Pre-seed investor firm Techstars announced it is partnering with The Hatchery, Emory Center for Innovation, and Goizueta Business School’s Roberto C. Goizueta Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation to launch the Techstars Emory Founder Catalyst Program.
This proven pre-accelerator program was designed to enable early-stage entrepreneurs with world-class startup education, mentorship, and opportunities to scale their ventures.
Participation is open to all members of the Emory community, including students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Teams must have at least one Emory-affiliated member actively involved with the startup and commit to weekly in-person sessions. The Founder Catalyst program is free for all founders.
The Roberto C. Goizueta Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation has long been at the forefront of Emory’s entrepreneurship education. And the Techstars Emory Founder Catalyst program will replace the center’s existing Startup Launch Accelerator in 2025, reflecting a strategic evolution in Emory’s entrepreneurship offerings.
Christy Brown, who has run SLA at Goizueta for the past three years, will be the new program’s lead facilitator. As an experienced entrepreneur and instructor who has guided startups through early growth stages, she emphasizes the program’s hands-on approach.
KEY QUOTES:
“Partnering with Techstars, an internationally renowned accelerator, allows us to extend the impact of entrepreneurship across Emory and beyond. The Techstars Emory Founder Catalyst program builds on our commitment to equipping the next generation of founders with the tools, mentorship, and confidence they need to bring their innovative ideas to life, no matter the industry or focus.”
- Ben Garrett, director of The Hatchery
“This collaboration with Techstars represents a significant step forward for Emory’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. By connecting our community with Techstars’ global expertise, we’re positioning Emory founders for exceptional success on both local and national stages.”
- Brian Cayce, managing director of The Roberto C. Goizueta Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation
“Entrepreneurship is all about action. Through this program, founders will not only learn from the best but also actively build and test their ventures, developing the resilience and creativity they’ll need for long-term success.”
- Christy Brown
“Emory’s partnership with Techstars exemplifies the collaborative spirit that drives our entrepreneurial vision. We are deeply committed to creating opportunities that empower our students, faculty, staff and alumni to turn their ideas into impactful ventures.”
- Wilbur Lam, vice provost for entrepreneurship at Emory
“We’re thrilled to bring Techstars’ proven pre-accelerator model to Emory University. This partnership represents a unique opportunity to combine Emory’s incredible talent with Techstars’ resources and global network, creating a launchpad for tomorrow’s leading innovators.”
- Katie Smith, head of startup community at Techstars
