MassChallenge is a global nonprofit startup accelerator founded in 2009. It operates a zero-equity model, meaning it takes no ownership stake in the companies it supports. The organization's accelerator program provides mentorship, industry connections, and access to non-dilutive funding for early-stage ventures.
The accelerator focuses on startups across five verticals: Healthcare and Life Sciences, Security and Resiliency, Sustainable Food Systems, Climate, and Global Financial Systems. To date, MassChallenge has supported more than 4,000 startups, which have collectively raised over CHF 2.9 billion in follow-on funding. The organization maintains an expert community of more than 3,000 mentors and partners.
MassChallenge has a presence in Boston, Rhode Island, Texas, Israel, Mexico, and Switzerland. It awards over $2 million in annual grants to participating startups, funded through its nonprofit structure rather than through carried interest or equity returns.
