Shelby Stephens🇺🇸
Founder & CEO at Techstars
About Shelby Stephens
Founder & CEO at Techstars
Hi, I’m Shelby Stephens — founder, Techstars alum, and lifelong builder. I’ve spent the past 20 years launching startups, mentoring founders, and helping early-stage teams find clarity around who their customer really is and what problem they’re solving.
I love mentoring founders who are navigating those messy early stages — figuring out what to build, who to serve, and how to share their story in a way that earns trust.
Right now, I’m building Snacker, a platform that helps professionals and teams turn their real expertise into authentic, high-quality video content without all the bottlenecks. Before that, I founded and led several SaaS and marketplace companies, including GrowthMatch and Jolly (acquired in 2023).
If you’re a founder trying to get early traction, validate your customer, or turn your story into something people actually pay attention to, I can help you think through it systematically.
Expertise
What mentees say
“Working with my mentor was an exceptional experience that truly exceeded my expectations. His amazing communication and problem-solving skills helped me clarify my goals and prioritize my pursuits. The motivating environment they created allowed me to gain valuable insights into my journey. I highly recommend booking a session with him—it's a transformative experience that I had today”