Applications are open for Accelerate UConn’s SBIR Propelus program, an NSF-sponsored I-Corps training designed to help innovators explore commercialization and strengthen their SBIR Phase I or FastTrack applications. This program offers a $2,000 stipend for customer discovery, hands-on coaching to refine your SBIR proposal, and expert guidance to accelerate your path to market. Rolling applications close August 26 at 11:59 p.m. More information here.
StartUp Rutland Accelerator is an annual startup accelerator based in Rutland, VT. Up to five companies from a range of verticals are selected from a competitive applicant pool to participate in the free seven-week program. StartUp Rutland Accelerator’s goal is that graduates will go on to participate in an investment accelerator or raise a seed round. Application deadline is August 31. More information here.
The Escape Velocity Advanced Accelerator is a two-year program designed for startups that have already completed a traditional accelerator, incubator, or similar experience. They support high-potential early-stage ventures with innovative ideas and scalable business models. If you’re ready to accelerate your growth, apply to join their entrepreneurial community. Application deadline is August 31. More information here.
Hayvn Hatch Female Founders Pitch – Hayvn Hatch is now accepting applications for their pitch event, and they’re looking for innovative female entrepreneurs ready to take their business to the next level.If you have someone in mind (or if that’s you!), you are encouraged to apply! The deadline for submissions is September 5th. More information here.
Startup Boston Week: Get ready to join the entire New England startup community for an unforgettable week from September 8th to 12th. This isn’t just another event – it’s where over 7,000 innovators, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders from all walks of life come together to ignite ideas, share knowledge, and shape the future. More information here.
Boston Blockchain Week on September 9-13 is a five-day regional collaboration between QUBIC Labs, Boston DAO, the Boston Blockchain Association, and DeSci Boston, bringing together founders, technologists, investors, and policymakers across the Red Line, from Kilroy Square to Kendall Square. Theme: Where Blockchain Meets AI. Three immersive days of panels, keynotes, and demos exploring how blockchain and AI are reshaping finance, identity, governance, and innovation. More information here.
The Annual NEVY Awards is the region’s most spine-tingling celebration of the bravest startups and investors across Tech, Healthcare, and Tough Tech. Hosted by the New England Venture Capital Association (NEVCA) and in its 13th year (cue ominous music), NEVYs the 13th is a slasher-spectacular ode to the thrills & chills of the startup journey. Building companies is scary, but community makes it less so. And that’s where you come in. Submit a deserving local startup for consideration as a 2025 NEVYs nominee. Deadline is September 12. More information here.
Startup in Residence is a dynamic in-class roundtable networking event designed to bring together students, entrepreneurs, small business owners, and business professionals. This event is a collaboration between Suffolk’s Career Center, Department and Center for Entrepreneurship, and Startup Boston. It is also part of the Innovative Teaming course, which focuses on the dynamics of teamwork, entrepreneurial thinking, and problem-solving in real-world business environments. Applications are due September 19. More information here.
CriticalMass, MassCEC’s latest growth-stage Tech-to-Market program provides up to $1,000,000 in grant funding, specialized services, and partner matchmaking to startup applicants with strong track records of early-stage commercialization and successful demonstration projects. Successful applicants will propose commercial deployment projects that address important decarbonization challenges within MassCEC’s four focus areas, help to grow the state’s clean energy economy, and contribute to Massachusetts’ continued clean energy leadership. Applications are due September 22. More information here.
Boston AI Week: Join Boston’s vibrant AI community from September 26 to October 3, 2025, for Boston AI Week—a dynamic series of events exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence and society. This week-long festival offers a platform to engage with cutting-edge technologies, innovative startups, strategic investments, and transformative businesses across Boston and Massachusetts. More information here.
The E-Team Program, part of the VentureWell Accelerator, supports student ventures as you embark down the path you’re likely to take as an innovator and entrepreneur. They help you advance your invention through a powerful mix of up to $25,000 in grant funding, entrepreneurship training, mentorship by dedicated staff, national recognition, and networking with peers and industry experts. Do you have an idea that can change the world? Every year, they award over $800,000 in non-dilutive E-Team Program grants to early-stage innovator teams that develop scalable innovations which aim to solve a large social, health, or environmental challenge. Application deadline is September 30. More information here.
Ready for the boardroom? The Board-Ready Bootcamp is a high-impact program designed to equip tech leaders with the skills, insights, and network needed to launch or advance a board career. Learn from seasoned board members and CEOs, and build lasting connections with peers and mentors. Apply by October 1. More information here.
Cape Cod Fall 2025 Blue Economy Pitch Contest: EforAll Pitch Contests are lively two-hour events that offer entrepreneurs the opportunity to pitch their business idea to a friendly audience and receive valuable feedback from experienced judges. Business ideas across a wide range of industries are encouraged! A total of four cash prizes will be given out (1st place @ $1000, 2nd @ $750, 3rd place @ $500 as well as a $500 Fan Favorite prize). Deadline to apply: October 6. More information here.
Massachusetts Manufacturing Innovation Initiative (M2I2) Grants – Administered by MassTech Collaborative, M2I2 provides state grant funding to help Massachusetts innovators who are ready to begin manufacturing their hardtech technologies. Submit Concept Papers by October 6th. More information here.
The InnovateMass program provides up to $350,000 in grant funding and technical support to applicant teams deploying new clean energy technologies or innovative combinations of existing technologies with a strong potential for commercialization. Successful applicants will propose projects that address important energy challenges within our four focus areas, help to grow the state’s clean energy economy, and contribute to Massachusetts’ continued clean energy leadership. Application deadline is October 20. More information here.
2035 Fund – Recently launched by the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC), the 2035 Fund includes several programmatic initiatives: Accelerating Research through Collaboration (ARC) Awards, Research Infrastructure and Equipment, Biobank, Frontiers Fund and Women’s Health Initiative. Applications due by November 21st. More information here.
ARPA-E SCALEUP Ready Program: The SCALEUP Program is ARPA-E’s early commercialization program designed to help teams turn their groundbreaking ideas into reality. During the SCALEUP Ready program, ARPA-E experts will provide guidance to awardees as they establish their business model, supply chain, and sales channels. Applications are now accepted on a rolling basis. More information here.
Accelerate Your Impact: Massachusetts Small Business Coaching Program: Boston Impact Initiative (BII) and Lawyers for Civil Rights (LCR) have partnered to offer entrepreneurs and small business owners coaching and resources to build sustainable and socially impactful businesses. More information here.
FinTech Sandbox is a nonprofit which enables financial technology entrepreneurs to build robust products by providing access to critical data, development tools and a curated network of customers, entirely for free. FinTech Sandbox is open to all startups innovating in financial services that can use financial data products we offer for product development and testing. The spirit of the program is to offer data to start-ups that could not otherwise afford it. More information here.
Techstars is the worldwide network that helps entrepreneurs succeed. As one of the largest pre-seed investors in the world, they funded over 3,200 companies that have gone on to have a market cap of $79B+. Each company receives up to $120,000 in funding, and access to the worldwide network of investors, hands-on mentorship, and over $4M of perks. Applications are open year-round and will be considered on a rolling basis. Your application will be valid for 12 months from the date of application. More information here.
Through its 2030 Fund, MassCEC invests at the earliest stages of company development across the climatetech landscape. With a focus on tough tech and underserved sectors, MassCEC investments aim to advance clean technology, fill funding gaps, create green jobs, and leverage private capital throughout the Commonwealth. More information here.
P&G Ventures is an early stage startup studio within Procter & Gamble that partners with entrepreneurs to accelerate billion dollar ideas that improve consumers’ lives. Focus areas include nontoxic home and garden, women’s health, anti-aging, daily wellness, and cleaning/sanitizing. More information here.
IFundWomen Boston is a crowdfunding ecosystem designed to help the women-led startups, small businesses, nonprofits, side hustles, and passion projects of Boston raise funds to launch and grow. Join iFundWomen if you are a Boston-area women-led startup to fundraise for your business and get your ideas launched. More information here.
AmplifyMass supports academic researchers and companies who need cost-share or adders for federal/non federal prime awards. AmplifyMass provides up to $300,000 for academic or company projects pursuing cost-share or adders for federal or non-federal prime awards (such as awards from ARPA-E, NSF, DOE, and USABC), or up to $100,000 for academic projects that are not tied directly to a prime grant. The program supports projects that aim to commercialize or substantially de-risk an innovation that falls within MassCEC’s mission. More information here.
SoGal Foundation has teamed up with Winky Lux, bluemercury, twelveNYC, Twilio, and other sponsors to make a small step towards progress by providing several $10K and $5K cash grants to Black women or nonbinary entrepreneurs. Awardees will also receive tactical help navigating the fundraising environment at large so that they will have a more equitable opportunity at scaling the next billion dollar idea. They will also receive lifetime “ask-me-anything” access to the SoGal Foundation and SoGal Ventures teams. More information here.