Accelerating Early-Stage, Emory-Affiliated Startups
Open to undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, staff, and alumni, the Techstars Emory Founder Catalyst Program helps idea- and early-stage founders get their ventures investment ready. Over ten weeks, participants sharpen their business models, refine their investor pitches, and gain the tools, mentorship and connections to move from concept to capital. Led by industry experts and supported by Techstars' global network, founders leave the program with greater clarity, confidence and credibility, ready to take the next step toward fundraising, accelerators, or strategic partnerships.
The experience is community driven, and free of charge.
Ideal for founders who:
- Have domain expertise and a clear customer problem
- Are pre-funding (raised less than $400k
- Thrive in collaborative environments
Key Logistics:
- Applications open October 24, 2025 and close December 5, 2025
- Program runs January 22, 2026 - April 23, 2026
Our Team
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Christy Brown
Christy is a serial entrepreneur, investor, ecosystem builder, philanthropist and Goizueta Entrepreneur In Residence. Christy is President & CEO of Launchpad2X, a venture ready accelerator for female founders, and a long-time member of the Atlanta startup community. She has had the pleasure of serving the community in many different capacities. She is also an angel investor in female led startups, as well as LP in multiple venture funds. -
Brian Cayce
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Ben Garrett
FAQ
Applications are open until January 17, 2025, and the program begins January 30, 2025.
Your team only needs one Emory community member to qualify the entire team for the program. The program is open to the entire Emory community to help build and enhance the Emory student/faculty/staff/alumni entrepreneurial spirit by helping create successful startups.
This accelerator currently focuses only on for-profit startup ventures seeking investment readiness.
Please apply as completing the application will help you focus your idea and move it from a napkin to a page and that will be helpful. We would love to hear from you.
No, we don't take any ownership of IP or equity in the teams in the program.
No, we don't take any ownership of IP or equity in the teams in the program.
Yes, this program is free. Thanks, Goizueta!
Techstars is the most active pre-seed investor in the world having invested through its accelerators in more than 3,700 companies that have a combined market cap of over $99 billion. Founded in 2006, Techstars believes that entrepreneurs create a better future for everyone, and great ideas can come from anywhere. Now we are on a mission to invest in an unprecedented number of startups per year enabling more capital to flow to more entrepreneurs around the world. We do this by operating accelerator programs and venture capital funds, as well as by connecting startups, investors, corporations, and cities to help build thriving startup communities. https://www.techstars.com
The Hatchery supports innovators and entrepreneurs from all Emory schools and serves as Emory’s epicenter for exploring what’s possible. We empower students with the skillsets and mindsets to be purpose-driven and effective innovators and entrepreneurs who drive demonstrable social and economic impact. Housed within a 15,000-square-foot creativity and collaboration space, The Hatchery offers mentoring and program support for all stages of innovation—from inspiration and learning to startups. https://hatchery.emory.edu
The Roberto C. Goizueta Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation is a leading resource for entrepreneurial education at Emory University, meeting students, faculty and staff where they are in their development. With access points and general exposure for the curious as well as skill development and in-depth learning opportunities for the highly engaged, the center offers both academic and experiential pathways for founders, connectors, investors and disruptors. The Center seeks to foster entrepreneurship and innovation for Goizueta and the greater Emory community through critical inquiry, service to fundamental societal needs, execution of sound business principles, and possibilities that spark the imagination. https://goizueta.emory.edu/faculty/entrepreneurship-innovation
