Startup Week
Startup Week is a community-driven entrepreneurship celebration program operated by Techstars, running 280+ free weeklong events across 140+ cities with 131K+ participants. It funnels founders into Techstars' $220K-equity accelerator network serving early-stage startups globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersBoulder, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Startup Week does
Startup Week is a community-driven entrepreneurship celebration program operated as a sub-brand of Techstars Central LLC. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Boulder, Colorado under the broader Techstars network (Techstars Central LLC, headquartered in New York, Delaware-domiciled), Startup Week delivers weeklong conferences in cities worldwide featuring keynote speakers, hands-on workshops, pitch competitions, and networking events. The program spans 280+ events across 40+ countries and 140+ cities with 131K+ total participants. Startup Week events are free for participants, with revenue generated primarily through local event sponsorships where companies connect with regional innovators and entrepreneurs.
Startup Week is one of four community-facing products in the Techstars portfolio alongside Startup Weekend (intensive 54-hour startup competitions), Startup Digest (curated local newsletters), and the Techstars Accelerator Programs. The accelerator is the core monetization engine: a 3-month mentorship-driven program that invests $220,000 in exchange for equity in each selected startup, providing access to a global network of mentors, corporate partners, investors, and alumni, plus perks valued at over $4M. Specialized vertical accelerators operate in Health, Finance, Space and Defense, and Critical Infrastructure; location-specific accelerators include USC and Techstars (Los Angeles), Techstars Tokyo, Northwestern Medicine and Techstars, and Techstars AI Health Baltimore. The pre-accelerator Founder Catalyst program serves founders with less than $500K raised.
The underlying platform combines Techstars' mentorship methodology with a community-organization infrastructure. Local community leaders apply to host Startup Week events; Techstars provides resources, frameworks, and brand backing. The funnel converts event participants into accelerator applicants and portfolio founders, creating a continuous pipeline that has produced more than 3,000 investments since Techstars' 2006 founding, with combined portfolio market capitalization exceeding $100 billion. Notable alumni include Remitly ($1.5B unicorn) and GlossGenius ($1.15B). Distribution is multi-channel: events, content marketing via the Techstars blog, the Startup Digest newsletter, partnerships with universities and corporations, and presence at major industry conferences such as TechCrunch Disrupt.
Startup Week firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Startup Week
- Legal name
- Techstars Central LLC
- Website
- https://startupweek.co
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Startup Week is a community-driven entrepreneurship celebration program operated by Techstars, running 280+ free weeklong events across 140+ cities with 131K+ participants. It funnels founders into Techstars' $220K-equity accelerator network serving early-stage startups globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Startup Week industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Entrepreneurship Community Events
- NAICS
- Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192), Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (813920)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Technology & Innovation Expos Organizers (THAHABAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Professional & Certification Expos Organizers (THAHABAD), Training, Enablement & Talent Development Summits (THAHAMAH), Business Planning, Pitching & Competitions (Pitch Decks, Demo Days) (EDAMAHAB)
Keywords
Where Startup Week is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Boulder
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Startup Week business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Accelerator Investment Returns: Techstars invests $220,000 in each accelerator company in exchange for equity, generating returns through portfolio company exits and valuations
- Event Sponsorships: Companies sponsor Startup Week events to connect with local innovators and entrepreneurs, generating revenue while providing value to event participants
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Standard Techstars Accelerator Investment |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Startup Week product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Startup Week is a weeklong community-organized conference celebrating entrepreneurship in local cities, featuring speakers, hands-on workshops, pitch competitions, and networking sessions. Operating under Techstars, the program currently spans 280+ events across 40+ countries and 140+ cities with 131K+ total participants. Events are free for participants, with revenue generated through corporate event sponsorships and cross-promotion of Techstars accelerator programs.
Product overview
Startup Week is a flagship product under Techstars' broader portfolio of entrepreneurship support programs. It operates as a celebration platform alongside other core offerings including Startup Weekend (intensive 54-hour startup competitions), Startup Digest (curated content newsletters), and Techstars Accelerator Programs (mentorship-driven 3-month programs with $220K investments). The accelerator network spans industry verticals (Health, Finance, Space & Defense, Critical Infrastructure) and geographic accelerators in major startup hubs worldwide. Additional offerings include Founder Catalyst pre-accelerator programs and location-specific initiatives like the USC and Techstars Accelerator and Techstars Tokyo Accelerator. Collectively, these programs have invested in more than 3,000 companies with a combined market cap exceeding $100 billion.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Techstars Space Accelerator: Accelerator program focused on space technology companies, operated in partnership with the United States Space Force and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
- Techstars Tokyo Accelerator
- USC and Techstars Accelerator
- Techstars AI Health Baltimore
- Techstars Alabama EnergyTech Accelerator
- Techstars Healthcare Accelerator
- Techstars Future of Food
Products and services
- Startup Week A weeklong community-organized celebration of entrepreneurship featuring provocative speakers, hands-on workshops, networking opportunities, opening ceremonies, keynote speeches, pitch competitions, happy hour events, and closing parties. Spans 280+ events across 40+ countries and 140+ cities with 131K+ total participants. Free for participants to attend.
- Startup Digest A curated content service delivering the best in startup events and resources to founders through locally curated digests. Works with vetted local curators to deliver relevant content and handpicked events straight to subscribers' inboxes via email.
Quantifiable outcome
- 280+ Startup Week events across 40+ countries and 140+ cities
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Startup Week
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Startup Week technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Startup Week partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- University of Kansas School of BusinesscoreThree-year partnership to strengthen Midwest innovation ecosystem, creating opportunities for students, researchers, alumni, and aspiring entrepreneurs. Combines KU's academic and research strengths with Techstars' global network of founders, mentors, investors, and operators.
- Mitsui FudosancorePowered by Mitsui Fodosan and JETRO Startup, in cooperation with Cabinet Office, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Mitsui Fudosan provides real estate expertise and local ecosystem connections for the Techstars Tokyo Accelerator focused on deep tech, fintech, clean tech, and climate tech startups.
- JETRO StartupcoreJapan External Trade Organization startup division partners with Techstars to support Japanese and international startups entering the Tokyo program, providing access to JETRO's global network and resources for Japanese market entry.
- University of Southern California (USC)core13-week in-person accelerator at USC's Los Angeles campus connecting startups with mentors from inside and outside the university while providing access to USC's research, talent, and entrepreneurial ecosystem. Eligible companies must have at least one USC-affiliated founding member.
- Northwestern MedicinecorePartnership for the Northwestern Medicine & Techstars Healthcare Accelerator, bringing together healthcare expertise and startup acceleration to support companies working in oncology, AI-driven compliance, proteomics, and digital therapeutics.
- Tuscaloosa County Economic Development Authority (TCEDA)minorPartnership with TCEDA and The University of Alabama for the Techstars Founder Catalyst WaterTech & Sustainability program, a 10-week pre-accelerator for founders in watertech, energy, cleantech, and climate resilience.
- The University of AlabamaminorUniversity partner for Techstars Founder Catalyst WaterTech & Sustainability program, providing ecosystem support through the Tuscaloosa and greater Alabama innovation ecosystem.
- United States Space ForcecorePartnership with USSF for Space Accelerator program, enabling technologies that help unlock new domains, markets, and opportunities in space and aerospace sectors.
- NASA Jet Propulsion LaboratorycorePartnership with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory for the Techstars Space Accelerator, supporting companies focused on innovative dual-use technologies across terrestrial, LEO, GEO, and lunar domains.
- Emirates NBDminorPartnership to accelerate enterprise-grade AI and fintech solutions across MENAT (Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey) region, driving AI and fintech innovation with a leading banking group.
- EIT Urban MobilityminorStrategic partnership to launch Techstars x EIT Urban Mobility Founder Catalyst programme, a first-of-its-kind platform for Europe's next generation of mobility innovators.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Startup Week competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Plug and Play: Global innovation platform and startup accelerator operating industry-specific programs and corporate partnership events. Comparable as a multi-vertical accelerator with corporate sponsorship and event-driven founder engagement.
- Web Summit: One of the world's largest technology conferences held annually across multiple geographies. Comparable as a global entrepreneurship and technology event with sponsorship monetized model, though at materially larger scale and with ticketed attendee revenue.
- TechCrunch Disrupt: Premier global technology conference organized by TechCrunch featuring startup competitions, networking, and sponsorships. Comparable as a high-profile entrepreneurship event monetized through sponsorships, but with a ticketed model and broader scale than Startup Week.
- SXSW (South by Southwest): Major annual conference and festival in Austin featuring technology, music, film, and entrepreneurship programming. Comparable as a flagship entrepreneurship event with corporate sponsorship and ticketed access, though at much larger scale and broader cultural scope.
- 500 Global (formerly 500 Startups): Global venture firm and accelerator running community events, accelerator programs, and founder education. Comparable as a broader-stage accelerator with similar founder enablement focus, though with deeper investment focus than pure community events.
Direct peers
- Mass Challenge: Global non-profit accelerator with programs in multiple countries and industry verticals. Comparable as a mission-driven accelerator offering community events, mentorship, and corporate partnerships targeting early-stage founders.
- Founder Institute: Global pre-seed accelerator and founder development program with chapters in 100+ cities. Comparable as a community-organized, globally distributed entrepreneurship program targeting early-stage founders with structured curriculum and mentorship.
- Startup Grind: Global startup community organizing events in 600+ chapters across 125+ countries. Most directly comparable as a community-driven, locally organized entrepreneurship event platform with similar sponsorship-supported monetization.
- Y Combinator Startup School: Y Combinator's free online and in-person startup education program targeting early-stage founders. Directly comparable as a community-driven founder enablement program with similar free-to-participants, sponsorship-supported GTM and global reach.
- Startup Weekend: A sibling community program operated by Techstars, offering 54-hour intensive startup-building events. Most directly comparable to Startup Week as both are community-driven entrepreneurship events under the same Techstars umbrella, with similar organizer and sponsorship models.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Startup Week social profiles
Digital presenceStartup Week financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Startup Week leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Startup Week subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
Startup Week funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Startup Week M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Startup Week
What does Startup Week do?
Startup Week is a weeklong community-organized conference celebrating entrepreneurship in local cities, featuring speakers, hands-on workshops, pitch competitions, and networking sessions. Operating under Techstars, the program currently spans 280+ events across 40+ countries and 140+ cities with 131K+ total participants. Events are free for participants, with revenue generated through corporate event sponsorships and cross-promotion of Techstars accelerator programs.
Is Startup Week a public or private company?
Startup Week is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Startup Week founded?
Startup Week was founded in 2006.
Where is Startup Week based?
Startup Week is headquartered in Boulder, United States, in the North America region.
How does Startup Week make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Accelerator Investment Returns are the primary driver. The others are event Sponsorships.
Who are Startup Week's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Plug and Play, Web Summit, TechCrunch Disrupt, SXSW (South by Southwest) and 500 Global (formerly 500 Startups). Direct peers are Mass Challenge, Founder Institute, Startup Grind, Y Combinator Startup School and Startup Weekend.
Does Startup Week have an API?
No public API is recorded for Startup Week.
What industry is Startup Week in?
Startup Week's product category is Entrepreneurship Community Events. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAHABAE, Technology & Innovation Expos Organizers, with a secondary code of THAHABAD, Professional & Certification Expos Organizers. Its NAICS code is 56192 and its SIC code is 8600.