David Cohen

David Cohen is a prominent entrepreneur and the Founder and CEO of Techstars, a leading startup accelerator that has significantly impacted the entrepreneurial landscape since its inception in 2006. Under his leadership, Techstars has invested in over 4,000 startups, including more than 20 unicorns such as Alloy, DigitalOcean, and Pillpack.12

Early Life and Career

Born in 1968 in DeLand, Florida, Cohen began his career as a software engineer in 1991. He co-founded Pinpoint Technologies in 1993, which developed software for public safety and was later acquired by Zoll Medical Corporation. Following this, he founded iContact.com, a social networking service for mobile devices, and earFeeder, a music service that was sold to SonicSwap.26

Techstars

Cohen co-founded Techstars with Brad Feld, Jared Polis, and David Brown to create a mentorship-driven accelerator model that provides startups with access to capital, mentorship, and resources. The first program launched in 2007, and since then, Techstars has expanded globally with numerous locations.24 Cohen has served as CEO or co-CEO for most of the company's history and returned to the CEO role in May 2024 after a brief hiatus.45

Contributions and Recognition

In addition to his role at Techstars, Cohen is actively involved in various non-profit organizations. He is a founding board member of Endeavor Colorado and serves on the advisory board of the Silicon Flatirons Center at the University of Colorado.13 He co-authored the book Do More Faster: Techstars Lessons to Accelerate Your Startup, which shares insights from the accelerator's experiences.26

Cohen resides in Boulder, Colorado, with his wife and three children. He enjoys reading non-fiction and playing tennis in his spare time.12