BOSTON, Mass. – The Healey-Driscoll administration and the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative’s (MassTech) Innovation Institute today announced $2,553,625 in grants to four Entrepreneur Support Organizations (ESOs) focused on startup growth across key innovation sectors in Massachusetts. The funds were provided through the Sector Spark grant program, a statewide initiative that provides ESOs with the resources they need to build or scale specialized mentorship, accelerator or other startup support programs.
The funding, which includes $800,000 in programming dollars and $1.75 million in capital infrastructure funds, will accelerate startup development and economic growth in some of Massachusetts’ priority industries including artificial intelligence (AI), bioindustrial manufacturing, marine tech, quantum biology, and utilities.
“Massachusetts’ innovation economy is powered by creative startups building new technologies that will disrupt sectors and create opportunities for future growth,” said Massachusetts Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao. “The Sector Spark program demonstrates our state’s commitment to supporting early-stage companies and providing them with the resources needed to expand their operations and network with industry leaders.”
“These four ESOs are catalysts for innovation, creating the foundation for transformative partnerships and breakthrough technologies across Massachusetts,” said MassTech Innovation Institute Director Pat Larkin. “Through Sector Spark, we’re not only supporting the growth of startups, but also strengthening the collaborative ecosystems that will drive long-term growth, opportunity and impact for founders across the Commonwealth."
The four grant recipients are:
- InnoVenture Labs (Beverly, MA) - InnoVenture Labs, a startup incubator specializing in cleantech and biotech, received $200,000 to establish the Connected Grid Alliance in partnership with the Massachusetts Light Commissioners Association. The Connected Grid Alliance aims to integrate advanced technologies such as AI and cybersecurity into the operations of municipal electric utilities. InnoVenture Labs will run at least two cohorts to prepare startups for municipal partnerships through tailored workshops, strategic mentorship and real-world pilot project opportunities to bridge the gap between innovation and and adoption in the public utility sector.
We are excited to receive a Sector Spark grant to launch the Connected Grid Alliance, which will connect AI, cybersecurity, and hardware startups with municipal electric utilities,” said InnoVenture Labs Chief Executive Officer Chris Ilsley. “This initiative will create new pathways to strengthen and modernize infrastructure in Massachusetts and beyond, enhancing resilience and sustainability. We are especially grateful for the continued support of the Healey-Driscoll administration, whose commitment to innovation and infrastructure development makes this work possible.” - LabCentral (Cambridge, MA) -LabCentral, a launchpad for high-potential life sciences startups, has been awarded a total of $1,953,625 ($200,000 for programming and $1,753,625 for capital improvements) to launch the first “Applied AI”-program targeting breakthroughs in biotech in Massachusetts. LabCentral will partner with C10 Labs, an AI Venture Studio, to run two cohorts of their new studio program with the goal of supporting at least 30 early-stage startups. The majority of LabCentral’s grant will be used to enhance LabCentral’s lab space with advanced research equipment and edge-computing capabilities to meet the needs of companies operating at the intersection of AI and biotech.“Thank you to MassTech for their vision in supporting the development of a new set of resources for techbio entrepreneurs in Massachusetts,” said LabCentral Chief Operating Officer Maggie O’Toole.
“We are grateful for their trust and confidence in our work as a growth driver for the Commonwealth and are excited to continue delivering innovative solutions for this growing sector of innovators.” - SeaAhead (Cambridge, MA) - SeaAhead, an organization that supports bluetech startups, received $200,000 (in partnership with Legacy Global) to launch the In-Water Piloting Accelerator, a program designed to help bring marine technologies to market. Participating startups will receive technical support and mentorship while conducting pilot projects to validate their technologies at test sites along the Massachusetts coast in cities and towns such as Boston, Gloucester, Falmouth, New Bedford and Plymouth. The program strengthens the state’s bluetech innovation ecosystem by helping startups overcome commercialization barriers.
"The Sector Spark award for in-water piloting accelerates ocean innovation in Massachusetts by connecting startups with partners and test sites to validate and commercialize cutting-edge technologies,” said SeaAhead Vice President of Platform and Programs Nadir Ait-Laoussine. “This initiative strengthens the Commonwealth’s leadership in climatetech, driving economic growth and real impact for our oceans and coastal communities. For SeaAhead, it reinforces our mission to support and scale the next generation of blue technology companies, ensuring they have the resources to thrive and a commercialization pathway." - SundAI Club (Cambridge, MA) - SundAI Club, an AI-prototyping studio, received $200,000 to support its “Sundai Hacks,” 12-hour weekly prototyping sessions where teams rapidly brainstorm, validate and develop AI-powered applications. The Sector Spark grant will help SundAI Club enhance its hack sessions, provide extra support for aspiring startup founders looking to transition their AI product from “hack” to startup, and spread its educational content and rapid-prototyping framework to more communities throughout Massachusetts. Complementing these hacks are tailored workshops for founders and innovators, mentorship opportunities and a focus on community building through open-source projects and active online platforms.
“Together with Artem Lukoianov and Gabriela Torres, we will build a sustainable infrastructure to expand Sundai beyond our existing 150+ AI projects and 1,100 innovators in MA, focusing on creating greater impact for AI entrepreneurs throughout the region,” said SundAI Club Co-President Serge Vasylechko.
The four grantees were selected through a rigorous competitive process that prioritized projects with exceptional potential for startup acceleration and sector-wide growth. In total, the grantees estimate the funding will directly support more than 70 startups, with broader impacts including job creation, outside investment and statewide economic activity in these critical sectors.
About the Innovation Institute at the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MassTech)
The Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MassTech) is a quasi-public economic development agency that strengthens the competitiveness of the tech and innovation economy by driving strategic investments, partnerships, and insights that harness the talent of Massachusetts.
The Innovation Institute is the division of MassTech created in 2003 that advances innovation and cluster growth across the state in four ways:
- Conducts research and analysis that improves the state's understanding of unmet needs and opportunities in the innovation economy
- Serves as a convener and key strategic broker within various sectors
- Manages high-value projects on behalf of the state
- Makes strategic investments in support of innovation-based economic development
For more information, visit https://innovation.masstech.org/.
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