Tough Tech Week (October 27–31) is a celebration of transformational science and engineering—and the people bringing it to the world. Hosted by The Engine in collaboration with ecosystem partners across Massachusetts and beyond, the week features panels, pitches, workshops, expos, and founder-focused events that spotlight breakthroughs in climate, health, advanced systems, and more. It’s a time for the ecosystem to connect, share progress, and shape the future of Tough Tech. More information here.
The Activate Fellowships for Entrepreneurial Scientists and Engineers: Activate is the premier program for scientists on a mission. The two-year fellowship provides early-stage hard tech science entrepreneurs $100K in research funding, yearly living stipends of $100K, intensive entrepreneurial training, mentorship, networking, and other benefits. Sign up to be the first to know about upcoming recruitment events and deadlines. Applications are due October 28. More information here.
The Ignition Pass from The Engine is a new Residency Grant providing early-stage Tough Tech startups with sponsored access to The Engine’s state-of-the-art facilities, educational programs, mentorship, and business support designed to accelerate breakthrough technologies. Backed by Shell as the inaugural partner, the first Ignition Pass offers one year of Residency at The Engine, along with tailored industry connections designed to bridge the challenging pre-funding gap for Tough Tech teams with climate and energy solutions. Applications are due October 31. More information here.
Applications for CIC Massachusetts’ Social Impact Cohort are open for underrepresented founders in growth-stages of business across all industries, with companies based in Massachusetts or the Greater Boston area. This cohort includes 6 months of programming plus an additional 3 months of free membership at CIC, with all-inclusive services and amenities; 24/7 access to CIC’s Innovation Campus, coworking space, and global community; educational, curated programming to support growth and development; and expanded network of mentors, investors, and business contacts. Applications are due October 31. 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. Applications are due November 5. More information here.
The MassChallenge 2026 Healthcare Challenge program is committed to supporting healthcare startups on their journey toward early commercialization and scaling. The Challenge Program curriculum is specifically designed to enable startup founders to build continuous traction through engagement with corporate partners and meet them where they are in their startup journey. Applications are due November 5. More information here.
EforAll’s Business Accelerator Program gives aspiring entrepreneurs the tools, training, and support they need to succeed. Entrepreneurship for All (EforAll) is a national nonprofit organization with a proven record of supporting small businesses. Join the 2,180+ entrepreneurs who have already benefited from our program! Applications are due November 6. 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. Applications are due November 13. 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.
BioBoost Manufacturing Scale-Up Program: Administered by the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC), BioBoost supports companies creating or expanding their biomanufacturing or medtech advanced manufacturing presence in Massachusetts. Info session 10/22. Apply by November 21. 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 January 5. More information here.
The MassVentures Founders School seeks to provide each founder with robust preparation for getting ready for investment, joining competitive accelerator programs and being part of the MassVentures deep tech ecosystem. The program is designed for underrepresented deep tech founders with a focus on empowering early-stage founders in Massachusetts, as well as founders curious about moving and building their business in the Commonwealth. Our goal is to provide each fellow with an individualized mentorship and coaching experience that will maximize their success. Applications are due January 17. More information here.
The 2026 Snowflake Startup Challenge: Are you ready to take your startup to the next level? Snowflake is excited 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.
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.
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.