Excelerate Labs has always been a busy place in the summer with 10 amazing companies in the throws of intense programming. Now that we are part of TechStars and sitting on a national platform, it will be even more exciting and we need help! We are looking for MBA and undergraduate…
Blackline did this interview of Troy the day the TechStars-Chicago deal was announced. Great way to get some more perspective on the history and why it is an important step for the program.
Q. What do First Round Capital, Battery Ventures, SV Angel, Founder Collective, and countless other VC firms have in common? A. They have all invested in alums of Excelerate Labs in its three short years of existence and none of these firms even has a presence in Chicago. Excelerate Labs…
Chicago’s SpotHero Raises 2.5mm to Bring Sanity to Urban Parking The influx of West Coast VC money to Chicago continued today with the announcement that SpotHero, a recent graduate of top incubator Excelerate Labs, has raised USD2.5 million from an array of investment firms across the country. The round was…
I spent this summer as a CEO leading a startup through Excelerate Labs. We underwent a pretty major pivot during the summer, a pivot that probably saved our business. I think people misunderstand what happens inside this program. They hear its leaders say that entrepreneurs must be “coachable.” And when…
A post from Troy on Convertible Debt and how he thinks we should really be thinking about it… Over the last few years, convertible debt has become a popular vehicle for early stage companies that are raising money. A lot has been written about it from how it affects your cap…
We just posted a new video on the home page and wanted to share it here as well. Julian from Indirap Productions did an amazing job on filming and editing and deserves a ton of credit. Take a look and see if you agree!
“Incubators are to Startups as Steroids are to Baseball. They are not necessary to succeed, but they sure as hell help. In this third installation to Elite Daily’s Incubator Series, we lay out the best startup accelerators for entrepreneurs in the North and Midwest regions of the United States: from…