MassChallenge

  • Massachusetts, Israel, Mexico, Rhode Island, Switzerland, Texas
Websitemasschallenge.org

MassChallenge is a global, zero-equity startup accelerator, founded in Boston, Massachusetts in 2009.[citation needed]

MassChallenge is headquartered in Boston's Seaport District in the MassMutual Building, and has additional U.S. locations in Texas and Rhode Island, as well international locations in Israel, Mexico, and Switzerland.[1]

History

MassChallenge co-founders John Harthorne and Akhil Nigam were working as strategy consultants at Bain & Company during the global financial crisis in 2008 when they developed MassChallenge.[2] MassChallenge secured early support from successful entrepreneurs like Desh Deshpande and Joe Fallon, the public sector including Thomas Menino the then-Mayor of Boston and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and large organizations like The Blackstone Charitable Foundation and Microsoft.[3]

During its first Boston-based cohort in 2010, MassChallenge accelerated 111 startups.[4]

Notable alumni

  • JoyTunes, a music app producer[5]
  • Drync, a wine mobile app for iOS platforms[6]
  • Her Campus, an online newsmagazine for college women[7]
  • Global Research Innovation & Technology, manufacturer of the Leveraged Freedom Chair[8]
  • LiquiGlide, a plant-based liquid-impregnated surface coating
  • RallyPoint, a professional network for US military members[9]
  • Ministry of Supply, a business wear men's fashion brand[10]
  • Moneythink, a non-profit organization that places college volunteers in high school classrooms to teach courses in financial literacy and entrepreneurship[11]

References

  1. ^ Delaney, Erin. "MassChallenge Opens New Home for Innovation". MassChallenge.org. MassChallenge. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  2. ^ "MassChallenge's John Harthorne Explains How Startups Can Fix The World". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2019-02-14.
  3. ^ Colao, JJ (13 March 2012). "MassChallenge: A Colossal Startup Accelerator That's 100% Free". Forbes.
  4. ^ Kirsner, Scott (24 May 2011). "MassChallenge start-up competition picks 125 finalists for 2011". Boston.com. Retrieved 12 November 2012.
  5. ^ Empson, Rip. "JoyTunes Wants To Teach You To Play Real Instruments With Interactive Video Games". TechCrunch. Retrieved 12 November 2012.
  6. ^ "Drync". MassChallenge.org. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  7. ^ Alspach, Kyle. "Her Campus Media gets trademark for term 'collegiette'". Boston Business Journal. Retrieved 12 November 2012.
  8. ^ "GRIT". MassChallenge.org. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  9. ^ "Rallypoint". MassChallenge.org. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  10. ^ Alspach, Kyle. "Ministry of Supply breaks Kickstarter fashion record with $300K+ raised". Boston Business Journal. Retrieved 12 November 2012.
  11. ^ "Moneythink". MassChallenge.org. Retrieved 2014-06-18.

External links

  • Official website
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