MassChallenge 2012 Partnerships

Diamond Partners

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Founding Diamond Sponsor

In the words of Gov. Deval Patrick, “Massachusetts is the destination for opportunity, growth, innovation, entrepreneurship and global leadership. The Commonwealth is a hub of innovation in the business, social and cultural arenas…It’s all here.”

Fan Pier
Founding Diamond Sponsor

ONE Marina Park Drive at Fan Pier is conveniently located between the Moakley Courthouse and the ICA on Boston’s new waterfront. When completed, Fan Pier will include 1st class office space, luxury residential, a park, marina, retail, hotel and spa.

Fidelity
Diamond Sponsor

Fidelity is a Diamond Sponsor of MassChallenge to help develop early stage companies and connecting with the entrepreneurial community. Fidelity is looking forward to supporting innovation and helping develop the greater startup community.

Fidelity Investments is one of the world’s largest providers of financial services. Founded in 1946, the firm is a leading provider of investment management, retirement planning, portfolio guidance, brokerage, benefits outsourcing and many other financial products and services to more than 20 million individuals and institutions, as well as through 5,000 financial intermediary firms. For more information about Fidelity Investments, visit www.fidelity.com.

Richard and Susan Smith Family Foundation
Founding Diamond Sponsor

The Richard and Susan Smith Family Foundation is a three-generation private family foundation committed to improving the quality of life in Greater Boston.

The Deshpande Foundation
Founding Diamond Sponsor

The Deshpande Foundation, founded in 1996, is one of the leading philanthropic Foundations in Massachusetts and India in the areas of innovation, entrepreneurship and international development. Through its grantmaking, the Deshpande Foundation has helped launch innovative companies, helped NGOs develop an international presence and launched partnerships with some of the most remarkable change agents in the world today

Verizon Enterprise Solutions
Diamond Sponsor

Verizon is proud to be a Diamond Sponsor of the 2012 Mass Challenge. This global contest built to spur innovation recognizes that new ideas can come from almost anywhere and anyone.

Massachusetts is recognized as the birthplace of revolutionary ideas and technologies that can change the we live, both today and well into the future. Verizon is constantly exploring new ways of helping our customers and, in turn, helping the world in which we all live today. Verizon is looking forward to discovering and igniting new ideas and solutions generated by the 2012 Mass Challenge.

Platinum Partners

Microsoft
Founding Platinum Sponsor

The Microsoft New England Research & Development Center is a research and software innovation campus located in the heart of Cambridge, Massachusetts.With teams of the most dedicated people in the industry, events that showcase the latest ideas in technology, and a true sense of community, working here is more than a job — it's all about the experience.

American Airlines
Platinum Sponsor

American Airlines offers a suite of travel products tailored to meet the unique needs of small and midsize businesses. Their programs include features such as protection against fare increases, VIP travel benefits, rewards for loyalty to American, cash rebate credit cards, and group travel discounts. But their support doesn’t end in the air. American Airlines also strives to have a positive impact on the economic growth and viability of the communities they serve, so American actively pursues opportunities to support emerging businesses through great initiatives such as MassChallenge. On the ground and in the air, American Airlines is committed to helping small businesses succeed.

iNNpulsa Colombia
Platinum Sponsor

iNNpulsa is the Colombian government’s agency to foster high-impact entrepreneurship and innovation that leads to ventures with extraordinary growth potential. One of the main goals of iNNpulsa Colombia is to connect the extraordinary local talent to global opportunities. iNNpulsa Colombia partnered with MassChallenge in 2012, embarking on an ambitious program to foster a rich culture of entrepreneurship in Colombia while it develops tools and programs to better enable Colombian entrepreneurs to tackle global challenges. The strategic alliance between iNNpulsa and MassChallenge is a great platform to accelerate start-ups and link them with one of the most sophisticated innovation ecosystems in the world.

Massachusetts Life Sciences Center
Platinum Sponsor

The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center is a quasi-public agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts tasked with implementing the Massachusetts Life Sciences Act, a ten-year, $1 billion initiative that was signed into law in June of 2008. The Center’s mission is to create jobs in the life sciences and support vital scientific research that will improve the human condition. This work includes making financial investments in public and private institutions that are advancing life sciences research, development and commercialization as well as building ties between sectors of the Massachusetts life sciences community. For more information, visit www.masslifesciences.com.

Russian Venture Company
Platinum Sponsor

At RVC-USA, we understand your passion and drive because we’ve been in your shoes. We’re a visionary and strategic investor of early-stage capital that melds the innovation of U.S. start-ups with the resources of Russia – empowering exceptional entrepreneurs to build innovative businesses, bring new products to market and transform their industries. We’re familiar with the challenges you face. And we tap decades of entrepreneurial experience to add value beyond just capital.

Turnstone
Platinum Sponsor

Turnstone is the Steelcase Furniture line serving young companies, inspired by their efficient, do-it-yourself spirit. Turnstone has studied the way emerging companies work and has created workspaces that help companies get work done.

Zapopan, Mexico
Platinum Sponsor

The municipality of Zapopan is one of the most promising regions in Mexico. The municipal area features a variety of universities and companies from a wide range of industries. “Reto Zapopan,” or Zapopan Challenge, is a new initiative from the government of Zapopan with the objective of catalyzing entrepreneurial activity through collaboration among the educational, business, social and governmental sectors of the city.