Join the STANLEY+Techstars Demo Day on October 7

In 2017, industry leader Stanley Black & Decker, extended its corporate innovation footprint externally in many ways, including by developing a partnership with Techstars, the Worldwide Network Designed to Help Entrepreneurs Succeed.  That partnership, launched the start of a multi-year accelerator program.  In 2018, Techstars accepted 10 companies, all of which had a focus on additive manufacturing, into the program.  All of the companies received $120,000.00 in funding, and the full lifetime benefits of Techstars participation including over $1M of resources.  Many of the companies have gone on to raise additional capital, with the total amounts raised post-program currently exceeding $8M, and four of the companies have made a decision to build a longer term presence in Connecticut.

With the successes, and continued progress of the companies from 2018 in mind, leadership from Techstars and Stanley Black and Decker worked to thoughtfully approach the 2019 program to ensure the results were just as, if not stronger in the second year.

To that end, the aperture for the program was broadened to include companies working under the umbrella of advanced manufacturing, with a focus on additive manufacturing and sustainable solutions for packaging.  In 2018, Stanley Black and Decker signed a pledge with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation committing to combat plastic pollution. 

The 2019 STANLEY+Techstars class is an inspiring collection of companies with founders focused on transforming industries, and creating sustainable solutions. 

The accelerator received applications from over 30 countries and accepted those from Spain, Germany, India, Texas, New York, Boston, and California. As STANLEY+Techstars Managing Director, Claudia Reuter described “ We’re thrilled to share that while in venture investing, statistics indicate that only approximately 3% of funding typically goes to female led companies, this year nearly half of our companies have a female founder. All of the 10 companies we selected are exceptional and have the potential to disrupt industries and change the world for the better.”

You can register here to join and learn more about the companies at the STANLEY+Techstars Demo Day on October 7, 2019 in Hartford, CT.  This is an event not to be missed.

The post Join the STANLEY+Techstars Demo Day on October 7 appeared first on 3DPrint.com | The Voice of 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing.

Join Techstars and Stanley Black & Decker for a Live AMA to learn more about their 3D Printing Accelerator

Techstars to host second live AMA event to answer questions about their 2019 investment focus on additive manufacturing and sustainable tech.

On April 3rd 2019, Techstars and Stanley Black & Decker will host a live AMA (Ask me Anything) to provide a platform for startups and industry experts to ask questions about their upcoming accelerator. This second AMA will allow startups to learn more about how the Stanley Ventures divisions considers investment.

Applications are currently open for the 2019 STANLEY+Techstars Accelerator. Scheduled to start in July 2019, the accepted companies receive up to $120,000.00 in funding, access to over $1M in additional resources, access to world-class mentors including executives, founders, investors and technical experts, and life-long membership in the Techstars network.

While Techstars posts their FAQs right on their website, they understand that founders will often want to ask questions directly to program leadership.  For their second AMA you will have an opportunity to have all of your questions answered by: 

  • Claudia Reuter, Managing Director, STANLEY+Techstars Accelerator
  • Martin Guay, Vice President Business Development, Stanley Black & Decker
  • Michael Mahan, Managing Director, Stanley Ventures

The stats on Techstars companies are pretty well-known. With over 1600 investments, and exits including Amazon’s recent$1B acquisition of Pillpack and the IPO of SendGrid and its subsequent $3B acquisition by Twilio, accepted companies will find themselves in good company. Looking more closely at the ten companies who recently completed the 2018 STANLEY + Techstars Program provides another view of the potential for accepted companies. Of the 10 companies, most are in the process of finalizing additional capital and expanding their businesses, and 4 of them have already received follow on investment directly from the STANLEY Ventures team. 

Industry giants like Stanley Black & Decker have recognized that startups with solutions in additive manufacturing or sustainable tech have the potential to transform the industry and the world.  The AMA is a chance for those looking to make an impact to learn more.

Stanley Black & Decker and Astroprint partner to create 3D printing network

Stanley Black & Decker, an American manufacturer of industrial tools and household hardware, has partnered with AstroPrint, a San Diego-based provider of cloud software, to control and optimize its fleet of 3D printers. As Stanley Black & Decker continues to invest and develop 3D printing ventures, particularly through the STANLEY+Techstars Accelerator, the company will utilize […]

Virtual Events Provide Unique Opportunities for Global Engagement

Techstars to host live AMA event to answer questions about their 2019 investment focus on additive manufacturing and sustainable tech.

On February 27, 2019, Techstars and Stanley Black & Decker will host a live AMA (Ask me Anything) to provide a platform for startups and industry experts to ask questions about their upcoming accelerator.

Applications are currently open for the 2019 STANLEY+Techstars Accelerator. Scheduled to start in July 2019, the accepted companies receive up to $120,000.00 in funding, access to over $1M in additional resources, access to world-class mentors including executives, founders, investors and technical experts, and life-long membership in the Techstars network.

While Techstars posts their FAQs right on their website, they understand that founders will often want to ask questions directly to program leadership.  “The AMA provides an opportunity for people from around the world to ask questions directly to me, and to leadership from Stanley Black and Decker including Marty Guay, Vice President of Business Development and Peter Bates, Vice President of Packaging” said Claudia Reuter, Managing Director of the STANLEY+Techstars Accelerator.

The stats on Techstars companies are pretty well-known. With over 1600 investments, and exits including Amazon’s recent$1B acquisition of Pillpack and the IPO of SendGrid and its subsequent $3B acquisition by Twilio, accepted companies will find themselves in good company. Looking more closely at the ten companies who recently completed the 2018 STANLEY + Techstars Program provides another view of the potential for accepted companies. Of the 10 companies, most are in the process of finalizing additional capital and expanding their businesses, and 4 of them have already received follow on investment directly from the STANLEY Ventures team. 

Industry giants like Stanley Black & Decker have recognized that startups with solutions in additive manufacturing or sustainable tech have the potential to transform the industry and the world.  The AMA is a chance for those looking to make an impact to learn more.

 

Credit: Techstars. / Techstars Logo for the STANLEY+ Techstars Accelerator

Techstars and Stanley Black & Decker remain laser-focused on finding game-changers in advanced manufacturing

Why industry leader, Stanley Black & Decker, & global investment firm, Techstars, are honing in on additive manufacturing and sustainable solutions in 2019:

In 2018, Techstars and Stanley Black & Decker announced the launch of a multi-year program focused on finding the most disruptive startups in the world working on advanced manufacturing solutions. In the first year of the program, they focused solely on companies working on solutions related to additive manufacturing. The ten companies selected are well on their way to changing fundamental aspects of the manufacturing and consumer industries. Each of the ten companies that were accepted received $120,000.00 in initial funding from Techstars and are now part of #techstarsforlife with continuous access to world-class mentors and hundreds of resources.  During the program founders gained access to many leaders from within Stanley Black & Decker including CEO, Jim Loree, and connected with mentors from the across the Techstars network including Ilan Levin, the former CEO Stratasys, Max Lobovsky, the CEO of Formlabs, and Bre Pettis, the founder of Makerbot. The full list of 2018 mentors is available here.

Since the first Demo Day on October 11th 2018, many of the companies have already secured additional funding to continue to expand their businesses, and four received additional follow-on investment directly from Stanley Ventures, the venture capital arm of Stanley Black & Decker. 

Max Lobovsk the,CEO of Formlabs meeting with founders during the 2018 Stanley+Techstars Accelerator

Applications for the second year of the program recently opened on January 7, 2019. In this second year of the program, Stanley Black & Decker will continue to double down on their efforts to find innovative companies working on additive manufacturing.

Additive manufacturing has the potential to disrupt supply chains and distribution centers over time, and could even lead to the decentralization of manufacturing. But they have also recognized the potential to leverage the accelerator to positively impact the environment and made the decision to expand their view to also consider companies working on innovative solutions around sustainability. While they are keen on finding companies that can help solve problems around sustainable packaging, they are taking a wide lens at what that might look like.

“We’re trying to find companies that are thinking differently about how to make an impact and drive the manufacturing industry forward. That might mean that we find disrupters working in hardware, material science, or software.” said Claudia Reuter, Managing Director of the STANLEY+Techstars Accelerator.

If you are interested in learning more about the STANLEY+Techstars Accelerator, you can register now to join a live AMA (Ask me Anything) webinar scheduled for February 27th.

If you’re ready to apply, you can start the process here.

Applications Being Accepted for the Second Annual STANLEY+Techstars Accelerator

The STANLEY+Techstars Accelerator Class of 2018

Last year, Stanely Black & Decker and Techstars launched their first Additive Manufacturing Accelerator in which 10 startups were chosen to receive funding and mentorship for the purpose of growing their businesses. The success of the program led to the two companies deciding to run the accelerator again, and now they have announced that applications are being accepted for the second year. In particular, companies focusing on additive manufacturing or sustainable packaging are being considered.

“We are working to identify the most promising companies developing solutions related to additive manufacturing or sustainable packaging that can help move the manufacturing sector forward,” said Claudia Reuter, Managing Director of the STANLEY+Techstars Accelerator. “We are confident that we will continue to attract world-class additive manufacturing companies and Stanley Black & Decker’s commitment to sustainability, as demonstrated by their recent pledge to make all of their plastic packaging reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025, will strengthen our search for companies working on sustainable packaging solutions.”

The decision to include sustainable packaging companies is new this year; in 2018 the accelerator focused only on additive manufacturing companies.

“Additive manufacturing is one of the most important areas of technological transformation today and has the potential to influence the future direction of the industries in which our businesses operate,” said Marty Guay, Vice President, Business Development at Stanley Black & Decker. “We developed this accelerator program with Techstars to help empower these start-ups to continue challenging the status quo and look forward to providing them with the guidance and support they need to thrive and bring their ideas and technologies to fruition. We’re also proud to do this in Hartford, CT, and are confident that programs like this will create a robust entrepreneurial community right here in our capital city.”

Stanley Black & Decker’s decision to make all of its plastic packaging reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025 was part of its commitment to  The New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, an initiative of The Ellen MacArthur Foundation and United Nations Environment Programme, which the company signed last year along with several other businesses and governments. 250 parties representing about 20 percent of all plastic packaging produced globally signed the agreement.

“We believe it is our responsibility as a company to help build a more sustainable world,” said Deb Geyer, Stanley Black & Decker’s Vice President of Environment, Health & Safety and Corporate Social Responsibility. “We believe that a world without plastic pollution is possible, and we are committing to taking action to ensure we are part of that solution.”

The STANLEY+Techstars Accelerator will focus on both eco-friendly packaging and additive manufacturing, and companies that apply may offer software, hardware or material solutions in either or both of those two areas. Specific areas of interest include 3D printing, rapid prototyping, generative design, tooling, direct digital manufacturing, layered manufacturing, additive fabrication, sustainable materials and improved consumer packaging solutions. The accelerator will take place at Stanley Black & Decker’s new Manufactory 4.0 Center in Hartford, Connecticut. Three of Stanley’s more than 100 manufacturing facilities have been designated “Lighthouse Factories” that have partially implemented Industry 4.0 technologies, including manufacturing execution systems (MES), 3D printing, robotics, artificial intelligence and virtual reality.

Applications for the STANLEY+Techstars Accelerator are being accepted until April 7th, and the program will begin on July 15th. You can find out more about the program and how to apply here.

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