MassChallenge is a no-equity, not-for-profit accelerator that helps only the highest-impact startups in the world. Impact is defined by the startups themselves – ranging from scientific breakthroughs to providing clean drinking water to millions to disrupting established industries. To date, MassChallenges global network of 835 alumni startups have had widespread impact, raising over $1.3 billion in funding, more than $575 million in revenue and creating over 8,500 jobs.
This years classes were selected from more than 2,300 applications across a diverse range of industries and 79 countries.
Theres a universal need and responsibility to help early-stage startups across all industries and backgrounds succeed as they set out to solve some of societys biggest problems, said John Harthorne, Founder and CEO of MassChallenge. We aim to help create the next big thing – the next breakthrough in cancer treatment, energy discoveries, social models, or the next Facebook. As a no-equity accelerator, we focus on helping startups create value, helping to drive real change and economic growth in our communities and around the world.
MassChallenge has also been a leader in supporting female-founded startups, with an industry-leading rate of 39% for female founded startups in 2015. A recent TechCrunch study highlighted MassChallenge as the top organization for investing in startups with a female founder, with 42 percent of its awards going to female-founded startups.
To further promote collaboration throughout the entire innovation ecosystem, MassChallenges unique judging model incorporates an outside pool of experts and mentors to select finalists. By engaging local communities early in the process, startups are able to launch and grow with the network of support and resources they need to be successful. More than 800 judges evaluated startups based on their potential and impact. This years panel of judges included some of the worlds top entrepreneurs and investors like Gail Goodman, former CEO of Constant Contact, Jesse Bean, VP, Head of Global Innovation for John Hancock, and Wendy Mayer, Pfizers VP Strategy and New Business Global Innovative Pharma. This pool of experts mirrors the market in making decisions on which startups may be the highest-potential, and helps to bring in diverse perspectives and backgrounds from all industries and geographies.
The programs all culminate at the Awards Ceremonies for the various locations towards the end of the calendar year, where entrepreneurs will pitch their startups with the chance to win a shares of over $3 million in no-equity awards.
MassChallenge UK is looking to welcome its second cohort of 90 startups this year, drawing mainly from the UK and Europe. MassChallenge Mexico is launching applications for the first time, looking to bring in between 20 and 30 high-impact startups from Mexico and Latin America. Any early stage startup from anywhere in the world is welcome to apply to any MassChallenge program. Applications close for the UK and Mexico June 29, 2016.
About MassChallenge:
MassChallenge is the most startup-friendly accelerator on the planet. No equity and not-for-profit, we are obsessed with helping entrepreneurs across any industry. We also reward the highest-impact startups through a competition to win a portion of several million dollars in equity-free cash awards. Through our global network of accelerators in Boston, the UK, Israel, Switzerland, and Mexico, and unrivaled access to our corporate partners, we can have a massive impact – driving growth and creating value the world over. To date, 835 MassChallenge alumni have raised over $1.4 billion, generated $575 million in revenue, and created over 8,500 jobs. For more information, please visit masschallenge.org.
Top MassChallenge partners include:
Microsoft, Fidelity, Verizon, Bler, John Hancock, CASIS, Jamestown, Kauffman Foundation, The Boston Foundation, Deshpande Foundation, SENA, iNNpulsa Colombia, OCP Entrepreneurship Network, Biscay Government, Gentera, PTC, Givaudan, Nestl Inartis Foundation, Swiss Economic Forum, Swiss Re, EMC2, INADEM, J.P. Morgan Chase, Jerusalem Development Authority, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and IBM.
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