Techstars: Leveraging the Network

When you’re part of the Techstars Atlanta startup accelerator, you have a worldwide network of entrepreneurs and potential investors at your fingertips. 

Fixel, one of 10 companies to earn a covered spot in this year’s Techstars Atlanta program, is working hard to leverage that incredible network as the 12-week program moves past the halfway mark.

What is Fixel?
Fixel helps marketers focus their efforts on the customers most likely to buy. Their platform uses artificial intelligence to help e-commerce websites, advertising agencies and listing sites like Autotrader identify which consumers are worth expending additional marketing dollars to attract. This information is based on how the consumers have interacted with their websites.

The company is already attracting attention in their target market. They just secured a deal to pilot their software with Autotrader, Cox Media Group and 360i, one of the leading advertising agencies in the U.S.

“Harvard for Startups”
Being part of Techstars has been an amazing professional experience, in particular because of the feedback they’re getting from industry-leading mentors, said Etgar and Hadar Shpivak, brothers from Israel who cofounded Fixel.

“When people ask me to describe what I’m doing, I say it’s like Harvard for startups, on steroids,” Etgar said. “It’s the best place in the United States to learn how to build your company.”

Both brothers have impressive credentials. Etgar, the CEO, has 16 years of experience in digital marketing, and he cowrote a book on the topic that was a bestseller in his home country. Hadar, the Chief Technology Officer, managed the operational big data team for the Israeli Army in his last role.

“We had a great product that delivered results even before we came,” said Hadar. “Our goal here is to turn an Israeli product into an American company that knows how to scale here."

What’s next?
The program culminates in a Demo Day Oct. 15, where the company founders pitch their unique business plan to hundreds of potential investors and community supporters.