Accelerators often bring in international startups as part of their slate of budding companies, but rarely do the programs cater entirely to these global entrepreneurs.
Yet, that’s exactly the mission of GlobeStart, which is run by Dallas-based Tech Wildcatters. The program, which is less than a year old, brings six to eight startups to Dallas and then takes them on a two-week entrepreneurial road trip from Texas to Silicon Valley and points in between.
“It helps them broaden their horizons,” says Michaela Lassig, program director for GlobeStart.
For Tech Wildcatters, the effort boosts its goals of creating a global startup community with ties to North Texas. “That’s sort of what we look for when we are picking our companies for Tech Wildcatters,” she added. “These are teams that can scale globally and make a wider impact.”
GlobeStart’s latest class came to Dallas on Aug. 29 for a week of meetings with venture capitalists and prospective mentors as well as some informal networking with local entrepreneurs.
The startups hail from Italy, Chile, and the United Kingdom, in businesses that range from a clearinghouse of online software testers-for-hire, an aggregator of people’s recommendations for fitness instructors, a mobile app for air travelers, and a portal for online grocery shopping and food culture.
Most of the startups have been through an accelerator in their home countries but are still at the early stages, having raised some money, usually an amount under $100,000, including some angel investments.
One company, 20lines, which is an Italian platform for writers to share stories and collaborate, has raised $250,000. Another startup, pick1, stretches the “international” moniker—its Chilean and Italian founders have headquarters in the U.S. but have kept three-fourths of the operation overseas.
The startup, a platform that helps clients with targeted marketing campaigns, has attracted more than $1 million in seed and venture funding.
On Thursday, the companies made their debut
