Adoptimize is one of 50 companies that will receive a $5,000 grant to focus for 8 weeks on advancing their startup.
Adoptimize, animal shelter software that automates great pet photos to increase adoption rates, has been selected to participate in the LaunchPad Summer Startup Fellowship, during which companies in the U.S. and Ireland will be provided additional opportunity to validate their strategies and advance their businesses. During the program, fellows will participate in coaching sessions with LaunchPad Directors as well as mentoring from Blackstone Ambassadors and Techstars Entrepreneurs and Advisors. Companies will also have the opportunity to hear first-hand from entrepreneurs like Allbirds Co-Founder Tim Brown, Techstars CEO and Co-Founder David Brown, CareMessage Co-Founder Cecilia Corral, and SparkCharge Co-Founder (and LaunchPad Alum) Josh Aviv during the LaunchPad Lessons Learned speaker series.
“At Techstars, we’ve always focused on supporting entrepreneurs who have a deep passion for solving problems they've personally experienced,” said Amy Smith, Senior Vice President, Product for Techstars. “You won’t find more passionate innovators than the founders in the LaunchPad Fellowship and we’re happy to be helping provide an experience this summer necessary for them to validate and continue pursuing their ideas.”
Applicants to the LaunchPad Summer Startup Fellowship operate startups in a wide range of industries, but like Adoptimize, an animal shelter SaaS company, many startups operate in Business Services, Media and Entertainment, and Fashion and Beauty, each of which represents +5% of Fellowship applicants. The LaunchPad Summer Startup Fellowship will create a collaborative network of entrepreneurs working on ideas in the same and differing industries across the country and globe.
“We’re looking forward to expanding our network and exploring new applications of the Adoptimize technology to the pet industry to create even more value for animal shelters and pet parents,” said Jessica Schleder, CEO of Adoptimize.
In addition to coaching and mentorship from LaunchPad Directors and Blackstone Ambassadors throughout the 8 weeks, entrepreneurs will also get the chance to participate in a Techstars Mentor Week. The LaunchPad Startup Fellowship will conclude July 31, 2020.
About Blackstone LaunchPad powered by Techstars
Open to all students and recent alumni, the Blackstone LaunchPad powered by Techstars network enables participants to access mentoring, grow their network, and access the resources to accelerate the success of their business. For more information, see www.blackstonelaunchpad.org
About Blackstone Charitable Foundation
The Blackstone Charitable Foundation was founded at the time of Blackstone’s IPO in 2007 with substantial commitments from the Firm’s employees. Influenced by the enterprising heritage of the firm and its founders, The Blackstone Charitable Foundation is directing its resources and applying the intellectual capital of the firm to foster entrepreneurship in areas nationwide and globally. Through its investment expertise across several asset classes and geographies, Blackstone has a unique perspective on the global economy and a heightened understanding of how entrepreneurial activity is often the crucial catalyst in the growth of successful businesses, industries, and communities. For more information, see http://www.blackstone.com/foundation.
About Techstars
Techstars is the global platform for investment and innovation. Techstars founders connect with other entrepreneurs, experts, mentors, alumni, investors, community leaders, and corporations to grow their companies. Techstars operates three divisions: Techstars Mentorship-Driven Accelerator Programs, Techstars Corporate Innovation Partnerships, and Techstars Communities. Techstars accelerator portfolio includes more than 2,200 companies with a market cap of more than $26 billion. www.techstars.com.