Starta Capital Vc Fund Launches Accelerator In Nyc

NEW YORK - Jan. 15, 2016 - PRLog -- Starta Accelerator is an initiative of the Moscow-based VC fund Starta Capital and is designed to bring together, inspire and accelerate growth of select East European startups. This is the first program that aims to enable East European startups to gain traction in United States and achieve seed and Round A funding. The main requirements for the applicants are MVP, traction in Europe and CIS countries and global adaptable business model.

Set to launch its first cohort in late January 2016, the program will work with six startups. During the three-and-a-half-month program, participants will receive technical, administrative, relocation support, mentoring, access to speaker events, workshops and training sessions. Similar to other acceleration programs in U.S., the program will be officially completed with a Demo Day, where potential investors will evaluate companies.

In preparation for the launch, Starta Capital’s team worked to create a customized program to help the founders adapt to cultural and business practices of U.S. market. Partnering with Knotel and Kite Ventures, Accelerator provides office space on Union Square in New York, NY.

Starta Accelerator was created to solve a set of problems that international companies face while trying to penetrate the American market. Accelerator’s main objectives are to:

-       expand access to American capital for high-growth high-tech European startups;

-       create entrepreneurial education and mentorship programs that reach U.S.-oriented European companies;

-       identify and remove unnecessary barriers to high-growth European startups in the United States;

-       increase collaborations between U.S.-based and Europe-based companies.

Ekaterina Dorozhkina, Managing Partner at Starta Capital VC fund and Head of Accelerator in New York, explained the inspiration behind Starta Accelerator: “Technology has no borders. Thus European startups should have the same access to opportunities as U.S.-based startups.”

Alexey Girin, the founder of Starta Capital VC fund also explained the unique challenges facing the startups Accelerator will support: “Many East European technology-enabled businesses—especially those in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus—are in a reactive position when international opportunities arise, and many are unaware of where to go for assistance and best practices. Starta’s Acceleration Program aims to help the next generation of East European startups by introducing them to trusted advisers, mentors and best practices in the American startup ecosystem.”

Starta Accelerator is a long-term project, which aims to host two cohorts per year. The companies in the first cohort will be announced in the end of January. The application period for the second cohort opens March 1, 2016.

About Starta Capital

Starta Capital was established as an investment company in 2011 in Moscow. In 2013, Starta Capital VC $3M Fund was formed. In late 2014, Starta Capital went global and focused on growing its presence in the U.S. market. In 2015 acceleration program in NYC was created.

Starta Capital is one of the leading VC funds in Russia. It has received prestigious awards granted by Russian Venture Capital Association, National Venture Industry Award and National Association of Business Angels award.

Starta Capital is one of the main business partners with Skolkovo, Moscow Seed Fund, Moscow Government Innovation Agency, National Business-Angel Association, Kite Ventures and others. Portfolio companies include Healbe, Navigine, Centrobit and other high tech startups that brought attention of international investors. For more information about their portfolio companies, please visit http://startacapital.com/portfolio.