When VisionSync joined the inaugural TechStars Community Founder cohort in Omaha, we knew we were signing up to be guinea pigs. That's exactly what drew us in.
As entrepreneurs, trying new things and taking calculated risks is in our DNA. The program delivered exactly what we needed at this stage—unfiltered feedback, world-class expertise, and validation that our strategic bets are paying off.
Access to World-Class Expertise
The most immediate impact was exposure to mentors who've actually done it. Serial entrepreneurs with big exits. Founders of unicorns. Operators who've scaled companies we all recognize. These aren't people you typically get access to in the Midwest, and having them invested in Omaha's success brought fresh energy to our startup community.
GTM Strategy That Actually Works
The program's focus on go-to-market strategy confirmed we're on the right track. Our emphasis on content creation, understanding buyer journeys, developing clear personas, and narrowing our target organization profiles—all validated by people who've built successful SaaS companies. Sometimes you need external confirmation that your instincts are sound.
Understanding Unit Economics Changed Everything
The finance components were eye-opening. Learning what investors care about in today's environment and truly understanding our unit economics for the first time gave us a framework we'd been missing. It also validated something powerful: what we believed about the tech transfer opportunity three years ago is now playing out with real clients on our platform. The numbers back up the vision.
Pitch Refinement Without the Sugar Coating
Getting real, practical feedback on our pitch—the language, delivery, and emotional components—was invaluable. No sugar coating, just actionable advice we're already implementing. That level of directness is what founders need to improve.
“TechStars didn’t sugarcoat anything—and that’s exactly what made it valuable. The feedback was direct, practical, and immediately actionable. As a founder, that kind of clarity is what helps you level up.”
— Mitch Treu, GTM & Growth Advisor, VisionSync
Why Being First Matters
Yes, we were the first cohort. Yes, there will be improvements as the program evolves based on founder feedback. That's exactly how it should work. Organic growth driven by real experiences is what will make this program stronger and bring sustained national attention to Omaha's startup ecosystem.
None of this would be possible without the community-driven research and commitment from key partners that brought TechStars to Omaha. Thanks to Open Range and Laurel Oetken's execution, that vision became reality and is creating opportunities that didn't exist here before.
I'm glad we participated, and I'm committed to supporting the community founders who follow. Programs like this increase openness to funding early and growth-stage startups, and that rising tide lifts all boats.
If you're a founder considering TechStars Community Founder Catalyst, my advice is simple: do it. The value is real, the feedback is honest, and Omaha's startup community is stronger because of it.
Want to meet the founders in person?
Join us at Millwork Commons in Omaha on January 21st for the TechStars Founder Catalyst Showcase event hosted by OpenRange.
RSVP free here: https://luma.com/f9yq7lpr?hss_channel=lcp-107980092
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