Starta VC

Close to NY ecosystem, a great location with access to businesses you need.
Reasonable valuation on pre-seed.
Friendly team.
Does not have clear focus like health tech/ edtech/ fintech ecc which can be both a pro and a con.
Very few domain experts. Don’t expect they find you one to fit your startup’s vertical.
Did not see much interesting LPs from tech onboard that you may find in the valley.

I'm pretty familiar with Starta, but just a heads up, I'm a bit biased. Alexey Girin, the founder, is a smart, active, and visionary guy, and I consider him a friend. He's genuinely helpful and really tries to make a difference. We didn't go through the accelerator ourselves but did receive an investment from the Starta fund. I think for a "Russian" startup that's not too savvy about the U.S. market and is still in the early stages, the support they offer can be truly valuable.

Mixed reviews. It's not the best setup out there, but getting in is totally doable. Yep, there's an investor with Russian roots, and you'll definitely improve your pitch. But you'll get around $20k out of $200k (the rest goes to the accelerator program itself), and you'll have to live and work there for two months on that money. You'll be giving up a significant share of your business. (The exact figures might have changed since then).

I haven't been in the accelerator myself, but I was around that scene during a cohort and talked with several teams every day. It was beneficial for many. Only a few achieved success.

I got the impression it's an awesome place to start if it's your first business in the U.S., especially if it's not a super project or a guaranteed unicorn with a high chance of making it into the top accelerators.

Engaged with Starta VC, an accelerator focused on Eastern European startups. They provide not just funding but also mentorship and market entry support. Their approach is hands-on, which helps in navigating early-stage challenges. Ideal for startups looking to enter the U.S. market.

We participated in the Starta accelerator a few years ago in New York. It's an excellent option for founders from Eastern Europe who are looking to expand and attract investments in the U.S. We gained a wealth of valuable insights on preparing pitches, public speaking, and sales. The program is entirely in English, although there are many Russian-speaking founders and experts, making it easier to integrate into the environment without missing out on crucial information.

The accelerator's extensive community also simplifies addressing everyday needs, from living arrangements to company formation and paperwork. Starta provides initial capital and helps understand the entire process of franchising and early-stage startup documentation.

The program is packed with training, lectures, meetings, and negotiations, so I recommend attending with at least one other founder or team member, or you might not be able to keep up with everything.

Our interaction with Starta didn't end after demo day; they continue to assist us in various matters. We even acquired clients and partners through the program, with whom we still collaborate today.