The Hanscom AFB and MassChallenge Program
The Hanscom AFB & MassChallenge Program
Program Overview
The Hanscom Air Force Base and MassChallenge Program empowers founders from dual-use startups and Hanscom AFB personnel to address challenges identified by the U.S. Air Force. This accelerator delivers defense innovation at speed, streamlining education and collaboration to maintain our nation’s competitive edge and to drive solutions used to win in the field.
Phase I of the program starts with Challenge Statement Development, recruiting civilian and military personnel from Hanscom AFB to provide them with the education and networking to develop an entrepreneurial mindset and confidence to solve massive challenges.
Phase II continues with Small Business Acceleration, identifying eligible, high-impact startups along with the support of the greater MassChallenge community to solve the challenges faced by the U.S. Air Force and deliver the access and resources needed to scale their respective businesses.
Phase III concludes the program with Technology Transition, introducing the novel solutions developed by both participating dual-use startups and Hanscom AFB personnel U.S. Air Force leadership to develop a path toward collaboration and success.
Areas of Focus
The Hanscom AFB and MassChallenge Partnership seeks to:
- Identify challenges faced by Hanscom AFB, accelerate high-impact small businesses with technologies to solve those challenges, and transition those small businesses toward government partnership
- Accelerate high-impact small businesses with technologies relevant to other U.S. Air Force Program Executive Offices (PEOs) and engage those PEOs to transition those small businesses toward government partnership
Program Benefits
- Invitation to connect dual-use startups at the bleeding edge with Hanscom AFB innovation champions to solve the challenges faced by the U.S. Air Force
- Education from MassChallenge, its mentors, subject matter experts, and the Hanscom Innovation Team
- Access to industry leaders, investors, research institutions, and the U.S. Department of Defense to support technology transition
- Networking with fellow program participants and graduates to brainstorm solutions and build camaraderie
Eligibility Requirements
Civilian and military personnel participating in Phase I Challenge Statement Development are identified by the Hanscom Innovation Team. If you or your program office are interested in participating, please contact the team at Hanscom.Innovation@us.af.mil.
Entrepreneurs and their small businesses interested in Phase II Small Business Acceleration should meet the following requirements:
- Founded in the last five years
- Exist as a standalone, non-subsidiary, US-based small business
- Maintains patents or patents pending
- Raised less than $25 million in funding
- Earned less than $10 million in annual revenue
- Receipt of a Phase I Department of the Air Force Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant in the last two solicitation cycles with an aim to pursue a Phase II SBIR
- Interest in pursuing a Direct to Phase II SBIR
Government agencies, industry organizations, investment groups, and academic institutions interested in supporting Phase III Technology Transition and networking with both participating dual-use startups and Hanscom AFB are welcome to contact MassChallenge.
Sponsoring Partners
The Hanscom AFB & MassChallenge Partnership is sponsored by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s (AFLCMC) Command, Control, Communications, Intelligence, & Networks (C3I&N) Directorate and Digital Directorate, as well as the Cyber Resiliency Office for Weapons Systems (CROWS).
Supporting Partners
The following partners support the Hanscom AFB & MassChallenge Partnership through subject matter expertise, mentorship, curriculum development, and networking.
Selected Small Business Graduates
Support of the Hanscom AFB & MassChallenge Partnership and participation in the partnership programming does not constitute Air Force endorsement of these organizations.