MassChallenge, the global network for innovators, is proud to unveil the 12 startups selected for the 2025 MassChallenge Air Force Labs Accelerator. Meet the cohort here. 

Now in its sixth year, the Air Force Labs Accelerator runs in partnership with the Hanscom Air Force Base Innovation Team and MassChallenge continues to serve as a critical bridge between emerging commercial technologies and national defense priorities. The program is designed to accelerate small, dual-use businesses that are developing solutions with both commercial and defense applications by connecting them directly with U.S. Air Force stakeholders within Hanscom Air Force Base Program Executive Offices (PEOs). 

Throughout the program, the selected startups will engage in nine curated curriculum sessions while also benefiting from mentorship by MassChallenge’s global network of dual-use experts, investors, and government leaders. The cohort will also work closely with Air Force end-users and technical experts to refine their solutions for real-world defense use cases, paving the way to earning a Customer Memorandum in support of a proposal to be submitted during the AFWERX 25.5 Open Topic Direct to Phase II SBIR solicitation cycle. 

The accelerator will culminate in a live showcase on June 24, 2025, at MassChallenge’s headquarters in Boston, where startups will demonstrate the technologies they’ve refined during the program. RSVP for the showcase here.  

Since launching in 2019, MassChallenge Air Force Labs has supported 60 startups, helping them secure more than $60 million in follow-on funding and achieve critical defense commercialization milestones. 

By combining the speed and ingenuity of the startup ecosystem with the mission-critical needs of the U.S. Air Force, the 2025 Air Force Labs Accelerator is once again charting a path for bold founders to drive impact where it matters most—national security. 

Learn more about the program here: https://masschallenge.org/programs-airforce/ 

About MassChallenge 

MassChallenge is the global network for innovators. Headquartered in the United States with eight locations worldwide, its mission is to help bold entrepreneurs disrupt the status quo and create sustainable change. Since launching in 2009, MassChallenge has run programs in 24 countries, supported more than 4,400 startups from around the world, and awarded over $18M in equity-free cash and prizes. Learn more about MassChallenge at masschallenge.org.