mentorship-driven accelerators, entrepreneur resources, and community programs that can help accelerate your startup.  Techstars is on a mission to help entrepreneurs succeed. Over the past 14-years, Techstars has invested in more than 2,505 companies that today have a combined market cap valuation of more than $35.4 Billion.

At this Virtual Meet and Greet, you’ll:

• Learn more about Techstars Mentorship-Driven Accelerators
• Receive updates on application open dates and process
• Get the opportunity to share details about what you’re working on
• Be able to ask questions and get feedback
• Find out if Techstars is a good fit to help accelerate your startup

Presented by Saba Karim, Techstars Global Startup Pipeline Manager. You are encouraged to invite your co-founder to attend.

Register here for this free session.

Need help building a successful marketing plan?  This event is for you. Join Launch NY for “Communications for Startups – Building a Successful Communication and PR Strategy” on February 11 from 1:00 p.m. to 2 p.m.  Register for this free event here.

Whether you’re already getting lots of buzz or just starting to think about creating a proactive outreach plan, join Los Angeles based startup communications expert Otto Pohl for a presentation and discussion on how to shape and project your company message most effectively.  A successful executive who mentors founders at StartX , Stanford’s startup accelerator where portfolio ventures have raised over $1.9B from leading investors such as Greylock Partners, Andreessen Horowitz, and Founders Fund, he brings strategic vision to communications and PR for early-stage startups.

He began his career at the New York Times and has also written for publications including New York Magazine, Scientific American, and the Wall Street Journal.

He has held numerous senior positions at tech startups and founded several of his own. More recently he was head of communications at several startups before becoming a full-time startup communications consultant. His journalism and startup background has given him experience in communications in the broadest sense: Pitch decks, vision & strategy documents, marketing materials, thought leadership pieces, website content, comms plans, data-driven research projects, speech writing, and media releases.

He has a BA in government from Cornell and a master’s in business from the Stanford GSB.

You can also reach out in advance to otto@corecommunicationsconsulting.com so he can be sure to address your specific situation.