CIC is opening applications for their Massachusetts Social Impact Cohort, supported through funding by the Minority Business Development Agency. Who should apply? Underrepresented founders in growth stages with businesses based in Massachusetts or the Greater Boston area. The cohort will begin in February 2024. Applications are open through December 8, 2023. More information here.
The Atomic Grant program: This program offers $1,500 microgrants to women business owners. Recipients also receive one-on-one strategy coaching sessions. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with grants awarded quarterly. Applications due December 15. More information here.
ACCEL – Advancing Climatech & Clean Energy Leaders: BIPOC entrepreneurs: your climatetech solutions can change the world. ACCEL is here to bolster you as you develop critical climatetech solutions by offering access to funding, networking connections, resources, and opportunities that structural inequities put out of reach. This year-long program combines acceleration with a curated curriculum, incubation through a Greentown Labs membership, and extensive mentorship from Greentown and Browning the Green Space (BGS)’s networks of industry experts. Apply by January 5. More information here.
Export Expo – January 25-26, 2024: Export Expo is the state’s largest and most important export event of the year that brings together resources, training and information for the local exporting community! The Massachusetts Export Center’s Export Expo provides a forum for exporters to connect with the wide range of export resources available in Massachusetts while learning about issues that impact their day-to-day operations. More information here.
MassTLC’s award-winning Board Ready Bootcamp has helped almost 350 women, tech leaders of color, LGBTQ+ tech leaders, and other underrepresented executives advance their careers. The Bootcamp is built on a high-impact curriculum designed by industry leaders with expertise in board fundamentals, strategy, and governance. But equally impactful is the strong network of industry luminaries, ready to help participants make the right connections. Participants must be current tech executives who’ve been nominated to attend and have the support of an industry executive or board member. 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.
Venture Lane is piloting a new virtual membership called Venture Lane Connect. The membership will enable B2B startup founders based in Boston to tap into Venture Lane’s curated network, weekly programming focused on go-to-market strategy, $400K in perks like AWS and Microsoft Azure and other resources for early-stage growth. Interested B2B startup founders and their teams can sign up for the private beta 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.
Whole Foods Local Producer Loan Program (LPLP): Whole Foods Market is committed to supporting local suppliers. In addition to featuring local products in stores, they created the Local Producer Loan Program (LPLP) to provide fixed, low interest loans to farmers, food artisans, and emerging entrepreneurs in local communities. They are proud to support small producers through the LPLP program to help expand their businesses and deepen our commitment to local. More information here.
Sustainable Business Network of Massachusetts is pleased to offer small business grants through the Equity Fund. The Equity Fund is managed by the Sustainable Business Network of Massachusetts and will serve Greater Boston based Black entrepreneurs with priority given to Cambridge and Somerville entrepreneurs, or those whose businesses reside in Cambridge. The Equity Fund will be appropriated using funds raised to support long-term racial and economic equity investments in the form of grants and low interest loans. The Fund will initially offer technical assistance grants from the Fund to support the retention and growth of Black businesses in Cambridge, Somerville and the Greater Boston area. More information here.
South Eastern Economic Development (SEED) Corporation is a regional nonprofit economic development corporation with the mission of empowering entrepreneurs, strengthening local economies, and creating jobs by financing all types of small businesses in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. With loan programs ranging from $1,000 micro loans to $5.5 million SBA 504 loans and a long history of assisting small business owners, SEED is a one-stop shop for anyone looking to start-up, grow, or streamline their business. More information here.