AcceleratorEquity-free

MassChallenge Boston

Boston, MA, United States

MassChallenge's flagship, equity-free Boston accelerator, one of the largest zero-equity programs in the world.

Location:
Boston, MA, United States
Duration:
16 weeks

What you need to qualify

  • Under 3 million US dollars in trailing 12-month revenue
  • Less than 5 million US dollars in equity funding
  • Traction evidenced by customer interviews, revenue, website traffic, letters of intent, technology readiness levels or preclinical progress
  • At least one founding team member available for the mandatory in-person sessions

Eligibility

Eligible stages
All stages
Countries
Global, subject to the provider’s eligibility and approval

How to apply

  1. 1

    Pick the US programme that matches your sector

    MassChallenge no longer runs one Boston-wide accelerator. US programming is split into Traction programmes for early-stage founders (Healthcare and Life Sciences, Security and Resiliency) and Challenge programmes run with corporate partners (Healthcare, FinTech).

  2. 2

    Create an account on the application portal

    Applications are submitted through accelerate.masschallenge.org, which requires you to register before starting a form.

  3. 3

    Submit before that programme's own closing date

    Each US programme runs its own application window, and there is no application fee.

  4. 4

    Join the waitlist when no window is open

    The Traction programme page offers a waitlist so US applicants are notified when the next programme is announced.

  5. 5

    Attend the in-person sessions

    US programming includes a 3 to 4 day kickoff in Boston and a 3 to 4 day mid-programme roadshow in Dallas, to connect founders with partners, clients, investors and mentors.

Frequently asked

No. The US early stage programme states a zero-equity model, so founders keep 100 percent ownership of the business.

Boston has been MassChallenge's global headquarters since 2009 and remains its main US hub, with focus areas listed as industry agnostic, FinTech, HealthTech and safety and security. Programming now runs as sector-specific Traction and Challenge programmes rather than one city-wide accelerator.

US early stage applicants need under 3 million US dollars in trailing 12-month revenue and less than 5 million US dollars in equity funding, with traction evidenced by things such as customer interviews, revenue, letters of intent or preclinical progress.

Length varies by track. MassChallenge has published US programmes of 10 and 12 weeks, plus 4-month Challenge programmes with corporate partners.

Register at accelerate.masschallenge.org and apply to the US programme whose window is open, or join the waitlist when none is.
General tech

Related programs

We have not been able to confirm a deadline for this one. Check the official page before you start.

Do I qualify?

2 things decide this one. Check yourself against them before you spend time on the form.

Stage
Idea, Pre-seed, Seed
Where it runs
United States. In person, so you need to be able to take part there
What you give up
No equity stated
Deadline
Not confirmed. Check the official page

That is the rulebook. What we cannot show you here is whether your startup clears it, how this ranks against the other programs you qualify for, and what to fix if you do not.

Check what I qualify for

Five questions, about a minute, no account needed.

Details from public sources, not yet verified by our team. Spotted something wrong?

Want these ranked for your startup?

Create a free profile and StartupFlow AI will score every program by fit and explain why each one matches you.

Get matched for free