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, 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? Applications for the spring 2026 cohort of the E-Team Program are now open! Application deadline: January 27. More information here.
Capital One Auto Growth Stage Program aims to fuel the mobility startup ecosystem by growing your business with unique opportunities for connection and collaboration. Capital One is supporting startups in the mobility industry through two program offerings: the idea-stage and growth cohorts. Whether you are at the idea stage or have a venture you are ready to grow, each of these will help propel your idea or business forward. Applications are due January 31. More information here.
iNext is a pitching competition designed to spark transformational “moon-shot” ideas. Sanofi invites innovative Startups and Academic Labs from both North America and Europe to submit groundbreaking proposals, in the fields of either (1) Next-Gen approaches to counter aging related cellular and tissue dysfunction and/or (2) paradigm shifting strategies for targeted delivery of large molecules and nucleic acids. Applications are due January 31. More information here.
Catering Accelerator Program: The City of Boston is partnering with Prepshift to offer a free 8-week Catering Accelerator Program designed specifically for Boston restaurant owners who want to grow the catering side of their existing food business. Application deadline is February 1. More information here.
Cultivate Small Business Cohort 13: Santander’s Cultivate Small Business helps early-stage entrepreneurs build and sustain businesses in the food industry, with a focus on historically underserved founders in low-to-moderate income neighborhoods. The program is completely free for eligible entrepreneurs and provides a 12 week food-focused curriculum, mentorship, and capital grants. Applications are due February 2. More information here.
The Economic Development Incentive Program (EDIP) is designed to foster the creation of quality full time jobs in every corner of the Commonwealth by responsibly awarding attractive tax credits to businesses committed to starting and growing in Massachusetts. The program directs awards to projects that leverage private investments to create jobs and generate new economic activity across the state. Approved projects typically receive an award aligned with their job creation commitment and other factors. Application deadline is February 4. More information here.
The VentureWell Ocean Enterprise Accelerator is here to help innovators from across America turn their vision into reality by supporting the development, commercialization, and adoption of new ocean data technologies and services for economic and societal benefit to the U.S. and our growing blue economy. Whether you’re a student, researcher, entrepreneur, industry professional, or innovator passionate about building ocean solutions, this transformative national suite of programs is designed to equip blue innovators with the tools, resources, and support needed to turn bold ideas into impactful solutions. Applications are due February 12. More information here.
The University of Massachusetts’ Medical Device Development Center (M2D2) has launched the 15th Annual M2D2 $200K Challenge, an opportunity designed to showcase the innovative ideas and entrepreneurial spirit of seed and early-stage medical device and biotech companies. The M2D2 $200K Challenge will award valuable in-kind mentoring and development services provided by the program sponsors to selected finalist companies. Applications are due February 15. More information here.
The 2026 Snowflake Startup Challenge: Are you ready to take your startup to the next level? Snowflake is excited to announce the launch of the 2026 Snowflake Startup Challenge in collaboration with the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). This Snowflake Startup Challenge is contest for early-stage startups that are building innovative applications and products powered by Snowflake’s Al Data Cloud. The winner and finalists may receive up to $1 million in investments from Snowflake, mentorship from industry leaders at NYSE-listed companies, along with global exposure, and the opportunity to ring the NYSE Bell! Applications are due February 18. More information here.
MassCEC has created the Climatetech Tax Incentives Program (CTIP) to give credit to companies contributing to the climatetech sector at any stage, from innovation to deployment. By incentivizing climatetech participation and job creation, MassCEC is promoting advancement that will strengthen the economy and create a cleaner environment. Application deadline is February 18. More information here.
Venture For ClimateTech accelerates innovations likely to have substantial climate impacts for all, and which have potential for adoption in NYS. They offer a path to help entrepreneurs whose highly impactful innovations face unique barriers to commercialization through normal processes due to long paths to market and high capital intensity, along with other more traditional startups. Applications are due February 20. More information here.
16th Annual Export Expo: February 26 – 27 The 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, providing 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. This virtual event will include an exhibit area featuring government, non-profit and private sector service providers serving the export community, and will feature a lineup of workshops, panel discussions and special addresses on a wide variety of export-related topics. More information here.
The Business Planning for Food-Preneurs (BPF) is designed to help plan, expand and grow your food business. With the training, business plan, networking, and access to resources, the food-preneur will create plans to effectively start and scale their business. This program is seeking food entrepreneurs who have recently launched and started to sell their products (such as a food truck, catering company, or food product line).Accepted applicants receive a 6-month subscription to LivePlan, the world’s leading business plan writing software. Application deadline is March 9. 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. Applications are due March 9. More information here.
MassVentures and MassCEC Catalyst & DICES Grants: This program is designed to demonstrate the feasibility of transforming new ideas from the research stage into commercially viable technologies that attract industry and investor interest. All awardees gain access to a vast network of partners, expert local market and policy insights, and mentoring from MassCEC and MassVentures, while all finalists receive complimentary pitch coaching and business mentoring. Applications are due March 13. More information here.
EmPower Massachusetts offers multiple stages of investment in communities and community-based organizations so that they can explore, develop, and implement program models or projects that provide access to the benefits of clean energy for previously underserved populations. Applications are due March 26. More information here.
The EforAll Business Accelerator Trimester 2 is a free, 12-week program offered three times a year. The program delivers immersive business training, peer-to-peer support, mentorship, and access to an extended professional network. Anyone looking to gain increased business confidence, clarity, and connections is encouraged to apply. Applications are due March 26. More information here.
The #StartinFrance program is back for its second edition in 2026! Are you a scientific project leader or proof-of-concept developer based in the USA and eager to explore the dynamic French innovation ecosystem? This program is made for you! Start in France offers a unique training and immersion experience tailored to early-stage scientific talents in innovation. Selected laureates will gain firsthand exposure to France’s expertise and dynamism, while connecting with leading innovation hubs. They will be able to assess France’s attractiveness in terms of innovation and research and identify relevant support programs for their potential development. Applications are due March 31. More information here.
The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center Tax Incentive Program supports companies engaged in life sciences research and development, commercialization and manufacturing in Massachusetts. The program provides incentives to companies, of all sizes, looking to expand their efforts by creating new, long-term jobs in Massachusetts. Up to $40 million in tax incentives are available for the current program round. Application deadline is March 31. 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 April 7. More information here.
The EforAll Business Accelerator Trimester 3 is a free, 12-week program offered three times a year. The program delivers immersive business training, peer-to-peer support, mentorship, and access to an extended professional network. Anyone looking to gain increased business confidence, clarity, and connections is encouraged to apply. Applications are due July 16. 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.
The Innovate413 Accelerator is a five-month, no-equity launch program that helps founders test ideas, find real customers, and raise early funding. Innovate413’s model emphasizes early customer access, providing introductions to more than 100 employers and nonprofits in advanced manufacturing, sustainability, fintech, and adjacent sectors. Startups also receive hands-on AI and product development support through UMass Center for Data Science & AI and PixelEdge, along with structured investor exposure throughout the program. Standout teams may receive up to $10,000 in grant funding. More information here.