Emory University is proud to announce the launch of the Techstars Emory Founder Catalyst Program, a collaboration between The Hatchery, Emory Center for Innovation, Goizueta Business School’s Roberto C. Goizueta Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation and Techstars, the world’s most active pre-seed investor. This proven pre-accelerator program is designed to empower early-stage entrepreneurs with world-class startup education, mentorship, and opportunities to scale their ventures.

Applications are now open through January 17 for the inaugural cohort of 20 ventures, launching early 2025. 

• The program will culminate in a pitch competition in April, where participating teams will showcase their innovative ideas to investors, mentors, and the entrepreneurial community.

• Participation is open to all members of the Emory community, including students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

• Teams need at least one Emory-affiliated member actively involved with the startup and must commit to weekly in-person sessions. 

• Participation in the Founder Catalyst program is free of charge for all founders, and there is no requirement to share equity in the startups or accept onerous investment terms to participate.

For more information and to apply for the Spring 2025 cohort, visit the Techstars Emory Founder Catalyst webpage or contact [email protected]

“Partnering with Techstars, an internationally renowned accelerator, allows us to extend the impact of entrepreneurship across Emory and beyond,” said Ben Garrett, Director of The Hatchery, Emory Center for Innovation. “The Techstars Emory Founder Catalyst program builds on our commitment to equipping the next generation of founders with the tools, mentorship, and confidence they need to bring their innovative ideas to life, no matter the industry or focus.”

The Roberto C. Goizueta Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation has long been at the forefront of entrepreneurship education at Emory. The Techstars Emory Founder Catalyst program will replace its existing Startup Launch Accelerator in 2025, reflecting a strategic evolution in Emory’s entrepreneurship offerings.

“This collaboration with Techstars represents a significant step forward for Emory’s entrepreneurial ecosystem,” said Brian Cayce, Managing Director of The Roberto C. Goizueta Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. “By connecting our community with Techstars’ global expertise, we’re positioning Emory founders for exceptional success on both local and national stages.”

Emory will again turn to Christy Brown as the Lead Facilitator, an experienced entrepreneur and instructor who has guided startups through early growth stages. Brown emphasized the program’s hands-on approach, stating, “Entrepreneurship is all about action. Through this program, founders will not only learn from the best but also actively build and test their ventures, developing the resilience and creativity they’ll need for long-term success.”

Under the leadership of Wilbur Lam, Vice Provost for Entrepreneurship at Emory, the university has focused on enhancing resources and connections for innovators across disciplines. “Emory’s partnership with Techstars exemplifies the collaborative spirit that drives our entrepreneurial vision,” said Lam. “We are deeply committed to creating opportunities that empower our students, faculty, staff and alumni to turn their ideas into impactful ventures.”

Techstars brings unparalleled expertise to this collaboration. As the world’s leading pre-seed investor, Techstars has helped launch and scale thousands of successful startups worldwide. Katie Smith, Head of Startup Community at Techstars, shared her excitement: “We’re thrilled to bring Techstars’ proven pre-accelerator model to Emory University. This partnership represents a unique opportunity to combine Emory’s incredible talent with Techstars’ resources and global network, creating a launchpad for tomorrow’s leading innovators.”