Emcee’d by innovation expert Chris Denson, the MassChallenge Virtual U.S. Awards Ceremony will award up to $2M in equity-free cash and prizes to top startups from the network’s US-based accelerators in Austin, Boston, Houston, and Rhode Island.
(Austin, Texas – Sept. 15, 2020) – MassChallenge, the global network for innovators, today announced that Arianna Huffington, Founder and CEO of Thrive Global, and Linda Pizzuti Henry, Managing Director of the Boston Globe, will headline the first-ever MassChallenge Virtual U.S. Awards on October 22, 2020, at 5 p.m. EDT / 4 p.m. CDT. Hosted by Chris Denson of Innovation Crush the 2020 Awards is a celebration of the top startups across MassChallenge’s accelerators in Austin, Boston, Houston and Rhode Island. The free, online event is open to the public: RSVP on the MassChallenge website.
“The new businesses selected for MassChallenge 2020 will pave the way to help people function at their best in all aspects of their lives,” said Arianna Huffington, Founder and CEO of Thrive Global. “I’m excited to keynote this event and shine a light on the power of entrepreneurship and innovation to help people take charge of their health and well-being.”
“I’m honored to spend this evening with MassChallenge and Arianna Huffington,” said Linda Pizzuti Henry Managing Director of the Boston Globe. “Entrepreneurs have the ability to inspire, enable and empower. Their willingness to take on risk and pursue ideas at the frontier of most of our imagination, will be a force in bringing our global economy back online after the pandemic. I look forward to discussing the transformative power of entrepreneurship at this event.”
“One of the greatest untold stories is the support that entrepreneurial spirits need to bring new ideas to life — whether as a startup, within the walls of a corporate organization, or even within government,” said Chris Denson host of the Innovation Crush podcast. “The world needs the magical ingenuity of startups right now, and those startups need organizations like MassChallenge who are focused on unlocking the exponential potential of entrepreneurship. Celebrating such a robust and inclusive innovation community, I’m excited to host the MassChallenge 2020 Virtual U.S. Awards and provide these entrepreneurs and innovators a platform to showcase how they will create a strong, more connected world.”
The MassChallenge Virtual U.S. Awards recognizes the accomplishments of the 200+ startups in MassChallenge’s U.S.-based early-stage cohorts. During the event, MassChallenge will award up to a total of $2,000,000 in equity-free cash and prizes to startups in each program including additional sidecar awards presented by MassChallenge’s corporate partners. Leaders from the global innovation community like BAE Systems, FM Global, Innospark Ventures, ISS National Laboratory and The Boeing Company, J.P. Morgan, MITRE, the Quin Impact Fund, and Reliant, an NRG Company will provide awards and highlight the roles entrepreneurship and innovation play in rebuilding our post-COVID-19 economy.
Now with nine accelerators across seven locations worldwide, MassChallenge equips bold entrepreneurs with the tools, resources, and opportunities they need to disrupt the status quo and to create meaningful change. Interested in supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs? Find out how to give back here.
Event Presenting Sponsors
BAE Systems, FM Global, Innospark Ventures, ISS National Laboratory and The Boeing Company, J.P. Morgan, Linda and John Henry and the Henry Family Foundation, MITRE, the Quin Impact Fund, and Reliant, an NRG Company.
MassChallenge Partners
Agrosuper, Altus Dental, Amica Insurance, Analog Devices, Austin Technology Incubator, Autodesk, Babson College, BAE Systems, Boston University, Brandeis University, Brex, Carta, Central Houston, City of Houston, Cydan Development, Defense Innovation Unit, Dell for Entrepreneurs, Delta Dental, Department of Defense, Downtown Redevelopment Authority, Duane Morris LLP, First Republic Bank, FM Global, Foley Hoag LLP, Hasbro, Henkel, IOwnIt, ISS National Laboratory, J.P. Morgan, Juice Consulting, KPMG LLP, MassCEC, McKinsey & Company, MITRE, Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas), Mitsubishi Electric, Mitsui & Co., Office of Economic Adjustment/DIA, Oracle for Startups, PwC, Raytheon, Reliant, an NRG Company, Rhode Island Commerce Corporation, Sanofi, SOMPO, Stadia Ventures, Texas Foundation for Innovative Communities, The Boston Foundation, TMAC, University of Texas at Austin, UPS, Upstream, US Air Force, WeWork, Winstead
About MassChallenge
MassChallenge is the global network for innovators. Headquartered in the United States with locations in Boston, Israel, Mexico, Rhode Island, Switzerland, and Texas, MassChallenge is committed to strengthening the global innovation ecosystem by supporting high-potential startups across all industries, from anywhere in the world. To date, more than 2,400 MassChallenge alumni have raised more than $6.2B in funding, generated more than $3 billion in revenue, and created more than 157,000 total jobs. Learn more about MassChallenge at masschallenge.org.
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