Cambridge's top accelerators and incubators handpicked for you

MIT Solve serves as a marketplace for social impact and social entrepreneurship, effectively connecting startups with essential funding and resources to tackle global challenges. One of its notable initiatives is the Unbundle Policing: Reimagine Public Safety Challenge, which aims to reduce unnecessary law enforcement encounters in the United States and promote community well-being. This accelerator program spans six months and provides $50,000 in immediate funding for each selected team to develop or scale their solutions. Additional funding opportunities, with more than $1 million available, may be accessible post-accelerator for some teams. The challenge encourages a variety of innovative solutions, including alternatives to police responses for non-violent 911 calls, enhancing transparency, and improving officer recruitment and support. By reimagining public safety, the organization strives to foster trust and ensure equal justice for all individuals in affected communities. The Stand Together Ventures Lab partners with it to amplify the impact of these efforts, ensuring that effective and collaborative community-based alternatives to traditional policing can be developed and implemented.

MIT Solve's Website

This organization operates a free and confidential mentoring program dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship within the MIT community. Established in 2000, it has mentored over 4,400 entrepreneurs across diverse industries, including edtech, healthcare tech, and social media. The program connects aspiring entrepreneurs with a dynamic group of nearly 200 volunteer mentors, who provide expert guidance in areas such as marketing, branding, product design, financials, and funding. It encourages innovation by supporting ventures across all sectors, ensuring that participants receive the necessary resources and networks to succeed. Entrepreneurs can engage with the program for as long as needed, reflecting its commitment to ongoing support. Notably, startups associated with the initiative have advanced to prestigious accelerators like Y Combinator, which exemplifies its effectiveness. In collaboration with the National Science Foundations I-Corps program, the organization also helps bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and commercial application. Through its strict code of ethics, it ensures that all interactions remain confidential, solidifying its reputation as a crucial resource for MIT students, faculty, postdocs, staff, and alumni with business or non-profit ideas.

MIT Venture Mentoring Service's Website

The MIT Innovation Initiative is a dynamic program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology that supports innovation-driven entrepreneurship across its diverse community. By engaging all five schools, it connects various pathways and networks to facilitate the transition of powerful ideas from conception to impactful solutions. Specializing in multiple domains, the initiative leverages strengths in artificial intelligence, biotechnology, clean energy, education technology, and robotics. The ecosystem provides unparalleled access to cutting-edge research, distinguished faculty, and top-tier facilities, enhancing the entrepreneurial experience. Start-ups benefit from mentorship, networking opportunities, workshops, and pitch competitions, fostering collaboration with industry partners and potential customers. A robust network of alumni and industry connections further supports these efforts, ensuring that start-ups are well-positioned for success. This holistic approach solidifies the institution's reputation as a leading hub for entrepreneurship and technological advancement, equipping innovators to drive their ideas into the marketplace effectively.

MIT Innovation Initiative's Website

Part of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, this innovative program is dedicated to fostering student entrepreneurship. It provides essential seed funding, mentorship from faculty, and an extensive network of partners, along with tailored educational experiences aimed at nurturing student-led ventures. Open to both undergraduate and graduate students, the initiative encourages participants from diverse fields to explore their entrepreneurial ideas while seamlessly integrating with their academic commitments. With access to a dedicated co-working space at MIT InnovationHQ, students benefit from collaboration and resources designed to empower them to tackle real-world problems. While the exact number of start-ups associated is not specified, it is known to support multiple student-led ventures. The organization specifically embraces risk-taking and innovation across various domains, ensuring inclusivity for MIT's 11,000 graduate and undergraduate students. By providing internship opportunities with program teams, they help cultivate practical skills in entrepreneurship within a supportive ecosystem. Ultimately, this initiative prepares students to launch their entrepreneurial endeavors, fostering a culture of innovation and problem-solving.

MIT Sandbox's Website

The Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship offers the MIT delta v educational accelerator, a capstone experience designed for students to successfully launch their ventures. This intensive program runs from June to early September, engaging teams full-time in a co-working environment at the Trust Center on the MIT campus or the NYC location. Participants define their target markets, conduct primary research, and validate hypotheses with potential customers while building and nurturing founding teams. The program emphasizes peer learning, featuring weekly progress updates and fostering a strong entrepreneurial community among participants. Mentorship includes personalized coaching sessions and connections with industry experts. Monthly simulated 'board meetings' allow teams to receive unbiased feedback from leaders in the field. Additionally, an optional fundraising extension enables teams to prepare for fundraising opportunities, culminating in pitches to investors in New York and California. Each month, milestone money is awarded as determined by the organizing team and advisory board, providing further support for the startups. By offering a comprehensive ecosystem of education, mentorship, and funding, the program equips student entrepreneurs with essential tools to thrive in the startup landscape.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Martin Trust Center's Website

The program is dedicated to fostering technology entrepreneurship in emerging regions. Its aim is to cultivate young technology entrepreneurs by collaborating with universities worldwide, where students and alumni serve as instructors, mentors, and facilitators. Participants receive training to conduct technology incubator courses globally, providing them with hands-on experience in ideation, market research, pitching, and exploring real-world technology platforms. This initiative has successfully produced revenue-generating startups in mobile applications and Internet technologies. Courses typically last several weeks and are conducted in diverse global locations, allowing individuals to immerse themselves in various cultures while pursuing their entrepreneurial ambitions. Emphasizing innovation and practical skills, the program covers multiple technology domains, including Edtech, General Tech, and Mobile Apps. Participants benefit from travel allowances and stipends, fostering engagement with local communities, startups, and venture capitalists. Additionally, it plays a critical role in building local skills and establishing sustainable programs in partner universities, transforming them into regional innovation centers.

MIT Global Startup Labs's Website

This prominent startup accelerator within the MIT Startup Exchange focuses on 25 'industry-ready' startups that have demonstrated exceptional performance through early use cases, client engagements, demonstrations, or partnerships. Each participant benefits from a dedicated team member from the Startup Exchange, who facilitates targeted connections within the extensive corporate network of the Industrial Liaison Program (ILP). The program runs for twelve months, providing invaluable resources and support to foster growth. Startups gain visibility for their innovations through speaking opportunities at significant events held at MIT and beyond. Participants engage in workshops, video shoots, and photoshoots, and they become part of the exclusive Founders Group. They are encouraged to pitch to executives at workshop events, enhancing their participation with allocated travel stipends for events outside of MIT. This dynamic ecosystem supports startups across diverse industries, including EdTech, helping them refine presentations and explore potential collaborations with industry leaders.

Stex25's Website

A key player in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in Cambridge, this organization aims to 'fix the world through innovation.' They offer a variety of workspaces and innovation-focused communities tailored to small and growing companies. Notable programs include Accelerate Cambridge, an 11-week structured initiative by the Judge Business School, which provides entrepreneurial education through talks, workshops, and mentoring. The Impulse Programme, running annually from late April to mid-July, features workshops, industry mentoring, and investor pitch sessions. Additionally, the Accelerator to Net Zero II is a six-week virtual program designed for startups in sustainability-driven markets, culminating in a Demo Day. Specializing in domains such as Artificial Intelligence, technology, and renewable energy, the institution actively supports an entrepreneurial ecosystem. Members enjoy access to equipped laboratories, mentorship, investor introductions, and world-class IT infrastructure. Founded by Dougan Sherwood, Stas Gayshan, and Tim Rowe, it plays a vital role in connecting innovators and contributing to both local and global challenges in the business landscape.

Cambridge Innovation Center's Website

The program, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, serves as a pivotal platform for German startups in the life sciences sector striving for global expansion. Nestled within the Cambridge Innovation Center, it thrives in a dynamic ecosystem rich with biotech firms, renowned hospitals, and prestigious educational institutions. The initiative supports startups working across diverse domains: diagnostics, digital health, medical devices, therapeutics, and platform technologies, empowering them to develop effective therapies and innovative medical products that cater to a global patient base. Key benefits include tailored market access strategies, a broad global network of strategic partners, and invaluable unbiased assistance without any fees or equity taken. Startups receive personalized support through strategic leads and expert mentors, engaging in specialized workshops designed to equip them for international markets. Spearheaded by a core team including founders Andy Goldstein, Dietmar Harhoff, and Dirk Kanngiesser, the program operates under the auspices of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy. This initiative ultimately fosters the growth of impactful health innovations within the thriving global marketplace.

German Accelerator - Life Sciences's Website

Cogo Labs is a technology-driven venture accelerator based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, dedicated to building companies and accelerating careers within the Boston tech community and broader entrepreneurial ecosystem. Focusing on a data-driven approach, the organization supports startups through a robust technology and operations platform, utilizing expertise in algorithmic marketing, data mining, and quantitative business analytics across various domains, including Artificial Intelligence, General Tech, and SaaS. Founded by David Blundin and Micah Adler, it has positioned itself as a key player in nurturing some of the areas fastest-growing web companies, providing invaluable insights and shared lessons from its network of incubated startups. The incubator emphasizes incubation as a service, equipping startups with the necessary tools and frameworks for success.

Cogo Labs's Website

MassBio - Massachusetts Biotechnology Council is an association of over 650 biotechnology companies dedicated to advancing the state's leadership in the life sciences industry. The organization's mission is to grow the industry, enhance the healthcare system, and ultimately improve patient lives. One of its key initiatives is the MassBioDrive biotech accelerator program, which recently announced the Spring 2024 cohort featuring five emerging biotech companies from Massachusetts and California. The cohort includes startups such as DoriNano, Hestia Therapeutics, Koi Biotherapeutics, Nucyrna Therapeutics, and Sphinxion Therapeutics, each specializing in different areas within the life sciences field. These startups will benefit from a program running from April to May, culminating in a Demo Day on May 22, where they will pitch their innovations. MassBioDrive offers these startups a market-focused launchpad with training, resources, and networks, all without taking equity, to support their growth and development. By nurturing early-stage startups and academic founders, MassBio plays a crucial role in driving innovation and delivering better treatments to patients in the biotech industry.

MassBio - Massachusetts Biotechnology Council's Website

A key initiative that bridges Switzerland with the USA in the realms of education, research, innovation, and the arts, the organization focuses on three primary accelerator programs for Swiss startups. These include Climate Collider, which facilitates collaboration on energy transition solutions; Innosuisse Internationalization Camps, designed to enhance global outreach; and Venture Leaders, aimed at supporting promising startups on their international journey. The duration of these programs typically spans several weeks, emphasizing networking, mentorship, and collaboration. Focus areas of the accelerator encompass climate and sustainability, quantum science and technology, as well as arts, design, and innovation. Startups benefit from substantial networking opportunities, gaining access to research institutions, universities, and innovation hubs, thereby enhancing their global reach. Participation in innovation roadshows allows startups to showcase their solutions to a wider audience. The impact of the institutions initiatives is evident through successful collaborations and connections across various industries, including clean energy and edtech.

swissnex Boston's Website

ScaleUp Latam is an international accelerator focused on connecting high potential Latin American startups with global markets, networks, and capital. Operating as a network of advanced cross-border accelerator platforms, the organization currently has accelerators in Boston, Colombia, and Mexico, with plans to open additional ones in Chile and Peru. Entrepreneurs who join ScaleUp Latam become lifelong members of a community comprising mentors, fellow entrepreneurs, and industry experts. While specific metrics like the number of associated startups, investors, funded startups, and program duration are not explicitly provided, the accelerator aims to support Latin American startups across various sectors. Benefits for participants typically include mentorship, networking opportunities, workshops, investor connections, and resources to facilitate international scaling. The institution is sector agnostic and seeks to foster the growth and international expansion of startups from the region.

ScaleUp Latam's Website

ScaleUp Labs is an accelerator and startup studio firm founded in 2022 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The organization specializes in investing in startups across various domains, including robotics, artificial intelligence, mobility, clean technology, Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, software, industrials, and health technology. Although no investments have been made yet, similar accelerator programs typically run for several months, suggesting a structured approach to startup development. The accelerator offers numerous benefits to its portfolio companies, likely including a one-week bootcamp, interactive workshops, consulting sessions, business support services, and personalized mentoring from experienced faculty members and advisors. Through its diverse focus on innovative technologies, it positions itself as a significant player in nurturing the next generation of impactful startups.

ScaleUp Labs's Website