Techstars connects entrepreneurs to the best global ecosystem of community leaders, founders, mentors, investors and corporate partners who work together to create a worldwide network of entrepreneurial support.
Building on its support of Techstars’ Startup Programs, Google for Entrepreneurs will expand its support of Techstars’ Accelerator Programs around the globe by connecting founders with Google product teams, Google experts for technical mentoring and valuable offers, such as the Google Cloud Platform for Startups program.
BTW speaks to Zoheb Iqbal, Techstars Startup Weekend Global Facilitator.
When and how was Techstars founded and by whom?
Startup Weekend™ is a 54-hour weekend event, during which groups of developers, business managers, startup enthusiasts, marketing gurus, graphic artists and more pitch ideas for new startup companies, form teams around those ideas, and work to develop a working prototype, demo, or presentation by the third day. Part of the Techstars startup programs a global ecosystem of founders, mentors, investors, and corporate partners work together to create a network of support for entrepreneurs around the world.
How has expanded over the years?
- Techstars 762 Total Companies; 90% Active or Acquired $2.04 B;
- Total Funding $5.0B; Market Cap (Accelerator companies only (does not include Ventures)
- Startup Weekend by the numbers: 23k+
- Teams Formed: 193k+
- Alumni Community Members: 150 Countries: (That’s more than Starbucks!)
- 2.9k+ Events to Date and growing
How has the response for the same from Bahrain?
Fantastic growing community with passionate entrepreneurs; can’t wait to see how the startup ecosystem grows with the support of amazing mentors and companies investing locally into the region.
How have you been associated with Google?
Building on its support of Techstars’ Startup Programs, Google for Entrepreneurs will expand its support of Techstars’ Accelerator Programs around the globe by connecting founders with Google product teams, Google experts for technical mentoring and valuable offers, such as the Google Cloud Platform for Startups program.
Techstars will continue to be part of the Google for Entrepreneurs Partner Network, which connects us to a community of 50+ partners and 6 Campuses around the world. This network exists as both a refuge and a resource for the entrepreneurs working to grow their startups around the world.
What have been the initial challenges and how have they been overcome?
The key goal for Startupweekend is to inspire change in the lives of entrepreneurs everywhere, and the key challenge is always to help them better connect to each other and resources to help them fulfill their entrepreneurial journey.
Any plans of diversification in the future?
More exciting programs more exciting events for the are certainly in the offing.
What is your message to young entrepreneurs in Bahrain?
Keep working and testing your ideas.