Boston has turned into a hub for innovators and game changing ideas. The number of successful startup accelerators is a clear testament to that fact, providing entrepreneurs with many of the key resources required both before and after launch.
Venture Development Center at UMass Boston
At this award winning incubator, startup teams come from different universities (UMass, MIT, Harvard, BU, WPI, Babson) and fields (life science, healthcare and information technology) creating a unique community completing prototypes and seeking validation, customers and investment on a much larger scale. The 18,000 square foot workspace earned the ‘best in class’ award and innovators can take advantage of shared space in addition to easy access to private meeting areas. VDC offers top tiered business launch advice, assistance hiring qualified marketing, development, and sales interns, private labs, state-of-the-art supporting infrastructure, and flexible terms for budding companies and ideas.
BOLT “Building hardware businesses”
Bolt is a 6-month intensive program designed to help hardware startups grow. Accepted start up teams receive seed capital, deep discounts, lines of credit, and access to angel investors and qualified mentors. Teams are able to utilize a 4,000 square foot prototype workshop that is located directly beneath the 4,500 square foot workspace. Bolt also helps take products through the launch phase and to market with venture capital, licensing, crowdfunding, and customer acquisition strategies.
Dogpatch Labs in Cambridge
Founded by Polaris Partners, Dogpatch connects like minded, like driven teams working side by side with resources to drive innovation and efficiency. Dogpatch companies have raised over $250 million in angel and venture financing from major players in various markets. Today, Dogpatch communities exist in Cambridge, MA and Dublin, Ireland.
Future Boston Alliance
The Future Boston Alliance is on a mission to improve the city of Boston one step at a time. Taking a critical look at the city, the organization aims to solve problems and support entrepreneurs. This past year, FBA accepted 25 entrepreneurs into their 6 month accelerator program that promote progressive and cultural growth of the city.
Global Founders’ Skills Accelerator at MIT
Open exclusively to student entrepreneurs, teams with a current or recently graduated student take advantage of the summer program’s resources. Teams set milestones at the beginning of the summer, and are awarded with up to $20,000 in funding for reaching the set goals. An advisory board meets with teams monthly to ensure they’re staying on track in addition to a specialized education program and network of mentors. Students may apply for the $1000 per month fellowship program to help cover living expenses.
Healthbox “Minds over healthcare matters”
Healthbox accepts early stage startups to the four month program that have a focus on healthcare, operating in Boston, Chicago, Nashville, Jacksonville, and London. Bringing together a brain trust of entrepreneurs, strategic partners, industry experts, and investors, teams are able to effectively tackle pressing healthcare challenges. The 16-week programs receive structured, customized support designed to address the challenges unique to starting a business in healthcare. Benefits of the platform include mentors from government agencies, healthcare IT, established healthcare entrepreneurs, healthcare providers, investors, service providers, pharmacies, and more.
LearnLaunchX “Boston’s EdTech Accelerator”
LearnLaunchX’s accelerator program is designed to help early stage ed tech entrepreneurs successfully grow their startups. Founders participate in a three month residential program where they are immersed in a community of like-minded professionals committed to helping them grow their businesses. The goal of LearnLaunchX is to accelerate the product and market development process so that entrepreneurs will be able to secure the resources they need to grow. Participating companies meet weekly with mentors and advisors who push them to identify and take the most leveraged next steps to grow their products and companies. During the program, companies regularly interact with leading ed tech experts and champions. LearnLaunchX has also developed an ed tech focused curriculum that provides tremendous insight on how to navigate the education industry.
MassChallenge Startup Accelerator
One of the more exclusive programs, MassChallenge connects entrepreneurs with the resources they need to launch and succeed immediately. It is the largest-ever startup accelerator, and the first to support high-impact, early-stage entrepreneurs with no strings attached. At the beginning of the summer teams set benchmarks. Through monthly meetings with advisors, they are able to stay on track and earn up to one million dollars in funding. Additional perks include free office space, office hours with advisors, and access to resources needed to get the idea(s) to launch.
TechStars “The number one startup accelerator in the world
TechStars offers seven programs in top startup locations (Boston, Boulder, Chicago, New York City, Seattle, London, and Austin), on a regular schedule, investing $118K in each company through $18,000 in seed funding and an optional $100,000 convertible debt note. Techstars itself is backed by over 75 different venture capital firms and angel investors who are vested in their success. Additionally, companies are provided three months of intensive mentorship, key resources, and the chance to pitch to angel investors and venture capitalists at the end of the program. Accepted companies average over $1.4 million in outside venture capital raised after leaving Techstars.
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