Erika Block

Techstars helps founders scale their startups into world-changing businesses. Founded in 2006, Techstars is on a mission to invest in startups to enable more capital to flow to more entrepreneurs around the world in order to deliver exceptional returns to our investors. We do this by operating accelerator programs and venture capital funds, as well as by connecting startups, investors, corporations, and cities to help build thriving startup communities. Our results show why Techstars is Better for Founders than any other global accelerator: On average, 74.5% of Techstars companies will raise money within 3 years of their program; 18.5% of Techstars portfolio companies have exited 5 years after their program and 31.1% after eight years. (PitchBook June 2023)

We believe that innovation can change the world for good, and we’re providing the tools that empower innovators & entrepreneurs to bring their ideas to life.

Michigan Founders Fund is an inclusive network of high-growth founders committed to supporting each other and funding solutions for communities across the state where we live and operate. Our Mission: To grow the presence of successful high-growth ventures and advance civic leadership in Michigan’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. We accomplish this by: 1. Creating a strong, inclusive, and active founder-to-founder support network to help leaders succeed in their ventures 2. Driving a for-purpose, founders-for-founders and founders-for-community culture 3. Providing founders with a simple mechanism for philanthropic giving and opportunities to become community leaders in parallel to being business leaders.

Sticky Lab works with startups, growth stage companies, and community organizations at the intersection of strategy, business design and development, and leadership development. We work with tech companies and tech-enabled businesses, marketplaces, platforms, food supply chains, sustainability, climate tech, local economies, new media, and community development organizations. Please follow Erika Block for updates: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blockwork/ - We help people focus and prioritize, build and lead effective teams, connect with resources, develop partnerships, and tell better stories. - We help organizations evolve to meet the changing environment, from product and market development and iteration, to designing and improving operational processes that enable scale and sustainability. - We invest in early-stage startups led by diverse founding teams, who are working to address climate change, improve health, and expand economic opportunity. Some recent feedback: "Erika has an uncanny ability to quickly grasp the wide landscape of challenges and opportunities available to our small organization and to identify and implement appropriate structures and methods to strategically develop and evaluate ideas and courses of action. Shes nimble and flexible, able to respond to changing conditions as they arise, pivoting and identifying new paths as needed. Shes is a trusted voice of reason and a valuable strategic thinking partner." "Were calling you Erika Un-Blocker. Our discussions helped me get unstuck. Im getting critical stuff done and Im more confident addressing internal issues directly when they come up." "Erika acts as a critical sounding board for important decisions. She has knowledge and connections that produce out of the box ideas I would never generate on my own, and she brings enormous energy and enthusiasm for my business that help me keep things moving forward."