New C-suite positions to enable further growth and investment following Techstars’ largest year ever
Techstars, a global investment business that provides access to capital, one-on-one mentorship, and customized programming for early-stage entrepreneurs, has created two new leadership roles as the company continues to scale to serve more founders around the world. With $850 million in assets under management, 47 accelerator programs in 17 countries, and a global alumni base of more than 2,700 companies, both roles will provide strategic and operational support to thousands of entrepreneurs. Athreya and Moussavou will report directly to the company’s CEO, Maelle Gavet.
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Newly appointed Chief Accelerator Investments Officer Rupa Athreya (Photo: Business Wire)
“Techstars has an unprecedented ability to impact entrepreneurs through our unique pre-seed investment model that identifies exceptional entrepreneurs worldwide and supports them operationally and financially as they build their businesses,” stated Gavet. “We count on globally experienced executives with the ability to think big-picture, enabling the organization to operate at scale which is why both Marie and Rupa are such wonderful additions to our global management team.”
As the company’s first Chief Accelerator Investments Officer, Rupa Athreya will lead a worldwide team of more than 75 investment professionals who represent Techstars in 37 cities around the world. Techstars operates under the principle that the best founders can come from anywhere, running programs locally in the cities where the entrepreneurs operate or seek to grow. Techstars maintains a small class size ranging from 10 to 12 portfolio companies and runs multiple programs in cities with larger entrepreneur ecosystems. Techstars’ Accelerator Investment Team invested approximately $94 million last year and will continue to grow its portfolio as investors around the world seek to invest in viable early-stage companies. Overseeing this decentralized approach requires a seasoned executive with a strategic mindset, strong operational skills and global experience.
Having worked at global firms such as OppenheimerFunds, JPMorgan Chase, Bloomberg and McKinsey, Athreya has most recently been an independent consultant advising startups and new businesses as well as global financial institutions on strategy, innovation, and go-to-market execution. She has close to 20 years of expertise in building and launching new businesses and products, having led product development at OppenheimerFunds, founded a robo-advisor at Bloomberg and launched the Chase Private Client business at JPMorgan Chase. She has a Ph.D. in Economics from Yale University, a B.A. in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Oxford University and a B.A. in Economics from the University of Delhi. She will continue to be based out of New York, NY.
As Techstars’ first Chief Portfolio Services Officer, Marie Moussavou will be responsible for advancing growth, providing infrastructure support and investment opportunities for Techstars’ more than 6,500 alumni founders as they lead their companies through later stages. Portfolio Services provides capital and funding, business development and talent connections, mentorship, and knowledge exchange for Techstars’ network of founders, investors, mentors and innovation partners. With this ever-growing network, the Portfolio Services team under Moussavou’s leadership will maintain deep, personal relationships with founders while leveraging robust data management skills to offer founders customized and scalable support.
Moussavou has a proven track record of scaling high growth, customer-focused organizations through innovation and operational excellence. Most recently she worked at Amazon for 15 years in various senior roles, including Technical Advisor to the SVP for International, Director of Alexa Europe, and Director of Operations for Amazon Transportation Services Europe. Marie has an MBA from the London Business School and lives in London, U.K., where she will continue to be based.
About Techstars
The Techstars worldwide network helps entrepreneurs succeed. Founded in 2006, Techstars began with three simple ideas—entrepreneurs create a better future for everyone, collaboration drives innovation, and great ideas can come from anywhere. Now we are on a mission to enable every person on the planet to contribute to, and benefit from, the success of entrepreneurs. In addition to operating accelerator programs and venture capital funds, we do this by connecting startups, investors, corporations, and cities to help build thriving startup communities. Techstars has invested in more than 2,800 companies with a combined market cap of more than $195B. www.techstars.com
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Contacts
Ali Whitman
ali.whitman@techstars.com