Techstars San Diego

Program Type: In-person
Location: San Diego, California
Investment: $220,000
Equity Taken: 5% of the company in common stock plus the future value of the $200,000 uncapped MFN Safe
Program Duration: 13 weeks
Industry of Focus: Industry Agnostic

Key Highlights

Program Overview

Techstars San Diego powered by San Diego State University is an accelerator program for startups from any industry worldwide. It leverages the expertise and resources of SDSU and the San Diego community, offering a strong talent pool, high quality of life, a collaborative tech environment, and a growing venture capital scene. The program is designed to help entrepreneurs succeed through mentorship and a robust network of investors, partners, and alumni.

Investment Details

The program offers a $220,000 investment, which includes:

• $200,000 through an uncapped MFN Safe
• $20,000 through a Post-Money Convertible Equity Agreement (CEA)

Techstars receives 5% equity in common stock plus the future value of the $200,000 uncapped MFN Safe.

Benefits Details and Perks/Credits

• Funding and fundraising opportunities
• Workshops and curated resources
• Access to a world-class network of investors, partners, mentors, and alumni

Program Format

The program runs for three months and includes:

• Mentor Madness: Initial meetings with around 100 mentors
• Execution phase: Focus on KPIs and milestones
• Fundraising Strategy & Demo Day: Pitch refinement and investor preparation
• Weekly one-on-ones with managing directors and all-hands KPI meetings
• Office hours with guest mentors and investors
• Workshops and masterclasses
• Founder stories and intensive pitch practice

Location or Relocation Requirements

San Diego, California

Cohort Size and Program Frequency

The program runs annually with the next cohort starting in September 2025.

Company Types Requirements

Startups from any industry are eligible to apply.

Founding Team Preferences

The program emphasizes the importance of a strong team, highlighting the need for persistence, ability to learn, and teamwork.

For startups around the world and from any industry interested in tapping into one of the top ten startup ecosystems in North America, this accelerator program is ideal. You don’t have to be a student or affiliated with SDSU in any way in order to capitalize on the expertise and resources the university and the San Diego community provides. This San Diego-based accelerator provides a strong talent pool, high quality of life, incredibly collaborative tech environment, and a growing venture capital scene.

Today, Techstars is introducing an improved accelerator investment offer for companies accepted into our future accelerator programs. This improved offer of a $220,000* investment comes with all the benefits of our 3-month mentorship-driven accelerator program, valuable perks from our partners, and access to our world-class network of investors, partners, mentors, and alumni.

The $220,000 offer is made up of two components, including $200,000 through an uncapped MFN Safe and $20,000 through a Post-Money Convertible Equity Agreement (CEA). The total equity Techstars receives will be 5% of the company in common stock plus the future value of the $200,000 uncapped MFN Safe. For example, if your next round is valued at $20M pre-money, the $200,000 MFN Safe would then convert into 1% additional ownership at that time.

Our new offer gives founders more capital, better alignment, and a simpler and more easily comparable structure, enabling them to arrive at their next funding round with greater momentum.
Techstars accelerators have one goal: to help founders succeed. During each three-month program, we surround companies with the best mentors and an unrivaled network of corporate partners, investors, and alumni. We provide funding and fundraising opportunities, workshops and curated resources, not to mention countless moments where you can learn from your peers. It’s a proven model that’s helped build thousands of successful companies, all over the world.