David Cohen
Founder & CEO, Techstars
Co-founded Techstars in 2006 and built one of the largest global accelerator networks around a "give first" philosophy.
Key arguments & positions
- Argues "the moat has moved" in the AI era: advantage now comes from distribution, execution speed, and founder network rather than pure technology.
- Long-standing advocate of the accelerator and mentorship model, and of Techstars' "give first" philosophy.
- Emphasizes global, decentralized startup ecosystems over Silicon-Valley-only concentration.
Accomplishments
- Co-founded Techstars in 2006, one of the first and largest global accelerator networks.
- Has served as CEO or co-CEO for most of Techstars' 20-year history, including returning to the role in 2024.
Papers & key writings
Links
In the library
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