CriticalMass

CriticalMass

Supports near-commercial Massachusetts cleantech teams through CriticalMass with matching funds that de-risk scale up steps.

⚠ This may reflect a past cycle — verify the current call on the funder's site.

CriticalMass is a Massachusetts Clean Energy Center grant program targeting near-commercial cleantech companies at Technology Readiness Level 8 or above. The program awards up to $1,000,000 per project, with approximately three awards made per round from a $3 million total round pool. A 25% cost-share is required, of which 80% may be satisfied through in-kind contributions and only 20% must be cash. The 2026 round closed on 7 April 2026 with award decisions expected in July 2026. Only for-profit companies are eligible.

Applicants must be Massachusetts-based and must own proprietary technology — technology that is entirely licensed in does not qualify. The company must have completed at least one successful prior pilot project. The TRL 8 floor is assessed at time of application, not at projected completion of the funded project. A maximum of two applications may be submitted per applicant per round, with only one award permitted per applicant. Informal guidance from MassCEC suggests the typical successful profile is a company that has raised at least $4 million and employs between 10 and 50 staff, though these are not stated as hard eligibility gates. Eligible technology areas are Clean Transportation, High Performance Buildings, Net Zero Grid, and Offshore Wind.

Because only three awards are issued from a $3 million pool, CriticalMass is highly selective and positions Massachusetts as a partner in final commercial scale-up. Applicants with demonstrated pilot data, a named deployment partner, and a clear path to revenue within 24 months of award are best placed to win. US headquarters, a US W-9, a US bank account, and a requirement that at least 50% of employees work or reside in the US are all administrative prerequisites that must be confirmed before submission.