About this programme
MassChallenge is a global startup accelerator network, born in Massachusetts in 2009 and now operating from US offices in Boston, MA and Dallas, TX, plus international hubs in Jerusalem (Israel), Renens (Switzerland) and London (UK). Per the official "About Us" page, since founding it has supported more than 5,000 startups, which have gone on to raise over $16B in follow-on funding, create roughly 90,000 jobs, and work with 500+ partner organisations worldwide.
Under the "Our Accelerators" umbrella, MassChallenge runs two program models. The Traction program targets pre-seed to Series A startups and focuses on go-to-market support, strategic exposure and early commercialization. The Challenge program is described as "partner driven," for mid-to-late stage startups: they are matched with a corporate partner to co-create solutions and build a pipeline toward pilot or commercial work with that partner.
Programs are organised around five "Challenge Areas" named on the official site — Healthcare & Life Sciences, Security & Resiliency, Sustainable Food Systems, Climate, and Global Financial Systems — rather than as a single always-open program.
Because Traction and Challenge cohorts open and close on their own calendars (the official page currently lists a 2027 Healthcare Challenge and a 2027 FinTech Challenge with applications opening later in 2027, and a 2026 Security & Resiliency Traction program whose application window closed July 9, 2026), the specific program a US startup can apply to at any given moment depends on which cycle is currently accepting applications — verify the live list at masschallenge.org/our-accelerators/ before applying.
How to apply
- Create a founder account at accelerate.masschallenge.org, MassChallenge's application portal.
- Check masschallenge.org/our-accelerators/ for which cohort is currently open and its application window — cycles open on their own sector-specific calendars rather than year-round.
- For questions not answered on the program pages, contact programs@masschallenge.org directly.
Frequently asked
What is MassChallenge?
A global startup accelerator network born in Massachusetts in 2009. It now runs programs from US offices in Boston, MA and Dallas, TX, plus hubs in Israel, Switzerland and the UK.
How many startups has MassChallenge supported?
Per its official About page, MassChallenge has supported more than 5,000 startups since 2009, which have collectively raised over $16B in follow-on funding and created roughly 90,000 jobs.
What is the difference between the Traction and Challenge programs?
Traction is aimed at pre-seed to Series A startups and focuses on go-to-market support and early commercialization. Challenge is a partner-driven model for mid-to-late stage startups, pairing them with a corporate partner to co-create solutions and pursue pilot or commercial opportunities with that partner.
What sectors do MassChallenge programs cover?
The official site organises programs around five Challenge Areas: Healthcare & Life Sciences, Security & Resiliency, Sustainable Food Systems, Climate, and Global Financial Systems.
When can a startup apply?
There is no single always-open application window — Traction and Challenge cohorts each run on their own calendar. Check masschallenge.org/our-accelerators/ for which program is currently accepting applications and its deadline.
How do I apply to a MassChallenge program?
Create an account at accelerate.masschallenge.org, MassChallenge's application portal, and apply to whichever cohort is currently open.
Who do I contact with questions about a specific program?
MassChallenge directs program questions to programs@masschallenge.org.
Reviewed 2026-08-16. Programmes change — confirm current eligibility, amounts and deadlines on the official page before you apply. CapEasy is a private consultancy and is not affiliated with any government authority.