Heading into 2023, Kerty Levy already had one new title she was leaning into: managing director of Techstars Crypto Boston, which kicked off its first cohort in January. Now, Levy is taking on the role of managing director of Techstars Boston as well.
Levy replaces Greg Raiz, who stepped down as managing director at the end of October after 16 months in the position. Raiz announced in November that he would be launching his own venture fund, Raiz Capital, to dramatically increase the number of early-stage startups that he supports.
Levy is not new to Techstars. She was most recently managing director of Techstars Iowa.
In August, at the Techstars Boston Demo Day, the organization announced the launch of a crypto accelerator in collaboration with Boston-based blockchain company Algorand. Levy will continue to spearhead this program, in addition to Techstars Boston.
See related: Levy spoke to the Boston Business Journal about the benefits of the new program, the best Boston resources for web3 and crypto, and learning to speak Mandarin.
Levy said she has been in and out of Boston for years prior to joining the local Techstars team. She received her MBA from Harvard Business School after attending the University of California, Davis. She said she has been involved in the startup ecosystem through the HBS network and through her own friends, business acquaintances and business deals.
Levy said her husband lives in Iowa and she is “spending a lot more time in Boston,” but did not say whether she plans to permanently move to the city.
“Even when I was based in Iowa, I was traveling a ton all over the globe,” Levy said. “So, this is just normal living.”
Prior to Techstars, Levy said she founded a consulting business and a small product company and was employee number five at an edtech company.
Levy said that like all Techstars managing directors, she forms connections with founders during the selection and screening process that turns into a lifelong bond. Just before speaking with BostInno, she was on a call with two founders from a previous Techstars Iowa program.
“I love helping entrepreneurs succeed. That’s my mission. I love working with founders. I love finding them. I love investing in them. I love supporting them by opening up my networking, by coaching them, by supporting them to get follow-on funding,” Levy said.
Techstars Boston plans to open applications for its next cohort in March, Levy said.
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