128 high-impact companies to access global network of support and resources in Boston

BOSTON, MAY 23, 2017 – MassChallenge, the most startup-friendly accelerator on the planet, today announced the 128 early-stage startups that have been accepted into the 2017 MassChallenge Boston accelerator program. Selected by a community of more than 850 expert judges, this years competitive cohort represents the top 8% of applications from around the world, including 12 countries and 16 U.S. states.

Through a global network of zero-equity accelerators, MassChallenge helps the world’s highest-impact, highest-potential startups successfully launch, grow, and create impact across industries. This proven model has accelerated 1,211 alumni that have gone on to raise more than $2 billion in funding, generate approximately $900 million in revenue, and create over than 65,000 direct and indirect jobs.

The quality of this years applicant pool is a real testament to the communitys efforts to inspire and support individuals who are working to solve some of the worlds biggest problems, said Kiki Mills Johnston, Managing Director, MassChallenge Boston. “Im excited to welcome the 2017 cohort to Boston this summer. This is just the beginning!

Since March, top investors, serial entrepreneurs, corporate executives, academics, and more have evaluated over 1,500 applications based on each startups ability to demonstrate impact and potential, which ranges from scientific breakthroughs to industry disruptions. Many of these judges remain actively involved throughout the four-month MassChallenge Boston program as mentors, speakers, and even potential partners.

Of the 128 startups selected:

• 30% are healthcare and life sciences
• 29% are high tech
• 20% are general, retail and consumer goods
• 16% are social impact
• 6% are cleantech and energy

As part of the 2017 cohort, startups will have unrivaled access to top corporate partners, expert mentorship, tailored curriculum, and more than 26,000 square-feet of co-working space in Bostons dynamic Innovation and Design Building all at zero cost and for zero equity. Entrepreneurs developing physical products also have an opportunity to take advantage of MADE @MassChallenge, the organizations 5,000 square-foot research and development lab, which provides the equipment and support needed to design, develop, and scale hardware solutions.

The accelerator program will culminate on November 2, 2017 at the MassChallenge Boston Awards, where the most-promising startups compete for shares of more than $1.5 million in equity-free awards.

Over the past seven years, MassChallenge has graduated more than 1,200 entrepreneurs from our intensive accelerator, enabling them to create enormous impact around the world, said John Harthorne, Founder and CEO of MassChallenge. We are proud to welcome such a high-potential class of startups to MassChallenge, and are excited to help them define their future and maximize their impact.

Now in its eighth year, MassChallenge has continued to drive innovation around the world through its global network of accelerators in Boston, Israel, Mexico, Switzerland, and the U.K. In addition to existing programs, the organization experienced significant growth in 2016 with the launch of several new initiatives. Locally, MassChallenge Boston launched the Newton Innovation Center, a 5,000 square-foot co-working space in collaboration with CIC and the City of Newton, and PULSE @MassChallenge, a zero-equity innovation lab that connects digital health entrepreneurs to the region’s leading institutions, corporates, payors, and healthcare experts. Top startups from the first-ever PULSE @MassChallenge cohort will compete for shares of more than $200,000 in equity-free awards at PULSE Finale on June 13, 2017.

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, 1,211 MassChallenge alumni have raised over $2 billion in funding, generated approximately $900 million in revenue, and created over 65,000 direct and indirect jobs. For more information, please visit masschallenge.org.

Top MassChallenge Boston Partners:
Fidelity Investments, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Microsoft, CASIS, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Deshpande Foundation, GE, Jamestown, The Boston Foundation, Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston, Stanley Black & Decker, American Airlines, L’Orl, Swiss Re, PepsiCo, Bose, Altria, P&G, Henkel, Blackstone Charitable Foundation, Draper, PTC, CVS Health, Autodesk, John Hancock, and Honda.

2017 MassChallenge Boston Cohort:

HEALTHCARE / LIFE SCIENCES

Akanocure Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
USA Indiana
Mission is to introduce second generation small molecules (SGSM) as breakthrough therapeutics for orphan and unmet needs in cancer.

Alleviant Medical
USA Texas
Develops next-generation devices to lift the burden of heart failure.

AreteX Systems
USA New Jersey
Decreases intensive care unit (ICU) morbidity and mortality by automating critical care.

Astarte Medical Partners
USA New Jersey
Develops NICUtrition, a microbial health informatics platform to measure and monitor the gut health of preterm infants.

CareAline Products, LLC
USA Massachusetts
Functional line and risk management garments for PICC and Central Lines.

Cellino
USA Massachusetts
Stealth

Day Zero Diagnostics, Inc.
USA Massachusetts
Combining whole genome sequencing and machine learning to speed the time to diagnose an infection and call its antibiotic resistance from days to hours.

DentalTOR
USA Massachusetts
Dental device that uses diagnostic imaging and deep learning to ease dental treatment while collecting and analyzing big data.

GEMS Boxes
USA Massachusetts
Makes tech-enabled stations that provide high-reliability access to life-saving medications and supplies when every second counts.

General Biotechnologies
USA Massachusetts
Biological innovation enhances the efficacy and lowers the side effects of chemo and immunotherapy in metastatic cancer.

Hive
USA Massachusetts
A scientific evaluation platform to address irreproducibility in biomedical sciences.

IntuiTap Medical, Inc.
USA Texas
Stealth

Jane Diagnostics, Inc.
USA Massachusetts
Offers an innovative low-cost, accurate, rapid, and easy-to-use HPV diagnostic chip for early detection of cervical cancer.

KRAM Wellness
USA Massachusetts
FLEXFIT, an innovative wellness solution developed by teens, clinically proven, and proudly assembled by individuals with disabilities.

Legionarius
USA Massachusetts
Legionarius is creating a new market for autonomous, lifesaving care.

MakerHealth
USA Massachusetts
A medical prototyping OS that powers patients and clinicians with the tools to create their own medical devices.

NerveSolutions, Inc.
USA Texas
Develops devices to prevent development of neuroma — a source of debilitating pain — after amputation or nerve injury.

NeuroLex Laboratories
USA Georgia
Uses voice analysis to capture the early warning signs for psychiatric and neurological conditions.

Nonspec
USA Massachusetts
Provides low-cost, durable, and hyper adjustable prosthetic devices to developing nations.

NU-RISE
Portugal
Innovating interstitial brachytherapy by providing the first in-vivo and real-time dosimeter.

Nutrimedy, Inc.
USA Massachusetts
Novel telehealth platform that transforms disease prevention and management by matching people with Registered Dietitians.

Octagon Therapeutics
USA Massachusetts
Developing a new class of antibiotics to address the growing crisis posed by highly resistant bacterial infections.

PainQx
USA New York
Diagnostic and software company that develops processes to objectively measure pain in humans.

Pykus Therapeutics, Inc.
USA Massachusetts
Develops a dissolvable intraocular device to make retinal surgery less painful and more successful.

Reia
USA Massachusetts
Building a suite of women’s health products by updating lesser-known, yet widely used devices to suit the needs of the modern woman.

Resilience Project
USA North Carolina
Provides mental, emotional, and financial support to patients by creating and selling patient inspired socks.

Reveal Pharma
USA Massachusetts
Stealth

ReviveMed
USA Massachusetts
A precision-medicine platform by translating metabolomic data.

RistCall LLC
USA Pennsylvania
Helps hospitals and nursing homes in providing better patient nurse communication using smart watches.

Structured Immunity
USA Indiana
Stealth

Sunrise Health 
USA Maryland
Mobile app for anonymous text-based group psychotherapy powered by natural language processing. 

SuraMedical
USA Massachusetts
Develops a wearable device that improves the care of patients suffering from chronic leg wounds in the setting of leg edema.

TailorMed
Israel
Innovative financial management platform for chronically ill patients.

Torigen, Inc.
USA Connecticut
With 8 million companion animals diagnosed with cancer each year, Torigen is commercializing personalized cancer immunotherapies for pets.

UrSure Inc.
USA Massachusetts
Makes medical diagnostics to protect vulnerable patients from HIV infections.

Veripad
USA New York
Creates an affordable and portable solution that allows for rapid screening of medication quality.

Versatope Therapeutics Incorporated
USA Massachusetts
Preclinical-stage biotechnology company focused on improving vaccine potency and therapeutic delivery using a bacterial factory nano-sized particle technology.

Z Imaging
USA Massachusetts
Develops an augmented reality system to help surgeons operate safer and faster.

HIGH TECH

Acenna Data
USA Massachusetts
Helps companies selling products to scientists have more productive sales teams.

Adhark, Inc.
USA Massachusetts
A digital marketing recommendation platform that applies data science and artificial intelligence to a brand’s digital and social media audiences, providing specific direction and insight to improve marketing performance and impact.

AirZaar Inc.
USA Missouri
Could-based enterprise software providing image processing and data analytics to mining and construction companies.

Athletes of Valor
USA Massachusetts
Helps servicemen and women transition into collegiate sports and later into careers by providing an online platform, resources and community.

BackTracker Inc.
USA Massachusetts
Verifies seafood claims, adds value to seafood products, and helps prevent seafood fraud.

Cadence
USA New York
Simplifies event management allowing you to focus on what really matters: delivering engaging, impactful, memorable events.

CloudBoost
India
Complete cloud platform that helps developers build apps more efficiently by taking care of authentication, notifications, and more.

CompuCog
USA Massachusetts
Mental performance company focused on athletic mental preparation for football.

CozyKin
USA Massachusetts
Sharing economy for childcare that matches local families with Montessori-trained nannies.

DropZone For Veterans
USA Massachusetts
Stealth

Endorse.gg
USA Massachusetts
An e-sports influencer marketplace that connects brands looking to reach millennials to professional video game players for authentic product sponsorships.

Etiquette
Mexico
A standardized designer wedding dress rental and sales platform that connects brides in a sharing economy.

Finnest
USA Rhode Island
Helps children become financially responsible, preparing them for adulthood.

Frank
USA Massachusetts
A 24/7 personal career coach that helps millennials navigate the workplace, easing millennials’ anxieties and saving companies time. 

Ghamut
USA Massachusetts
Creates and distributes intelligent technologies that understand and actively improve in-person human social relationships. Its flagship product, Connect, delivers a face-to-face social network.

Giaran
USA Massachusetts
Simple, instant, and affordable software and hardware to virtually sample makeup in real-time.

KinTrans Inc.
USA Texas
Leverages machine learning technology to deliver intuitive, real-time sign language translation that empowers the deaf and opens new opportunities for companies who employ and service them.

Latch Mobile
USA Massachusetts
Puts safety in your childs pocket and effortless peace of mind in yours.

Mycroft AI
USA Missouri
Creates an open source artificial intelligence that runs anywhere and interacts like a person.

MyKidzDay LLC
USA Massachusetts
Helps daycares communicate with parents, attract families, boosts profits, meet regulations, and reduce cost.

nDash.co
USA Massachusetts
A content creation platform where brands receive unique content ideas from the world’s top freelance writers.

Nvstr
USA New York
Makes data-driven investing social and enjoyable.

Oomf
USA Massachusetts
Cloud-software platform that enables the sharing economy.

Orai
USA Pennsylvania
Helps people improve the way they communicate using artificial intelligence.

Perseus Mirrors
USA Massachusetts
Creates the world’s smartest mirror.

Pixm, Inc.
USA New York
Builds an AI technology that uses visual recognition to detect zero-day phishing attacks that current tools fail to detect.

Power Assist Solutions
USA Massachusetts
Dedicated to reducing fatigue and injury in hospital caregivers by improving patient transportation in hospitals.

Relativity6
USA Massachusetts
Uncovers hidden opportunities within company databases to predict which high-potential lapsed customers have a propensity to make a re-purchase.

Scansorial
USA Massachusetts
Stealth

The Green Line
USA Massachusetts
Online marketplace for sustainable shopping.

The Puffin
USA Massachusetts
Enhancing lives of people with disabilities by creating assistive tech that facilitates community inclusion and employment opportunities.

Token Labs
USA Rhode Island
Building a global peer-to-peer money transfer network.

Voatz
USA Massachusetts
Mobile election voting platform, secured via smart biometrics, real time ID verification, and the blockchain for irrefutability.

Vox Pop Labs
Canada
Uses advancements in artificial intelligence to create online spaces which foster civic engagement and democratic citizenship.

W8X
USA Massachusetts
Develops a smart and compact weight lifting system that empowers physical therapists to help their clients recover faster.

WavePost
USA Massachusetts
A powerful video collaboration and review tool.

Waypoint
USA Massachusetts
Stealth

GENERAL / RETAIL / CONSUMER GOODS

Adeo Health Science
USA Massachusetts
Stealth

ADIFF
USA New York
Humanitarian design startup that creates innovative, transformable clothing to assist refugees.

BusBot
USA New York
Helps intercity bus companies set smarter prices and schedules.

Cancer Wellness TV
USA Massachusetts
Free online video platform featuring cancer integrative therapies such as yoga, tai chi, meditation, nutrition, survivorship support,x and more.

Conweigh
Australia
The all-in-one container weighing solution that provides software and hardware solutions for instant legislation compliance.

Guardion
USA Massachusetts
Beyond smart cities, Guardion enhances safety with nanotechnology.

Inflight VR
Germany
Stealth

InvisaWear
USA New Hampshire
Creates smart jewelry that allow users to instantly contact friends, family, and/or police in the event of an emergency.

John’s Crazy Socks
USA New York
Spreading happiness through socks.

Krol
USA Massachusetts
High-end women’s fashion brand that utilizes fashion as a catalyst for change and impact.

Kulisha
USA Texas
Works with food and beverage companies to convert organic waste into a sustainable, insect protein for animal feeds.

Minus the Moo
USA Massachusetts
Premium ice cream using all the same ingredients of traditional ice cream, with lactase enzyme to make it lactose-free.

Mundo Lanugo
USA Florida
Multimedia entertainment company for underserved Latino preschool market.

MUVIN Enterprise
USA New Jersey
Specializes in the production of SNOWLITE EPA approved, fully disposable, organic salt carpet that melts five or more inches of snow over 50 sq. ft. of space.

OnRout
USA New York
Real-time bidding for parcels. Lowering eCommerce shipping costs by taking trucks off the road.

Props Athletics
Canada
Creating unique lines of unisex fitness accessories that are all about fitness, fashion, and function.

Skelmet
USA Massachusetts
Revolutionizes the wearables industry with 3D-fit technology that automatically measures, designs, and produces bespoke products.

Sleepbox
USA Massachusetts
Provides modular, private, and soundproof pods for public spaces for rest, nap, meditation focus, or breastfeeding.

TeleLingo
USA New York
Machine Vision-powered AI CoPilot to prevent distracted and drowsy driving for fleet managers, insurers and ride sharing companies.

The Toothpick Project
USA Montana
Uses biocontrol technology to kill Striga, a parasitic weed depleting crops on 40 million African smallholder farms.

Tot-em
Spain
Turns soundwaves into a unique 3D figure.

Treasure Socks
USA Massachusetts
Stealth

Tr?badour
USA Oklahoma
Discovery portal for vibrant, contemporary poems that blends community and curation to boost reads.

Vence Corp.
USA California
Hardware and software solution for livestock farmers that increases revenues, eliminates fencing costs, and reduces labor expenses.

Wunder
USA Massachusetts
Empowers women to lead active lives through a sustainable and reliable solution to incontinence.

SOCIAL IMPACT

Alkemy Environmental
USA Massachusetts
Recycles industrial waste into concrete aggregate.

Amelior Technologies
USA Massachusetts
The LAD is a device that dispenses larvicide to be placed in water containers common in South America to combat mosquito borne illnesses.

Charity Defense Council
USA Massachusetts
Corrects misconceptions about charity and changes the way people think about changing the world.

Cocoa360
Ghana
Non-profit that decentralizes and fast-tracks the impact of cocoa farming in rural Ghana.

Girls Health Champions
USA Massachusetts
Works to mitigate gender bias by training adolescent girls as peer health educators globally.

MathodiX
Israel
An assessment platform that evaluates student skills and understanding of math.

Miracle Messages
USA California
Rebuilds social support systems for the homeless.

nesterly
USA Massachusetts
Targets the challenges of aging-in-place and housing affordability by enabling older households with spare space to connect with young people willing to exchange help around the house for lower rent.

OCC Youth Unleashed
USA Massachusetts
Self-sustaining non-profit created to increase youth engagement and strengthen community centers place in the city.

Operation Code
USA Oregon
Helps the military community learn software development, enter the tech industry, and code the future.

OZ/a>
Guinea
A business insights platform for Africas 70 million small-and-growing businesses.

PetsEmpower.org
USA Rhode Island
Helps domestic abuse survivors escape violent situations with their pets.

Project Lever
USA Massachusetts
Matches students to advisors and other helpful resources to create projects of their dreams.

Roots Studio
USA Massachusetts
Digitizes art from rural villages and creates galleries for office spaces.

ScholarJet
USA Massachusetts
Platform that revolutionizes the scholarship process. Instead of writing essays, students will perform enriching challenges.

Skillist
USA Massachusetts
Stealth

Spark Technologies
USA Massachusetts
Playground structures that convert children’s mechanical energy into electricity, creating an interactive and fun learning experience.

State of Place
USA Massachusetts
Predictive analytics software that quantifies what people love about places and why it makes economic sense to make them better.

WorkAround
USA Massachusetts
Online platform that connects refugees with companies to deliver online micro tasks.

Y2Y
USA Massachusetts
Interrupts a generation of chronic homelessness by providing sanctuary from the streets and supportive pathways out of homelessness.

CLEANTECH / ENERGY 

CLEVOT
Mexico
Technology that simplifies dry cleaning and sanitization in the industry to maximize its resources and reduce its impact on the environment.

Epic CleanTec
USA Massachusetts
Decentralizes wastewater treatment.

Lithio Storage
USA Massachusetts
Develops flexible, self-healing, longer lasting batteries containing our patented gel electrolyte for use in wearable devices.

OffGridBox
USA Massachusetts
Modular and compact unit that provides renewable energy and treated water in remote areas.

Peroxygen Systems Inc.
USA Tennessee
Produces hydrogen peroxide on-site at half the cost of conventional methods.

Proper Pipe
USA Massachusetts
Stealth

Skyven Technologies
USA Texas
A distributed energy solution for process heat, saving customers money by using the sun as an on-site heat source.

Upstream Tech
USA Massachusetts
Monitors and measures freshwater resources from space with machine learning and satellite imagery.