First posted on LinkedIn on 23 July 2025, as Pete stepped back from Techstars to start what became Norio Ventures.
The Techstars Web3 accelerator is evolving. But the community we built is stronger than ever, and it’s just the beginning.
After four incredible years leading Techstars Web3, I’m excited to share what’s next.
We’ve backed nearly 40 web3 startups through four classes, built an exceptional global mentor and investor community, and helped shape the future of the onchain economy. Rather than continue with a standalone web3 accelerator, Techstars is now integrating everything we’ve built, our web3 knowledge, network, and support, into every Techstars program.
That means:
Web3 founders in any Techstars accelerator now have access to the same specialized support we’ve developed.
It’s a broader opportunity, where mentors and investors can connect with more founders, across more verticals, with greater impact.
Our web3 community continues, just more distributed, integrated, and accessible than ever.
Techstars remains deeply committed to the web3 space and the founders building in it. Over the past few years, but even more so in 2025, we’ve been strengthening connections across Techstars’ entire portfolio, from early pioneers such as Chainalysis, Arweave, DFNS, and NATIX Network, to the many web3 founders who’ve come through Techstars programs since 2015. Techstars also launched a new pre-accelerator program, Techstars + Cardano Founder Catalyst, specifically designed to support web3 developers becoming founders at the earliest stages.
What’s next for me
As of this summer, I’ve officially stepped away from my role at Techstars to begin a new chapter.
While Techstars is evolving how it supports web3 founders, I’ve transitioned from Managing Director to MD Emeritus and remain closely connected to the global network, and especially to the founders I had the privilege of backing through Techstars Web3.
I’ll also continue to mentor web3 founders invested in by Techstars globally. By staying active in the Techstars Web3 community that we’ve built over the last four years, I’ll connect the dots between web3 founders in any Techstars program and our network of web3 mentors, partners, and investors.
As for what’s next, I’m taking everything I’ve learned about backing unstoppable founders and channeling that into the next evolution of early-stage investing in onchain finance, broader crypto and blockchain, and AI.
In short, I’ve never had more conviction that the world is moving onchain, and I’m pursuing it relentlessly. I’ll be back with an update on my next phase on September 1st.
Thank you
To the founders
To every founder who trusted us with your earliest and boldest ideas, thank you. You let us be part of your journey at a time when everything was still being figured out. Your grit, ambition, and commitment shaped this community more than anything else. You’re the reason we do this.
To the mentors
To every mentor who showed up, not just with insight, but with your time, experience, and belief in the founders: thank you. You made this more than a program. You made it a community, and we could not have executed the Techstars Web3 vision without you.
To the investors
To the investors who supported the founders, especially those who leaned in as mentors, gave time, or opened doors, thank you. Your early belief helped unlock momentum at the moments it mattered most.
To my colleagues
To the people I had the privilege of building this program with:
Hugh McGirr, the best hire I’ve made in my career and the ultimate partner in investing in founders.
Laura Walsh, for helping to get this whole thing started and for your years of belief, drive and support as our EiR and one of our Techstars All-Star Mentors.
Also, a big thank you goes out to David Cohen for supporting our web3 vision, and a special thanks to the three former Techstars MDs whose insights made it a no-brainer for me to jump into Techstars to begin with in 2021: Kartik Varma, Chris Adelsbach and Connor Murphy.
And to the amazing colleagues I worked with most closely and who helped me along the way: Charlotte Bruce, Allard Luchsinger, Guy Israeli, Martin Schilling, Brian Daly, Raphaele Leyendecker Fabbri, Georgie Smithwick, Audun Abelsnes, Audra Gibson, Piotr Godzinski, Jason Seats, Andrew Cleland, Andres Barreto, Ryan Kuder, Jordan Fliegel, Matt Kozlov, Kerty Levy, Lauren Goglick, Sunil Sharma, Nataly Schammel, Isaac Kato, Tré Baker, Martin Olczyk, Tricia Martínez-Saab, Matthew Guidarelli and Andrew Christian Davis.
Thank you for the support, the belief, the collaboration, and for showing me the true power of the Techstars network.
This isn’t an ending. It’s a new phase, still connected, still founder-first, and still obsessed with what’s next.
