Deadline: 20-Apr-22
The MassChallenge has launched the U.S. Early Stage program to support entrepreneurs and their businesses through the early stages of development.
U.S. Early Stage program attracts top founders from around the world and provides access to the tools, resources, and talent founders and corporate innovators needed to make transformational impact, without taking any equity. They have more than a decade of experience accelerating startups, industry, and innovation ecosystems. They work across sectors to drive a stronger future through collaborative innovation.
They are committed to advancing new technologies and innovations that will have a widespread impact across business, industry, and economic growth. US early stage curriculum program is built on 3 themes to help founders to drive their startups to the next level: goal setting, access to curated mentors, and support from a peer network.Through their partners and experts, they bring together some of the leading teams in corporate innovation, industry knowledge, and government leadership to their promising, high-impact startups.
They have several locations across the North America and Europe. While the majority of their accelerators are industry agnostic and early-stage, they also have strategic focus on high impact, emerging categories including:
- FinTech
- HealthTech
- Blue Tech
- Enterprise Technology
- Safety and Security
- Space Commercialization
- Sports Tech
- Sustainable Food Systems
- The US Air Force Lab
Industry Tracks
Operating within the MassChallenge Early Stage program, Industry Tracks leverage MassChallenge’s infrastructure to surface and connect select early-stage startups to specialized resources and curriculum. Startups interested in participating will be invited to apply to specific tracks upon their acceptance into the Early Stage program. Startups do not need to be in any of these industries to apply to MassChallenge. Industry Tracks are simply an option. In 2022, their tracks include:
- Safety and Security
- Startups with a direct or potential relevance to national security and public safety challenges, also known as “dual-use” application in the commercial and governmental/military sectors. This year’s Safety and Security track will include a blue tech focus for those working on undersea technologies and innovations.
- Space Commercialization
- Startups ushering in the next era of space innovation with technologies across human health, performance, recovery, materials science, analytics, advanced manufacturing, and robotics that have an application in space.
- Climate Solutions
- Startups with technologies that impact GHG emissions and similar climate challenges.
Funding Information
MassChallenge offers zero-equity programs and a competition-based model to provide cash awards and other prizes to the top startups in the global network. They do not offer any investment or funding upfront but participating founders and program alumni can apply to compete for cash award prizes.
Benefits
- Unrivaled access to 40+ global corporate partners including BAE Systems, Carta, First Republic Bank, Fundify, IBM, and more.
- World-class mentoring from 400+ experts and tailored programming provided with no equity taken in return.
- The opportunity to compete for non-dilutive cash prizes and other in-kind awards
- United States-specific advice on regulations and tax, easy access to the international markets, and strong trade links.
- A proven model that has helped more than 65% of finalists raise funds during or immediately after the program.
- Participation in location-based market access program.
- Residency opportunities by location.
Eligibility Criteria
- For their early-stage accelerator programs in Boston: They accept applications for early stage startups across all industries, from anywhere in the world. If your startup has raised less than $1M in equity-based funding, generated less than $2M in annual revenue, and are set to make a big impact in your industry or on the world, you’re their kind of entrepreneur.
- For their vertical programs MassChallenge HealthTech and MassChallenge FinTech: They accept applications from industry-focused startups that have raised less than $10M in equity-based funding and generated less than $10M in annual revenue. If your startup exceeds these guidelines, they still recommend that you apply for the accelerator program. There will be an opportunity on the application for you to provide more information about your current funding amounts. Prospective startups should be developed enough to work collaboratively with a large business or institution.
For more information, visit https://masschallenge.org/us-early-stage