The Clean Green Challenge is now accepting applications from innovators, students, entrepreneurs, researchers, and startups who are developing solutions in one of two areas. The first is Recycled Materials where applicants will need to address one of the multiple issues surrounding this topic. The second category will be Safer Chemicals where applicants will be focused on topics such as PFAS, pollution, and forever chemical projects! Application deadline extended to March 13. More information here.
MassVentures Catalyst/DICES – MassVentures, in partnership with MassCEC, offers up to ten grants totaling $75,000 each through the Catalyst and DICES programs, aimed at advancing clean energy technologies in early-stage companies and research institutions in Massachusetts. The programs focus on technologies at TRL 2-4, with DICES specifically supporting women- or minority-owned startups. Applicants gain access to mentoring, market insights, and investor attraction support, with detailed eligibility and application processes outlined in the Catalyst RFP. Applications due March 14. More information here.
LearnLaunch Fund Accelerator – LearnLaunch Accelerator’s Breakthrough to Scale Program offers a comprehensive approach to scaling for edtech entrepreneurs. Eligible companies within specific stages can expect over $200K in investments, a 12-week blend of remote and Boston-based sessions, access to over 175 industry mentors, and introductions to investors. Prospective applicants are encouraged to attend an informational webinar to better understand the program’s offerings. Applications due March 18. More information here.
The New England Venture Capital Association returns with Unpitch! Applications are open for all 6 Unpitch events with rolling deadlines over the next few months, welcoming early stage startups to apply for the chance to casually connect with investors.
Applications for Unpitch TECH are open until March 25.
Applications for Unpitch FINTECH are open until April 3.
Applications for Unpitch TOUGH TECH are open until April 8.
Applications for Unpitch RI are open until April 18.
Applications for Unpitch HEALTH are open until May 1.
Applications for Unpitch BIOMED are open until June 1.
Get more information and apply here.
Enter the 2024 Digital Equity Challenge – Submit your ideas and projects that address Digital Literacy, Digital Access and Racial Equity to the UMass Lowell Innovation Hub Haverhill’s Digital Equity Challenge pitch contest. Top applicants will compete for a share of $10,000 in cash prizes! Visit our website for details and application. Application deadline is March 29. More information here.
StartUp Rutland Accelerator: Based in Rutland, Vermont, this accelerator takes 5 companies into their cohort – and you need to be based in or near Rutland (or open to relocating). The goal of this program is that upon graduation you go into an investment accelerator or to raise a seed round. Applications are due April 1. More information here.
Eforall Cape Cod Spring 2024 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: April 3. More information here.
Eforall Rhode Island Spring 2024 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: April 4. More information here.
Eforall Greater Worcester Spring 2024 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: April 4. More information here.
Eforall Lynn Spring 2024 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: April 11. More information here.
2024 Cleantech Open Accelerator – The Cleantech Open Northeast team invites all startups in the cleantech industry to apply to the 2024 accelerator, where you’ll have the opportunity to engage in a business development program. Participants will benefit from expert mentorships, investor network opportunities, industry connections, and a chance to compete regionally and nationally for cash prizes and in-kind services to launch their startup. Applications are due April 14. More information here.
Eforall Pioneer Valley Spring 2024 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: April 18. More information here.
T.H.R.I.V.E. Emerging Leaders Reimagined revolutionizes the rich history of executive-level training for small businesses. Sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), this research-based, executive-level program combines business fundamentals with the innovative tools and competitive strategies needed to deliver immediate results. This intensive program gives ambitious small business owners a challenging opportunity to accelerate their growth through training led by business experts, strategize with professional coaches, and develop connections with like-minded peers. Applications are due April 22. More information here.
Eforall Greater Roxbury Spring 2024 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: April 25. More information here.
Techstars Startup Weekend Boston 2024 on April 26-28 is a three-day program where aspiring entrepreneurs can experience the excitement and challenges of building a startup. Over the course of the weekend, aspiring entrepreneurs will form teams, learn the foundations of entrepreneurship, including customer validation, MVP building, marketing & sales and have a chance to pitch their product or service to a panel of judges. Three intense days will be filled with workshops, hands-on learning, sessions with expert mentors and networking opportunities with like-minded startup enthusiasts. More information here.
Startup Boston Week 2024 on September 9-13 will be connecting founders, startup employees, mentors, advisors, investors, students and startup curious folks. With content for startups who are crafting their MVP, all the way to founders and startup operators raising their Series B! This is your opportunity to network with and learn from the movers and shakers in the New England startup community. More information here.
Share your skills as a Youth Pitch Contest Coach: SCI Social Capital Inc. is launching its 2024 Youth Grant Pitch Contest with the goal of empowering young people to address pressing needs they see in the community. SCI is seeking professionals interested in volunteering as Pitch Contest Coaches to provide guidance and support for teams of youth as they develop their project presentations for the Pitch Contest. Volunteer coaches and participating youth groups commit to 6 one-hour virtual coaching sessions during February and March. We are seeking to recruit two coaches per team, with at least one available for an initial in-person session with the youth. With the guidance and support of their volunteer coach, youth groups will develop their project ideas and be in the driver’s seat of positive change. The program will culminate in the Pitch Contest, an event at the Microsoft NERD Center in Cambridge on April 6, 2024, where a panel of judges will award a total of $10,000 in grant funds for project implementation to selected groups. If you are interested in coaching, fill out this interest form.
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.