MassChallenge Boston is the flagship program in MassChallenge’s global network with more than a decade of experience accelerating high-growth startups and harnessing the value of the startup ecosystem to support leading corporate and government innovators.

Our premier early-stage accelerator leverages a unique industry agnostic model to select and support entrepreneurs on the bleeding edge of technology and business across all industries. We have a decade of experience unlocking the power of entrepreneurship and innovation to drive business, industry and economic growth.

SINCE 2010 MASSCHALLENGE CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE

MassChallenge Boston will run three tracks in 2020 to strengthen innovation across the Safety & Security, Enterprise Technology and BlueTech. 

Safety and Security

Select startups will receive specialized support and resources as part of the program’s Safety and Security track. The Safety and Security track accelerates, connects and educates startups with direct or potential relevance to national defense and public safety applications accelerate their commercial and defense pathways to scale. S&S track, now in its second year, provides partners a demonstrated platform to access the next generation of defense-relevant technologies and strengthen the defense innovation ecosystem. S&S is sponsored by BAE Systems, Mitre, Draper, Mitsubisi America, the U.S Airforce, and Raytheon. 

Enterprise Technology

The Enterprise Technology Fellowship will support a select group of early stage companies building towards the next generation of enterprise technology and service platforms related to security, data management and artificial intelligence.  Fellows will receive specialized support from sponsors and a select network of experts addressing critical startup-barriers to success. Enterprise Technology is sponsored by KPMG. 

Blue Tech

There is an incredible opportunity to develop and deploy new tools and technologies that could transform how we understand and leverage the power of the ocean. The Blue Tech track brings together maritime leaders with startups that have the tools, technologies, and services needed to deepen our use of the ocean including aquaculture, ballast water, defense and security, fishing, logistics and supply chain, marine pharmaceuticals, marine transportation, offshore energy systems, offshore tourism, pollution and water treatment, port automation, ships and submarines, ship finance, and short sea shipping. 

The US Air Force Lab

MassChallenge Boston runs The US Air Force Lab on behalf of the U.S Airforce. Labs is an initiative to support the goal of innovation at speed for the defense industry. This select program is funded by Air Force Research Labs, PEO Digital, PEO C3I&N, CROWS, and the Griffiss Institute  to de-risk and grow cutting edge technologies and startups awarded that are addressing national security challenges. Click here to learn more.

For Partner Benefits, you can find more information here.

FAQs

What does MassChallenge look for in a startup?

MassChallenge judges look for high-impact startups, with a viable path to success and some traction/progress in their plans.

Do you fund companies that are competitive with each other?

MassChallenge Boston is an industry agnostic accelerator that supports early-stage startups across industries. We rely on our community of expert judges to select the highest-potential solutions – regardless of whether startups are in direct or indirect competition with each other. 

Do I have to be in the MassChallenge location for the entire 4-month period?

MassChallenge Boston does not require startups to work full time out of its Boston office, however it is highly recommended given the rigorous programming, active mentorship, and serendipitous encounters that happen often in the space. 

How do you choose which companies to accept into the program?

Acceptance is determined by our diverse community of expert judges who have been recruited and trained to identify the highest-impact startups across industries.  

Where will we live while we’re there?

Many of our startups live in Greater Boston or neighboring cities like Cambridge and Somerville. Once accepted, startups will have access to a list of resources to support their housing search. 

Do I need to send in a business plan?

While a formal business plan is not required to apply, many elements will be incorporated into the application, including the problem, solution, and impact of your venture. Should a startup advance into further judging rounds, a slide deck will be required for the 20-minute in-person pitch. 

What is your policy on intellectual property protection?

Protection of intellectual property rights (ex. patents, trademarks, copyright, trade secrets, etc.) of your concept is your responsibility and your responsibility alone. If you have an idea or product that you might want to patent, we strongly recommend speaking to a lawyer before submitting information about this idea to MassChallenge.

Information you include in your application will be shared with the set of expert judges that review your application. Please note that these judges do NOT sign Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs). Therefore, you should not include any information in your application that you feel could be harmful to your company should that information be disclosed.

Note that applying to MassChallenge is very similar to presenting your idea to potential investors. Very few investors (Venture Capitalists or "angel investors") will agree to sign an NDA before even hearing your initial pitch. It is up to you to determine the right balance between sharing enough information to get people interested and to give you credibility - and sharing information that could potentially be damaging to your company if it were to be disclosed.