Nearly every tech-focused venture capital firm in the Seattle area is tossing financial support behind TechStars, a "startup boot camp" of sorts which plans to accept its first 10 enrollees this fall. TechStars -- already established in Boston and Boulder -- has raised $450,000 in Seattle from more than 15 venture capital firms and angel investors.

About half of those funds will be used for operations of the Seattle branch, while the other half will go to direct investments in the companies accepted into the program, said Andy Sack, a Seattle angel investor who is helping to organize TechStars Seattle. Sack, who also runs the angel firm Founder's Co-op, said Seattle is unique in the way the entire investment community has rallied to support the idea.

"I think it is a big deal for Seattle," said Sack. "I think the reason we got the list of investors is that people saw the need to bring the community together and that there was the ability to recruit great entrepreneurial talent to the Northwest."

TechStars just opened up the application process in Seattle last week, and already Sack said about 10 to 15 submissions are coming in daily. The deadline to apply is June 1, with about 300 applications anticipated for the 3-month long program.

In addition to Seattle startups, Sack said he's hopeful that entrepreneurs from Oregon, Idaho, California and Utah will apply. Those who are accepted receive a $6,000 stipend per co-founder (up to three co-founders), with companies turning over six percent of their equity to TechStars.

Investors in the latest financing round for TechStars Seattle are:

Bezos Expeditions, Divergent Venture Partners, Draper Associates, Explore Holdings, Founders Co-op, Foundry Group, Ignition Partners, Linden Rhoads, Madrona Venture Group, Maveron, Montlake Capital, OVP Venture Partners, Rolling Bay Ventures (Geoff Entress), Second Avenue Partners, TechStars Central, Trilogy Equity Partners, Voyager Capital, Vulcan and WRF Capital.

Those firms have committed between $10,000 and $250,000 to TechStars Seattle, with the firms also offering another $400,000 or so for the second year of the program. Madrona's Greg Gottesman also is assisting with the organization of TechStars Seattle, which closed the initial round of capital last week.

Sack and venture capitalist Brad Feld plan to host an informational meeting April 6 at Louisa's Cafe at 8:30 a.m. The cafe is located 2379 Eastlake Avenue in Seattle.