Lear Corp., a global automotive technology leader with offices in Southfield, today announced a partnership with Techstars, a worldwide network that helps entrepreneurs grow. The announcement was made at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
Lear joins existing partners Ford, Honda, AAA, USAA, Nationwide, and PlanetM, as a corporate participant in Techstars Detroit, a local mentorship-driven accelerator program. Lear’s Innovation Center at 119 State Street in Detroit will become the network’s new location for its Detroit-based accelerator program. Techstars Detroit will move offices from Ford Field to the third floor of the building where it will continue to expand its focus from strictly mobility technologies to searching for startups that associate with manufacturing, IoT, and more.
“We are fully committed to accelerating the pace of innovation and collaboration around the autonomous, connected, electrified and shared mobility trends, and believe the expansion of focus for Techstars fits well with our strategy,” says John Absmeier, Lear’s chief technology officer and head of Lear Innovation Ventures (LIV) Possibilities. “We have had great traction with the start-up community and look forward to working with Techstars to grow the ecosystem here in Detroit.”
Techstars Detroit is actively taking applications from startups who identify as mobility innovators, as well as startups in manufacturing, IoT, and more.
“Lear is leaning into their commitment to innovation by participating in the Techstars Detroit accelerator program,” says David Brown, founder and co-CEO of Techstars. “Having Lear join us for our fifth year of Techstars Detroit will open many new doors for entrepreneurs and help them grow great businesses.”
