Detroit has a new resident: Techstars. The noted startup accelerator is today announcing Techstars Mobility, a program designed to advance young mobility and transportation companies in the Motor City. Together with Ford, Magna and Verizon Telematics, the program will give 10 startups deep access into the motor industries.
The program will be led by Ted Serbinski, formerly of Detroit Venture Partners after moving from San Francisco in 2011. It will be based in downtown Detroit.
Like other Techstars programs, Techstars Mobility will give startups $120,000 in funding and three months of access to its network of advisers and mentors.
As Crains Detroit reported yesterday, this program has been rumored for months.
Before Detroit Techstars has been in Boulder, Austin, Boston, Seattle, Chicago, New York, and London. This is exciting for Detroit, which has so far failed to focus its startup efforts on the area’s strengths.
Up until this program, startup accelerators, incubators and incentives have attempted to recruit and develop companies of all sorts. While that’s noble, Detroit has access to boundless automobile and mobility engineering resources. Techstars Mobility should tap into those and hopefully spur a startup ecosystem around them.
Techstars Mobility is now accepting applications. The program starts on June 9, 2015, with a demo day scheduled for September 10, 2015. I can’t wait.
