Ted Serbinski (Page 1)

Corporates: It’s Time To Flip the Switch to Active Innovation Before You Lose

I grew up playing the computer game Oregon Trail. I am part of the micro-generation Xennials, also known as The Oregon Trail Generation, who had an analog childhood and digital young adulthood. The Oregon Trail game involved embarking on a journey westward to Oregon from the Midwest. To win involved

investments

Introducing the 10 Startups Joining the 2020 MetLife Digital Accelerator powered by Techstars

Today, I’m pleased to announce the 10 startups joining the 2020 MetLife Digital Accelerator powered by Techstars. This year’s startup class is building solutions for financial wellness and engagement, helping customers and families save money, tackle debt, stay healthy, care for seniors and children, and close the racial

Detroit

Ripe for Growth: Ann Arbor to Detroit (A2D) Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

Nine years ago, on June 3, 2011, from my desk in San Francisco, I sent a cold email to Dan Gilbert’s newly formed Detroit Venture Partners. I told them why they needed to hire me and why I wanted to move to Detroit. I knew long term I wanted

Detroit Auto Show

Startup Applications Open for the 2020 Detroit Auto Show

Calling all automotive mobility startups. Apply to be part of the 2020 Detroit Auto Show before spots run out.

Techstars

Expanding My Investment Thesis to Run the MetLife Digital Accelerator powered by Techstars

I'm staying in Detroit. I'm staying at Techstars. And now I'm running the Techstars powered MetLife Digital Accelerator. With this new program, comes my expanded investment thesis: technologies that make, move, and manifest in our daily lives. Continue reading for my expanded investment thesis and how I apply my mental

Detroit

I’m #LongDetroit Even As Techstars Detroit Winds Down

I’m sad to say the Techstars Detroit Accelerator has been wound down. If you’ve read the news, it’s been covered here (TechCrunch), here (Wired), here (Automotive News), and here (Crain’s Business). Mentors, investors, supporters, and friends have all emailed their condolences and best wishes. The magnitude

Techstars

Meet the Techstars Detroit Class of 2019

The Techstars Detroit Class of 2019 is the 5th Techstars class in Detroit, but the first class to run under the new name and expanded thesis. This class is 60% international and 40% female led. Check out the reasoning behind the name change and full class below. At the beginning

corporate innovation

Top 13 Strategies for Startups to Work with the Automotive Mobility Industry

Watch the video discussion and learn about the top 13 strategies for startups to work with the automotive mobility industry. Compiled by founders, investors, and mentors with extensive startup and automotive mobility experience. The #1 question I get asked by startups is “How can I work with the automotive mobility

Detroit

Transforming Techstars Mobility to Techstars Detroit

Today I’m excited to announce a massive transformation to the Techstars Mobility program—now called Techstars Detroit. Startup applications open today for our 2019 accelerator program. We're also moving offices, welcoming a new corporate partner, and bringing on a new Program Manager. Read on for details. Today I’m

Detroit Auto Show

Announcing the 2019 Mobility Startup Pitch Competition Finalists at AutoMobili-D

Announcing the 17 mobility startups selected for the 2019 AutoMobili-D PlanetM Startup Pitch Competition powered by Techstars. The pitch competition will be held on January 15, 2019, 1230p - 5p ET, on the PlanetM Stage in the AutoMobili-D exhibit area of the North American International Auto Show. Techstars Mobility and

Detroit Auto Show

Meet the 65 Mobility Startups Coming to the 2019 North American International Auto Show

Below is list of the 65 mobility startups coming from around the world to Detroit for the 2019 International Auto Show. 77% of these startups are first-time exhibitors showcasing their technologies to the automotive industry. Today I’m excited to introduce the 65 mobility startups coming from around the world

Detroit

Introducing the Techstars Mobility Class of 2018

Today I’m excited to introduce the 11 companies part of the Techstars Mobility Accelerator Class of 2018. Every company part of the 2018 Class has a diverse founding team. Businesses span a wide range of mobility solutions from autonomous single rotor drones to applying machine learning to pedestrian intent

articles

How I Processed a Backlog of 1,061 Emails to Reclaim My Inbox

This is an updated article I originally wrote for Entrepreneur.com. In this post, I detail my favorite hack for conquering a massive inbox: email segmenting. I used time-based filtering in Gmail to see segments of my inbox. Processing segments of emails is much easier than an entire inbox. It's

Detroit

Techstars Mobility Announcing New Office & Corporate Partners for 2018

Today, Techstars Mobility is announcing its new office in downtown Detroit along with 9 corporate partners supporting the upcoming 4th program. Techstars Mobility's new office will be on the 7th floor of WeWork Merchant's Row in downtown Detroit at the intersection of Woodward and Clifford streets.Three years ago, Techstars

articles

3 Rules I use to Stay Productive and Not Overwhelmed

Each week, I receive 1,000 emails, take 15-30 meetings, and I manage a portfolio of 33 startups (soon to be 44). But, I only work 40 hours and make it home for dinner almost every night with my wife and 3 kids. Here's how I do it. This is

portfolio

Accelerating Mobility Innovation Around the World

The access and ability for people and goods to move around the globe is unequally distributed. This a significant opportunity for not only investment but creating positive change in making the world a better place. Below are three Techstars Mobility startups making a global impact. On April 12, 2018, at

mobility

My Mobility Startup Investment Themes

This post summarizes how I think about investing in mobility startups from a thematic viewpoint spanning industries, technologies, and modes of transport (e.g., sea, air, and land). This summer, I will make my 44th investment in a mobility startup. I’m still in awe as I think about that

mentorship

The Power of Mentorship: 11 Takeaways from Studying Entrepreneurial Mentorship

I like to say "mentors are where the magic happens" as the secret sauce to Techstars. A new research report written by researchers from the University of Michigan and Enterprise Futures Network and funded in part by the Kauffman Foundation, provides concrete evidence to support this belief. Read on for

Detroit

Asking for Help, We Need More Women to Help Drive the Mobility Industry Forward

Today is International Women’s Day. A celebration of the amazing women in our lives that make the world a better place. Today is also the recognition of the struggles and biases women face that create pain and suffering. Today is a call to action to accelerate gender parity. I

Detroit

Bosch Acquires Techstars Mobility Graduate SPLT

Today, I’m delighted to announce that Bosch has acquired SPLT. Splitting Fares, (aka “SPLT”), went through the 2015 Techstars Mobility Accelerator program. Bosch, the world’s largest automotive supplier and corporate partner to Techstars Mobility, has created a new Connected Mobility Solutions division to house the SPLT team and

Detroit Auto Show

Mobility Innovation and Tech Startups Take Stage at the 2018 Detroit Auto Show

The 2018 North American International Auto Show is transforming. Classic automotive is making wave for future mobility: the fusion of software and services with manufactured vehicles. Nearly 200 brands, across industry incumbents, outside entrants, and emerging entrants demoed their technology. Read on for why this matters and the changes I

articles

Detroit's Ascent to Become the Mobility City

This is an expanded and updated version of an article I wrote for VentureBeat. Six years and 59 days ago, I moved from San Francisco to Detroit. My friends thought I was crazy moving from one of the best American cities to one of the worst. But I saw an

Detroit Auto Show

Techstars Mobility and 3 Portfolio Companies Make History at North American International Auto Show

Today, for the first time in the show’s 100+ year history, three early-stage technology startups are making press announcements at the North American International Auto Show. On January 15, 2018, three Techstars Mobility startups made history as the first early-stage startups to take the main press stage. Spatial announced

insights

Book Review: Steal the Show

Below is my book review of Steal the Show. This post is a continuation of an experiment to share insights from books I’m reading. I’m reading 2-3 books a month. By writing down what I’m learning, it’s helping me ingrain concepts to implement in my life.

Detroit Auto Show

Announcing the 19 Mobility Startup Pitch Competition Finalists at AutoMobili-D

Announcing the 19 mobility startups selected as finalists for the AutoMobili-D 2018 startup pitch competitions. These pitch competitions will be held on January 16, 2018 at the Detroit Auto Show. Today, I’m delighted to announce the 19 mobility startups selected as finalists for the three mobility startup pitch competitions