Are you interested in supporting the next wave of innovative startups? Do you have the passion and focus to fuel growth at a fast growing company? Is no task beneath you? If you answered yes to all three, then the Techstars associate role might be a great fit for your next gig.

I joined the inaugural Techstars Chicago class and worked for great leaders (Troy Henikoff, Steve Farsht and Sam Yagan), alongside a few rock star associates (Ian Connell and Colin Boardway). Bottom line: it was one of most exciting three months of my career. Compared to my past life as a consultant, my role at Techstars was a breath of fresh air. If you’re still not convinced, I’ve summed up my top five reasons to become a Techstars associate below:

5) Interact with top-notch mentors

The Techstars network is massive. Period. Over 180 mentors donated their time to help the Chicago program. Two specific examples stick out in my mind. First is Brad Feld’s CEO chats. Brad spent an hour every week talking with the CEOs about strategic issues and key concerns. Even though everyone (including myself) already read his book, his advice was insightful and addressed nuances for specific businesses. Second is my first meeting with Ron Conway. One company sent a relevant and specific request to Ron and in a matter of weeks, the company and I were walking through specific strategies with him. His perspective helped frame my thinking and fine tuned our focus for the next 30 days. Not many people get the opportunity to meet with Brad and Ron in the same week.

4) Work with amazing companies

We selected a class of 10 companies who were hungry, humble and smart. They came from all over the world from as far as Russia and as close as two blocks away. As an associate, I worked with a few companies in great detail, wearing multiple hats during the program. One day, I’m working the front lines of sales trying to invigorate the pipeline. The next, I’m building a long-tail SEM strategy. The following, I’m fine tuning drip campaigns in SendGrid. “Typical” days didn't really exist and I wouldn't have it any other way.

3) Learn from the Pros

Building companies in theory is always easier. It always seems to take more time and money. As part of the program, we brought in experts to advise on specific topics such as: sales, branding, conversion funnels, fundraising, etc. These sessions are meant for founders but associates can (and should) soak this up. Reading about these topics and putting them to work are two very different things. If you plan to start a company soon, the associate role can help you become a better founder.

2) Supercharge your network

From Day 1, I was immersed in the Chicago startup ecosystem, shaking hands with exceptional builders and investors. It’s a surreal feeling when the tech leaders you follow on twitter are all in the same room. I mean, do I introduce myself by saying “I follow you on twitter” or is that weird? Needless to say, it’s an amazing opportunity to meet great people and build relationships over time. These relationships have already helped my career and I expect it will come in handy again soon.

1) Work for an amazing team

My #1 reason to become a Techstars associate boils down to a quote from a wise coach: “The TEAM, the TEAM, the TEAM”. It was an incredible experience working for Sam, Troy and Steve. From filtering through over 900 applications to last minute prep for Demo Day, I enjoyed the whole experience and learned a ton. They were not only incredibly supportive to our companies but also to the associates. In fact, they helped me land my latest gig at Hyde Park Venture Partners. I had a blast and am incredibly grateful. If nothing else, you should become an associate because you will instantly become part of the Techstars family, who support one another and only want to see you succeed.

To be fully transparent, this role isn't for everyone and at times it is not glamorous. But, if these points resonated with you, you should apply here.

There are plenty of other things about the experience that I didn’t cover. For those interested, follow me @RyFukushima and send me a DM. If any other associates or hackstars are reading, I’d love to hear your thoughts.