Techstars kicks off emerging markets push with accelerator

Canada born Raymond Newal, who founded video streaming start-up Jigsee, will be leading Techstars' new mentorship-driven accelerator for emerging markets entrepreneurs that will operate out of Bengaluru, the company said today.

Techstars is a worldwide network, founded in Colorado in 2006, that supports entrepreneurs through its accelerators and special start-up programmes.

Nearly 1500 start-ups, including several Indian ones, have benefited through its programmes globally, the company said.

Techstars' first accelerator in India is looking for 10 companies that are applying technologies including AI, AR/VR, Blockchain, and IoT to solve problems in the emerging markets, with the potential to scale solutions to developed markets down the road, the company said in a release.

The program will be hosted in Bengaluru and will run 13 weeks from February 4, 2019.

Techstars would invest USD 120,000 in each of the 10 chosen teams.

Applications are open now and Managing Director Ray Newal is meeting start-ups in Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai, the release added.