MassVentures START Program

MassVentures runs START as a Massachusetts commercialization grant for companies that have already cleared federal SBIR or STTR Phase II. The program has operated since 2012 and is now in its 15th year, with a stated record of $41.7 million distributed to 141 companies, more than $5.1 billion in follow-on capital, and over 3,300 Massachusetts jobs created. START is non-dilutive grant funding in three rounds: 16 awards of $100,000 in Round 1, 7 awards of $200,000 in Round 2 for top Round 1 winners, and 3 Round 3 awards of up to $500,000. Massachusetts-based companies are eligible if they received SBIR Phase II funding within the past five years and are ready to commercialize their technology. The program works as a state-backed bridge from federal research to market traction, and its round structure rewards companies that can keep moving after the first award. The next application window reopens on February 1, 2027, so the fit is strongest for firms with a clear commercialization plan rather than an early research concept.

Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.