MassChallenge has been ranked #2 in the United States and #1 in Massachusetts on TIME and Statista’s inaugural America’s Best Incubators & Accelerators 2026 list. 

Eighty-five percent of the ranking comes from alumni feedback: founders who went through MassChallenge programs between 2020 and 2025, rating everything from mentoring and funding access to how well we supported them after their program ended. The rest reflects track record and recommendations from investors and experienced entrepreneurs. 

The America’s Best Incubators & Accelerators 2026 ranking evaluates the top 80 incubators and accelerators across the United States based on three key dimensions: 

• Alumni Evaluations: Feedback from more than 2,000 founders who participated in incubator and accelerator programs between 2020 and 2025. Alumni rated their overall experience through a general recommendation and assessed six key aspects, including mentoring and training, infrastructure, legal assistance, funding opportunities, networking and business development advice. 

• Track Record: An evaluation of each incubator’s and accelerator’s measurable founder outcomes, based on the top five startups they reported from their programs. These startups were assessed using information provided by the organizations, complemented by Statista’s desk research drawing on publicly available sources such as official websites, presentations and media coverage. 

• Expert Recommendations: Endorsements from startup investors and seasoned entrepreneurs, who recommended the incubators and accelerators they know and regard most highly. 

“Being named the #2 company on the TIME 100 list is a David and Goliath moment, and we could not be more proud. Our model has been different by design since day 1: focused on the hardest problems, built for commercialization over valuation, and run on a network that behaves more like open source than a traditional accelerator, shared, collaborative, and built to compound” said Cait Brumme, CEO of MassChallenge. “But what excites me most is what it means for our founders, who now carry that credibility into every room they walk into next. This is credit to our founders, to the MC team and the extraordinary network of more than 3,000 experts that power MC.” 

MassChallenge is built for founders working where complexity is high and the path to market is hardest: healthcare & life sciences, security & resiliency, global financial systems, and sustainable food systems. 

Get Involved 

MassChallenge runs 10 to 15 highly selective accelerator programs a year. If you’re a founder building in healthcare & life sciences, security & resiliency, global financial systems or sustainable food systems, complete the MC Program interest form to learn when new programs open. If you’re an organization looking to connect with high-potential startups or advance your own innovation initiatives, contact the MC partnerships team. If you are interested in joining our expert and investor network, contact community@masschallenge.org. 

See TIME and Statista’s full America’s Best Incubators & Accelerators 2026 ranking here.