Sanofi

Sanofi THRIVE Challenge

Transforming Health in Rural America through Inclusive, Value-driven Equity.

APPLICATIONS OPEN SEP 29–OCT 20, 2026!

Sanofi THRIVE Challenge

powered by MassChallenge

Sanofi THRIVE Challenge, Transforming Health in Rural America through Inclusive, Value-driven Equity, powered by MassChallenge and Sanofi, identifies and supports healthtech and digital health startups building solutions that improve health outcomes in rural and underserved U.S. communities.

The program pairs startups with Sanofi's expertise and MassChallenge's health equity network to accelerate solutions that reach the patients who need them most.

"THRIVE" shifts the emphasis from access to outcomes, echoing Sanofi's belief that a healthier society is fundamental to a thriving future. Communities do not just get served; they thrive.

Open to Startups Building Solutions Across Five Focus Areas

Sanofi THRIVE Challenge is open to startups building solutions across five focus areas:

01 Respiratory

02 Immunology

03 RARE BLOOD DISORDERS

04 VACCINES

05 WOMEN'S HEALTH

HEALTH BARRIERS FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES

Sanofi THRIVE Challenge is open to startups building solutions across five focus areas:

01 Access to care, including transportation and distance

02 Access to primary care and specialty providers

03 Access to quality and stable housing, food, and income

04 Broadband and connectivity for virtual care

05 Language and cultural accessibility

06 Intra-regional health disparity

07 Modernize aging or declining local health infrastructure

WHAT FOUNDERS GAIN

Expert Mentorship & Programming

Direct guidance from Sanofi leaders alongside rural health equity experts from January through March 2027.

COMMUNITY PATHWAY ACTIVATION

Warm introductions into rural and community health networks to pilot and validate your solution.

FINALIST SELECTION

Selected semi-finalists will pitch virtually to a panel of Sanofi and community health equity leaders, who will select up to six finalists.

FINALIST GRANTS

Support for up to 6 startups, each receiving a $20,000 grant.

SHOWCASE PRESENTATION

Finalists pitch live to Sanofi, health equity experts, and clinical stakeholders, with two prizes to be awarded.

CASH AWARDS FOR WINNERS

Non-dilutive funding across two award tracks, matched to startup stage. See application eligibility criteria below.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

EARLY-STAGE AWARD

$25,000

IMPLEMENTATION-READY AWARD

$50,000

STAGE

Pre-revenue or pre-product-market fit, still validating your core solution or business model.

Validated product or solutions, with evidence of effectiveness, user adoption, or a completed pilot. Ready to scale.

READINESS

Clearly defined solution concept, ideally already piloting with users or testing a proof-of concept. May not have the scale, partnerships, or evidence base for a partner pilot.

Operational capacity (team, infrastructure, or partnerships) to conduct a pilot with rural or community health partner.

COMMUNITY IMPACT

Solution suggests improvements to health outcomes for rural or underserved U.S. communities.

Clearly improves health outcomes for rural or underserved U.S. communities, with a plan, or already begun steps, for deployment with such a community.

SANOFI THRIVE CHALLENGE: APPLICATION & PRIZES ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Early-Stage Award: $25,000

The startup is an early-stage company, generally pre-revenue or pre-product-market fit, still validating its core solution or business model.

The startup has a clearly defined solution concept and, ideally, is testing it with pilot users, a limited pilot, or a proof-of-concept, but has not yet demonstrated broad market traction.

The startup is a U.S.-based digital health or healthtech company working in one of the five THRIVE focus areas: respiratory disease, immunology, rare blood disorders, vaccines, or women’s health.

The startup’s solution is oriented toward improving chronic disease outcomes for rural or underserved U.S. communities.

The startup and its team can commit to the program timeline (January through March 2027, including required in-person attendance at the Kickoff and Final Showcase, both in Boston, MA) and are prepared to engage actively with Sanofi mentors to advance the solution toward validation.
The startup may not yet have the operational scale, partnerships, or evidence base required to begin a pilot with a rural or community health partner.

Implementation-Ready Award: $50,000

The startup has a validated product or solution, with evidence of effectiveness, user adoption, or a completed pilot, and is ready to scale.

The startup can demonstrate readiness and has the operational capacity (team, infrastructure, or partnerships) to conduct a pilot with a rural or community health partner.

The startup is a U.S.-based digital health or healthtech company working in one of the five THRIVE focus areas: respiratory disease, immunology, rare blood disorders, vaccines, or women’s health.

The startup’s solution is oriented toward improving chronic disease outcomes for rural or underserved U.S. communities, and the startup has a plan or ideally has already begun steps for deployment with such a community.

The startup and its team can commit to the program timeline (January through March 2027, including required in-person attendance at the kickoff and Final Showcase, both in Boston, MA).

BUILDING A SOLUTION THAT COULD CHANGE HEALTH OUTCOMES IN RURAL COMMUNITIES?

The Sanofi THRIVE Challenge is looking for healthtech and digital health startups ready to turn breakthrough solutions into meaningful outcomes for patients and communities. Initial applications take less than 10 minutes!

WHY MASSCHALLENGE

MassChallenge is a 501(c)(3) non-profit with a sixteen-year track record of driving innovation globally. Across its portfolio, MassChallenge has supported more than 5,000 startups that have collectively raised $27.1 billion in funding, including 14 unicorns and 12 public companies.

220+

Fintech startups accelerated

$20.1M

Average funding raised by fintech alumni

5 Fintech unicorns

11,000+

Fintech applicants from around the world

500+

Financial services experts supporting MC fintech programs

~65%

Follow-on commercial collaboration rate from MassChallenge fintech challenge programs

The result is a network built not simply around starting companies, but around helping founders understand what it takes to move through complex markets.

YOUR PROGRAM JOURNEY

The SMU Fintech Accelerator combines focused virtual programming with three in-person moments in Dallas, giving founders time to learn, test, build relationships, put those insights to work, and come back ready for what’s next.

KICKOFF

DALLAS

Meet your cohort, establish your goals, connect with mentors and experts, and begin putting your company through a fintech-specific lens.

BUILD & VALIDATE

VIRTUAL

Pressure-test your market, regulatory approach, business model, and commercial strategy with people who understand financial services.

MIDPOINT

DALLAS

Bring what you’ve learned back to the room. Assess progress, deepen industry relationships, and focus the second half of the program around the opportunities that matter most.

ENGAGE & ADVANCE

VIRTUAL

Turn insight into action through enterprise engagement, commercial pathway development, capital strategy, and preparation for the program finale.

FINALE & SHOWCASE

DALLAS

Bring the work together at the SMU Fintech Accelerator Finale and Showcase, connecting with investors, corporate leaders, and the broader fintech ecosystem.

KEY DATES

SEP 29, 2026

Applications
Open

SEP-OCT 2026

Virtual Info
Sessions

OCT 20, 2026

Applications
Close

NOV-dec 2026

Judging

DEC 2026

Finalists
Notified

JAN 2027*

Program
Kickoff

MAR 2027*

Finale Showcase
Event

*Mandatory In-Person Events

Program Period: January–March, 2027

Between the in-person kick-off and the Final Showcase, finalists take part in an active programming period:

Virtual sessions on storytelling, pitching, mentorship, and coaching, held weekly or biweekly.
MassChallenge team facilitates stakeholder introductions with Sanofi and community partners.
MassChallenge team conducts progress check-ins and prep sessions ahead of the Final Showcase.

IS YOUR STARTUP A GOOD FIT FOR THE PROGRAM?

Join a live virtual info session for applicant Q&A. Use the links below to register.

September 30 @ 1 PM ET

October 15 @ 1PM ET

HOW TO APPLY

Already have a MassChallenge Startup Profile?
If you already have a MassChallenge Startup profile, simply login here, select your company, then select the Sanofi THRIVE Challenge.

New to MassChallenge?
Click here to first create your startup profile with MassChallenge, and then apply.

Need more info? Send an email to programs@masschallenge.org.

FAQs

Who is eligible to apply?

Sanofi THRIVE Challenge is open to health tech and digital health startups at any stage, including the idea-stage to startups with a validated product or solution, addressing chronic disease outcomes in rural or underserved U.S. communities.

What are the judging criteria?

Applications are evaluated across four categories:

Problem and Impact: grounded understanding of the rural chronic care gap and defined community impact

Technological Innovation: addresses a health access or awareness gap, within rural communities, leveraging technology with an innovative approach, grounded in transparent, ethical, and explainable AI

Community Collaboration: demonstrated partnership with the community the innovation will serve, such as community health centers, clinics, health practitioners, community-based organizations, or patient communities

Business Case: validated traction and a path to piloting or scaling with rural health partners

Is there a cost to participate, or does MassChallenge take equity?

No. The program is free for selected startups, and MassChallenge does not take equity. However, the startups are responsible for the cost of travel and related expenses to ensure the startup has consistent founder and/or senior executive participation is required

What stage should my company be at?

Early-Stage Award: Pre-seed

Implementation-Ready Award: Seed-Series A

Is there support beyond prize money?

Yes. Finalists receive mentorship from practitioners within the life sciences ecosystem, including Sanofi leaders and introductions into MassChallenge’s rural and community health center network.

Need more info?

Send an email to programs@masschallenge.org.

READY TO HELP RURAL COMMUNITIES THRIVE?

Applications for the Sanofi THRIVE Challenge are open September 29 through October 20, 2026. Initial applications take less than 10 minutes!

JOIN THE STARTUP RENAISSANCE

This is where founders, visionaries, and institutions rebuild the machinery of progress together. Challenge programs turn conviction into collaboration—and collaboration into the next era of impact.