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June 22, 2016Saratoga-Based Windrush Selected for Highly Competitive Barclays Techstars NYC Accelerator
Thousands of startups from around the globe applied to take part in the highly competitive Manhattan-based Techstars FinTech accelerator, which is sponsored by international financial powerhouse Barclays. Out of that sea of applicants, only 10 startups made the final cut. Saratoga Springs, NY-based Windrush was one of those 10.
The company, co-founded by 2013 Skidmore College graduates Riley Alsman, Mark Morrison, and Max Walker, has raised significant initial funding and has a growing number of clients that have purchased its online, data-driven document builder and web publishing tool that allows users to easily and quickly transform data into attractive, interactive online reports and documents for both internal and external audiences without the expense of having to hire a designer. The tool links to the client’s data sources and automatically updates charts and text in the document when data is updated at the source, so information stays up-to-date without the need to manually revise and reissue the document every time new information is added.
Windrush’s current clients include marketing firms, economic development organizations and other nonprofits, colleges, a large, national wealth management firm, and others.
The tool could be especially valuable to financial services organizations. Explains Walker, “Financial firms have a lot of complex, changing data that they need to share with employees, clients, and other stakeholders. Windrush allows them to cut through the complexity and create a clear story that allows the audience to better understand the information so that they can make quick, accurate, data-driven decisions.”
Adds Jenny Fielding, Techstars’ managing director, “Windrush was chosen for our accelerator because they have a product that will radically transform financial reporting, content marketing, and the art of online storytelling. Their platform allows organizations to easily showcase their data in beautiful and compelling ways, a feat which would otherwise require an enormous amount of money to hire very rare talent. They solve a large and common problem for businesses.”
“Being selected for Techstars FinTech accelerator is an important next step for Windrush,” Walker says. “It will provide us not only with extremely valuable mentorship, a substantial investment, and access to world-class clients, it’s our opportunity to launch Windrush on the national and international stage. It’s also a big milestone for the capital region. Windrush is the first startup from the area to be tapped for any Techstars accelerator program, an
indication of the continuing growth and strength of the tech sector in the region.”
