Techstars

Techstars is an internationally recognized startup accelerator that helps entrepreneurs boost their early-stage businesses and product development efforts through education and funding. For 90 days, 10 startups work in a creative space in the heart of midtown Atlanta, receiving expert counsel and support from a network of more than 100 local mentors — including dozens of Cox employees. The program concludes with a Demo Day presentation, during which the companies pitch their business ideas to Cox executives and a crowd of potential investors from around the world. Cox Enterprises was a founding sponsor of Techstars Atlanta and has remained the presenting sponsor since 2016. Techstars Social Impact powered by Cox Enterprises was launched in 2020 to support startups addressing social and environmental challenges.

Accomplishments

One of Cox’s primary goals in our Techstars partnership is to elevate the city of Atlanta’s status as a tech hub and center for innovation. Now with its seventh class, Techstars Atlanta has helped dramatically alter the startup landscape in Atlanta, creating a burgeoning network of successful entrepreneurs with growing businesses. Techstars Atlanta has helped launch 100 companies, with 50 percent of the entire portfolio based in Atlanta. Collectively, these companies have raised more than $210 million since completing the program. Our Techstars portfolio includes a healthy mix of enterprise and consumer-focused companies run by founders with diverse backgrounds in a variety of industries.

Techstars-atlanta-Accomplishmnets
Techstars Atlanta Portfolio
Techstars Impact Portfolio

Team

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Tim Dorr
Managing Director

Tim Dorr is the Managing Director of Techstars. He is a co-founder of Salesloft, one of the largest startups to come out of Atlanta with a $2.3B valuation. Prior to that, he created the first coworking space in Atlanta, Ignition Alley, was an entrepreneur-in-residence (EIR) at the Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC) at Georgia Tech, and has been an advisor at Atlanta Tech Village.

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Hannah Turner
Investment Associate

Hannah Turner is the Investment Associate for Techstars. Prior to joining, she worked in the nonprofit sector for organizations like Fernbank Museum of Natural History and Zoo Atlanta. Her background includes event planning, operations, marketing and sales. She’s married to an entrepreneur and has two kids.

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Anastasia Simon
Investment Principal

Anastasia Simon is the investment principal for Techstars. She brings almost a decade of experience in the startup ecosystem, ranging from marketing and business development to venture capital and community building. Anastasia is an experienced operator who has designed programming for the first fully virtual incubator for early-stage protech companies, managed strategic partnerships with companies like Google for Startups, True Ventures, Silicon Valley Bank, and Goodwin Procter, and served as a mentor during Facebook’s North American Community Accelerator. Prior to this role, she served as program director at Founder Gym, the No. 1 training program teaching underrepresented founders how to raise venture capital.

Mentor Spotlight

SENIOR PRODUCT MANAGER
COX COMMUNICATIONS
Associate Vice President, Strategic Planning, Healthcare
Cox Enterprises
Sr Manager, Strategy & Corporate Development
Cox Enterprises
Chief Operating Officer, Cox Farms
COX ENTERPRISES
vice president of sales
Cox Communications
Vice President, Corporate Responsibility & Social Impact
Cox Enterprises
SENIOR PRODUCT MANAGER
COX COMMUNICATIONS

“The #GiveFirst ethos of Techstars creates a perpetual cycle of value that ensures mentors singularly focus on the best interest of their founders, from finding the right relationships and opportunities, to recognizing and discussing their blind spots, and perhaps most importantly, providing a safe space in which to freely discuss challenges. Having this relationship is a great responsibility but also a tremendous honor.”

Associate Vice President, Strategic Planning, Healthcare
Cox Enterprises

“Being a techstars mentor is mutually rewarding experience that often lasts beyond the time in the accelerator. Working with Entrepreneurs is energizing. They are problem solvers working at a lighting pace. Engaging with them helps to shape my own perspective and approach to business creation. It is rewarding to be able to contribute in some way to these amazing people’s journey as they look to make an impact with their business.”

Sr Manager, Strategy & Corporate Development
Cox Enterprises

“As a company that’s continually leaning into change, we’re proud to support a venture ecosystem where innovation is born and given support to scale. Our partnerships allow us front row access to the best and the brightest and empower entrepreneurship at every stage. Their grit and determination is nothing short of inspiring.”

Chief Operating Officer, Cox Farms
COX ENTERPRISES

“Techstars mentorship provides me access to innovation across a broad spectrum – like media, cyber security and e-commerce. The diversity of problems and solutions helps keep me on the front end of technology and industry evolution while also enabling me to leverage and apply learnings from other sectors to my own. I am also able to broaden my network amongst inspiring founders and accomplished mentors. Techstars is an all-around great platform for innovation, learning and relationships.”

vice president of sales
Cox Communications

“I enjoy the strategy and planning aspect of startups. Many of these entrepreneurs are strong in engineering or product development, but they may not have a sales and marketing background. Many times, I can help them take a great idea and better think through how they would develop their go-to-market strategy.”

Vice President, Corporate Responsibility & Social Impact
Cox Enterprises

“Startup entrepreneurs who are trying to fundamentally solve big problems in innovative ways will feel right at home working with Cox mentors and leadership. Social responsibility is embedded in our business strategy here at Cox. It’s why we are making key investments like Techstars that both drive innovation and enhance our communities.”