JWT Sponsors ‘Startup Accelerator’ TechStars

WPP Group creative shop JWT is looking to forge a closer relationship with new tech companies and is sponsoring the TechStars’ New York summer program next month. TechStars currently runs accelerator programs in Boulder, Colo., Seattle, Boston; it began working on a New York outpost earlier this year.

The inaugural New York program includes startups such as Immersive Labs, which builds ad technology for digital signs that enables marketers to deliver tailored messages to customers in real time; browser-based tablet publishing platform OnSwipe; and social media marketer/customer relationship manager CrowdTwist.

Although JWT’s parent funds a number of startups through its WPP Digital investment arm, JWT is more interested in collaborating than investing. A number of other agencies, such as IPG’s Mediabrands Ventures, has also encouraged in-house development of ideas related to the intersection of tech and marketing.