Techfw

FOR ENTREPRENEURS: TechFW is entrepreneurs helping entrepreneurs commercialize innovative technologies. TechFW has four main programs for entrepreneurs. ThinkLab is a personal investment by an entrepreneur in the foundations of their technology venture and skill development as a founder and entrepreneur. By design, the ThinkLab program helps founders and entrepreneurs determine whether there is enough value to pursue a product or service idea, identify potential markets, develop a path to market strategy, and learn how to communicate the value of the idea to early stakeholders and adopters. SmartStart is where founders build and launch their startup and tirelessly advance the people, tools and culture within their venture. The goal of SmartStart is to make it happen, through customized efforts to refine the plan, refer the company to appropriate management, consultants, potential partners, or others, and help the company find appropriate funding, etc. SmartStart clients can lease space during the time they need to implement their plans. FastForward is for executives scaling high-growth companies and taking on new leadership challenges with their business model. New executives often need help in seeking funding for growth, hiring, marketing, sales, implementing processes, and many other challenges. Companies in SmartStart and Fast Forward qualify for our M-Crew program, which is a TechFW differentiator because a team of mentors with diverse experiences works with companies for six months. During this time, they focus on central barriers to growth and implementation that the founders and executives are facing. Our ability to recruit skilled mentors in diverse industries and match them to the needs of the companies has been the success of the program.

FOR INVESTORS: TechFW facilitates the interaction between angel investors and entrepreneurs from across the country with our Cowtown Angels program, educates new investors through our SmartVest program and partners with organizations to produce events connecting investors and entrepreneurs. The Cowtown Angels program was started in September 2012 to create a mechanism whereby local technology-based businesses could gain access to local funding by private investors. Members, who are accredited investors, pay an annual fee that entitles them to participate in monthly meetings to hear pitches from companies. TechFW coaches and helps prepare the applying companies so that they are better able to present their businesses well, provides feedback to the applying companies before and after their pitches, and facilitates all the meetings of the angel network. Each member makes his or her own investing decisions. Cowtown Angels generally has three profiles of members: retired professionals, serial entrepreneurs, and professional investors, including family offices and private equity firms. Cowtown Angels is a member of the Angel Capital Association.

OUTREACH TO THE COMMUNITY: Our outreach initiatives have a daily impact on the community. TechFW is at the epicenter of innovation in Fort Worth and responds daily to community inquiries, networks its clients to the community and vice versa, and serves on committees across multiple industries to help Fort Worth innovate and grow. During the year, TechFW produces monthly newsletters, weekly events, and other specialty events for the entrepreneurial community and our members. We partner with several organizations and institutions, including universities, corporations, service providers, and other entrepreneur support organizations.