Emilie Vallauri is a 27-year-old program manager at Techstars with a passion for innovation. Born and raised in Nice, France, Emilie studied business and political sciences before embarking on a career punctuated by innovation and supporting startups. She spent two years working in innovation and digitisation consulting for the French public sector in Paris before moving on to help install Leonard, the innovation hub of a major French construction company, in the German-speaking region.

In 2022, Emilie joined Techstars in Berlin, where she currently serves as a program manager. In this role, she works closely with startups to help them grow and succeed, providing mentorship, resources, and support.

Outside of work, Emilie is an active board member of the French Tech Berlin, where she helps to foster connections between the French and German innovation ecosystems. With her experience in innovation and her dedication to building strong relationships between different communities, Emilie strives to become a valuable asset to the world of tech and entrepreneurship.

Tell us about the program manager behind the program?

I'm a 27-year-old from France who's passionate about community building, supporting talented entrepreneurs to reach their potential, and helping businesses grow and progress. In addition to this, I'm an enthusiastic salsa dancer and enjoy continuously learning new things. One of my greatest strengths is my ability to take ownership of projects, a quality that is also highly valued at Techstars. I thrive on tackling new challenges and programs, nurturing them as if they were my own "babies," and helping them to flourish and succeed. I approach all my endeavors with a 100% commitment and strive to give my best effort in all that I do.

How do you prepare for all the unknown obstacles when running your program?

The key for me is to always think about the worst possible scenario. “What could go wrong?”, answering this question helps me prepare for almost any obstacle that may occur in the course of a program.

I’m also quite a meticulous person, and detail-orientation is critical to running a successful program. Like any complex project, there are a lot of moving pieces, and I usually create documents to help me follow the progress and stay on top of things.

And when things go astray (because they do!), then the key is keeping a calm mind and going into solution-mode as fast as possible: what can I do NOW to fix the current situation?

What are your thoughts on failure?

Failure is part of being a professional – and a human! The key is to always keep a solutions-oriented mindset: what can I do to make it better? What can I do from now on to avoid being put in this situation again in the future?

At the risk of sounding like I’m reinventing the wheel, I’d say failure is also one of the best ways to learn. I can remember every single time that I failed at something, and it made not only a better professional out of me, but also a better human in general. The crucial thing is accepting that failure, reflecting upon it, learning from it, and moving forward.

Any moments where you thought you’ve bitten off more than you can chew?

Absolutely!

Not long ago, I found myself juggling several projects at a time with various stakeholders – this felt overwhelming to say the least. What works for me is just taking a step back, writing down a list of all the tasks that need to be done, and organising them according to priority, and to the time it takes to finish those tasks. In order to clear my plate, I tend to finish as many small tasks as possible, thus clearing my to-do list as much as I can, and leaving mental space to think about the bigger and more complex tasks ahead.

At Techstars, winning as a team is a core value. Having a strong support system is essential when faced with obstacles, and I'm fortunate to be part of a dedicated team that rallies together to achieve success. The ability to collaborate and rely on others is key to achieving ambitious goals.

What keeps you motivated when you hit bumps in the road?

What keeps me motivated is the big picture. I try to keep in mind that the roadblocks that I face are no more than temporary setbacks – what counts is the overall success of the program. 

Feedback from the startups I’m working with is also a fuel to get over bumps in the road. When you hear “Thank you, you helped me a lot” or “This is life-changing for us as a team”, it always puts those little failures into perspective.

How do you set yourself apart from other startup programs?

Techstars has a rich history of investing in over 3,200 companies and boasts one of the largest networks of mentors and entrepreneurs globally. Our mission is to always put the founder first, providing unwavering support throughout their entrepreneurial journey.

As a member of the Techstars team, I am program manager for the Founder Catalyst Program, which focuses on providing support to early-stage companies that are not quite ready for investment from Techstars. This program partners with external organisations to provide resources and mentorship to companies that need a boost to reach investment readiness. The companies receive exclusive benefits from Techstars, including access to our global network of mentors, entrepreneurs, and partners, and a unique access to the partner organisations.

Describe your program in three words.

Support, access, and growth.

Support from the Techstars network.

Access to the partner organisation, the mentor network, and our content.

Growth is what companies achieve during the program - hitting many of their objectives in as little time as 10 weeks.

Tell us about your journey into this market.

Innovation has been the central theme of my career, beginning with my work with startups shortly after completing a double degree in business and political sciences. I started as an intern at the French trade agency in London, helping tech companies export their products to the UK market. Subsequently, I worked for several years as an innovation and digitisation consultant for public sector clients before transitioning to corporate innovation. In this role, I established an innovation hub for a major French construction company in the German-speaking region. Later, I was given the opportunity to join Techstars, the world's largest global network of entrepreneurs, and help establish their pre-accelerator program in the EMEA region, working closely with founders and startups.

What I find most compelling about my career path is the diverse perspectives I have gained by experiencing innovation and entrepreneurship through the lens of public entities, consulting, corporate innovation, and now as a part of the biggest founder first organisation in the world: Techstars.

Why do you think your program has had such a positive impact?

Equity-free programs that offer access to a global network of entrepreneurs and partner organisations are rare. In my recent experience with a program in partnership with Audi AG, a leading car manufacturer, our startups were granted premium access to Audi, allowing them to gain insider industry knowledge, potentially secure Audi as a client, and receive other valuable benefits. Such programs offer exceptional opportunities for startups to grow and thrive with the support of established industry leaders.

What are your thoughts on ‘no sleep’ culture as an entrepreneur?

I believe that the 'no sleep' culture can be detrimental to an entrepreneur's health and well-being. While some people may be able to function on minimal sleep, most individuals require adequate rest to function at their best. I would advise any entrepreneur, but also any professional to make time for self-care activities like exercise, socialising, and cultivating a support network. Prioritising these practices can help prevent burnout and lead to greater productivity and success in the long run – even though they may seem like a waste of time in the moment.

However, to be frank, every job has its rush moments: it happens to have to work more to reach a deadline or finish a crucial task – even if you are not an entrepreneur. In these cases, it can be necessary to temporarily set aside your self-care activities and focus on the job to be done. But the key word is “temporarily” – this is not a sustainable way to work and these kinds of periods should not last long.

What’s your best advice for early-stage tech founders getting ready to launch their MVP?

Get your MVP out there, between the hands of your identified target audience, and start collecting feedback as fast as you can. This is the only way you’ll be able to build a product that makes sense and appeals to your customers. Don’t be afraid to launch a simple product quickly based on those customer insights. And have a dedicated way to collect and analyse this feedback – it’s the key to a rapid iteration and fast product development.