Yes/Boston, a World Economic Forum initiative led locally by MassChallenge, has announced its inaugural cohort of 12 innovators developing solutions across food systems, nutrition, healthcare, logistics, and related challenges.

Selected from 131 applications through the World Economic Forum’s UpLink platform, these startups will work with regional partners to accelerate innovation that strengthens food resilience and improves health outcomes across Greater Boston.

As the local program lead, MassChallenge will work alongside a network of coalition partners to connect founders with the mentorship, strategic guidance, and support they need to accelerate commercialization and community impact. The initiative represents MC’s commitment to supporting innovation across hard sectors, including food systems and health—complex, systems-critical arenas where solutions require collaboration across public, private, and community organizations.

The 12 innovator solutions selected for Boston are:

• BioBlends is extending food shelf life through bio-based preservation technologies that could help reduce waste across food systems.
• Mothership Materials is transforming food waste and invasive biomass into feedstocks for local biomanufacturing through modular processing facilities.
• RevivBio is applying automation and artificial intelligence to accelerate the discovery of biological solutions that support more resilient agricultural systems.
• Family Dinner is building shorter, more resilient local food supply chains by connecting consumers directly with regional farmers.
• FoodCopia provides a shared logistics platform that helps food banks and community organizations coordinate inventory and distribution.
• Gyre Energy is developing cooling technologies that can reduce costs and emissions across cold-storage infrastructure.
• Morrissey Market is creating infrastructure that enables healthcare providers to prescribe nutritious food as part of patient care, connecting clinical systems with food delivery and access networks.
• EatLove uses nutrition intelligence technology to deliver personalized nutrition recommendations and meal planning tools.
• EatWell Meal Kits combines food-as-medicine meal kits with education and analytics to support people managing chronic disease.
• Matriark Foods transforms surplus vegetables and agricultural by-products into nutritious food products, reducing waste while creating new pathways to healthy eating.
• Health in Her HUE reimagines healthcare for women of color through culturally responsive healthcare providers, trusted health information and supportive virtual communities.
• ThriveLink uses AI-powered navigation tools to help families access healthcare and social support programs, including those who may face barriers related to literacy, internet access or technology.

The selected startups will receive hands-on support, expert advisors, pilot opportunities, and access to the regional ecosystem needed to move promising solutions from proof of concept to real-world deployment.

“The founders in this cohort are not working on the margins of the food system. They are reimagining it to contribute to a healthier Boston and a new economic engine,” said MassChallenge CEO Cait Brumme.

Cait Brumme – CEO, MassChallenge

Learn more about the Yes/Boston Innovation Challenge and explore the inaugural cohort on the UpLink platform.

Read the official announcement, including the complete list of selected startups and program partners, in the full press release.