> but some of the things offered by TechStars are game changers
You're really going to need to elaborate on this. Some of those perks (maybe even all of them) are not things TechStars paid for.. they're things that other companies chose to give away to startups in an accelerator (of which TechStars is one).
I really don't understand why I should give TechStars kudos because they slapped Amazon's logo on a page and a short blurb about a program that Amazon has for startups.
This is a serious question: if Amazon (and Microsoft, SoftLayer, Paypal, and others) setup a program for startups, give the services to startups, and pay for those services from their own pockets... What did TechStars do to earn a share of the credit for those programs?
> Some of those perks (maybe even all of them) are not things TechStars paid for.. they're things that other companies chose to give away to startups in an accelerator (of which TechStars is one).
Of course they aren't. Many are conditional against being enrolled in an accelerator. However, like I said in a previous post, the linked article relates to turning down TechStars. Full stop. Not turning down TechStars for some other accelerator that offers many of the same perks.
> This is a serious question: if Amazon (and Microsoft, SoftLayer, Paypal, and others) setup a program for startups, give the services to startups, and pay for those services from their own pockets... What did TechStars do to earn a share of the credit for those programs?
They were a participating accelerator in that program, that's all (to my limited knowledge).
In relation to these perks being "game changers" it isn't about TechStars having better perks than Accelerator X, it's about TechStars allowing me access to benefits I didn't have before joining an accelerator that ended up being enormously helpful to my startup.
The "game changer" in my company's case was the peace of mind that comes from knowing that for a full year we can shave at least $5k/mo (once again quoting the BizSpark credit here for convenience) off of our operating expenses. That's a technology hire for us in the city where we are based. So, for us, it means a lot.
I apologize because I obviously colored my original statement through the lens of my company's own experience.
This statement:
> but some of the things offered by TechStars are game changers
should have been qualified by stating that it was coming from personal perspective. So, in the short term, these perks meant a lot to the technological freedom of my company based on our technology needs and the other places we could put those savings to work based on our business needs at the time. For my business, the perks made a difference and were a big help early on, they may not do anything for your business or others.
You're really going to need to elaborate on this. Some of those perks (maybe even all of them) are not things TechStars paid for.. they're things that other companies chose to give away to startups in an accelerator (of which TechStars is one).
I really don't understand why I should give TechStars kudos because they slapped Amazon's logo on a page and a short blurb about a program that Amazon has for startups.
This is a serious question: if Amazon (and Microsoft, SoftLayer, Paypal, and others) setup a program for startups, give the services to startups, and pay for those services from their own pockets... What did TechStars do to earn a share of the credit for those programs?