MassVentures START Grant

MassVentures START Grant is sponsored by MassVentures (Commonwealth of Massachusetts). This competitive non-dilutive award from Massachusetts supports the commercialization of federally funded innovation. It helps transition technologies, including robotics, into commercial products and job creation within the state.

SBIR START Grant Program by MassVentures SBIR Targeted Technologies "START" Grants The application window will reopen February 1st, 2027. The SBIR Targeted Technologies (START) Grants help Massachusetts-based startups convert research developed under SBIR and STTR contracts into businesses and jobs in Massachusetts. START offers MA-based, SBIR Phase II companies grants and business guidance to help them commercialize their technologies.

The program awards: 16 "Round 1" grants of $100,000 each; 7 "Round 2" grants of $200,000 each to the most promising Round 1 winners from the previous year and; 3 "Round 3" opportunities: up to $500,000 each of seed capital in a commercial spinout from the most successful Round 2 companies. The application window will reopen February 1st, 2027. More than a Decade of Success Since 2012, MassVentures' START Program has granted $46.

2 million to 157 companies that have gone on to raise more than $5 billion and employ more than 3,400 people in the Commonwealth. Read some of their stories below. Emvolon (Woburn) is commercializing a platform technology that converts greenhouse gas emissions into carbon-negative fuels and chemicals today.

Emvolon (Woburn) is commercializing a platform technology that converts greenhouse gas emissions into carbon-negative fuels and chemicals today.

AutonomUS Medical Technologies (Cambridge) is developing “The Pocket Interventionalist™,” a handheld device that combines artificial intelligence, ultrasound, and robotics to perform critical medical procedures quickly, safely, and reliably across civilian, military, and point-of-care environments.

AutonomUS Medical Technologies (Cambridge) is developing “The Pocket Interventionalist™,” a handheld device that combines artificial intelligence, ultrasound, and robotics to perform critical medical procedures quickly, safely, and reliably across civilian, military, and point-of-care environments. Enigma Aerospace (Burlington) is redefining logistics with ultra long-range, autonomous cargo aircraft designed for dual-use applications.

Enigma Aerospace (Burlington) is redefining logistics with ultra long-range, autonomous cargo aircraft designed for dual-use applications. AiRANACULUS (Lowell) is building the future of adaptive, high-performance communications for the world’s most demanding environments with intelligent RF, passive sensing and networking technology that senses, adapts, and reconfigures in real time.

AiRANACULUS (Lowell) is building the future of adaptive, high-performance communications for the world’s most demanding environments with intelligent RF, passive sensing and networking technology that senses, adapts, and reconfigures in real time. BioDevek (Cambridge) is building the next generation of minimally invasive bleeding control with a sprayable liquid bandage that instantly seals and protects tissue during endoscopy.

BioDevek (Cambridge) is building the next generation of minimally invasive bleeding control with a sprayable liquid bandage that instantly seals and protects tissue during endoscopy.

CranioSense (Bedford) is building the first noninvasive platform to measure intracranial pressure, delivering a fast, accurate, and low-cost alternative to today’s invasive, high-risk methods and providing broader access to neurological assessments that are only done on 1% of at-risk patients today.

CranioSense (Bedford) is building the first noninvasive platform to measure intracranial pressure, delivering a fast, accurate, and low-cost alternative to today’s invasive, high-risk methods and providing broader access to neurological assessments that are only done on 1% of at-risk patients today.

EvoDenovo (Andover) is developing a breakthrough, rapid-acting biologic to transform the standard of care for severe and treatment-resistant depression. EvoDenovo (Andover) is developing a breakthrough, rapid-acting biologic to transform the standard of care for severe and treatment-resistant depression. GelSight (Waltham) is commercializing high-resolution tactile sensing technology for robotics and manufacturing.

Its elastomeric sensing platform gives robots a human-like sense of touch for dexterous manipulation while enabling fast, non-destructive 3D inspection that helps manufacturers detect defects, improve quality, and bring greater intelligence to industrial automation. GelSight (Waltham) is commercializing high-resolution tactile sensing technology for robotics and manufacturing.

Its elastomeric sensing platform gives robots a human-like sense of touch for dexterous manipulation while enabling fast, non-destructive 3D inspection that helps manufacturers detect defects, improve quality, and bring greater intelligence to industrial automation. RISE Robotics (Somerville) is electrifying heavy machinery by replacing traditional hydraulics with high-efficiency, fluid-free actuation systems.

Its patented Beltdraulic™ technology delivers hydraulic-level force with greater speed, precision, efficiency, and digital control. RISE Robotics (Somerville) is electrifying heavy machinery by replacing traditional hydraulics with high-efficiency, fluid-free actuation systems. Its patented Beltdraulic™ technology delivers hydraulic-level force with greater speed, precision, efficiency, and digital control.

PhagePro, P. B. C .

(Mansfield) is an early-stage biotech startup reimagining bacterial outbreak prevention with rapid-response, oral bacteriophage-based prophylactics. PhagePro, P. B.

C . (Mansfield) is an early-stage biotech startup reimagining bacterial outbreak prevention with rapid-response, oral bacteriophage-based prophylactics. Highland Instruments (Cambridge) is innovating ESStim™, a novel noninvasive brain stimulation platform to help patients address Parkinson's Disease.

Highland Instruments (Cambridge) is innovating ESStim™, a novel noninvasive brain stimulation platform to help patients address Parkinson's Disease. Nanopath (Cambridge) is a diagnostics company pioneering the use of plasmonic biosensing to enable point-of-care molecular diagnostics for women's health applications.

Nanopath (Cambridge) is a diagnostics company pioneering the use of plasmonic biosensing to enable point-of-care molecular diagnostics for women's health applications. Koi Biotherapeutics (Boston), a spinout of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, is developing a protein-based technology designed to improve the activity, persistence, and durability of engineered cell therapies such as CAR-T.

Koi Biotherapeutics (Boston), a spinout of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, is developing a protein-based technology designed to improve the activity, persistence, and durability of engineered cell therapies such as CAR-T.

Limax Biosciences (Boston) has developed a hydrogel-based tissue adhesive platform that delivers rapid, durable bonding to wet tissue surfaces, up to 100–1000× stronger than competing products, to transform biosurgery and integrated drug delivery.

Limax Biosciences (Boston) has developed a hydrogel-based tissue adhesive platform that delivers rapid, durable bonding to wet tissue surfaces, up to 100–1000× stronger than competing products, to transform biosurgery and integrated drug delivery.

Matrisome Bio (Cambridge) By unlocking the tumor matrix as a powerful therapeutic platform, Matrisome Bio is tackling the largest unmet need in oncology: metastatic solid tumors that often evade traditional cell-targeted therapies.

Matrisome Bio (Cambridge) By unlocking the tumor matrix as a powerful therapeutic platform, Matrisome Bio is tackling the largest unmet need in oncology: metastatic solid tumors that often evade traditional cell-targeted therapies.

Myrias Optics, Inc. (Amherst) focuses on metaoptics, diffractive optics, and AR waveguides, delivering wafer-level optical solutions that integrate advanced nanostructures with cost-efficient, high-throughput manufacturing.

Myrias Optics, Inc. (Amherst) focuses on metaoptics, diffractive optics, and AR waveguides, delivering wafer-level optical solutions that integrate advanced nanostructures with cost-efficient, high-throughput manufacturing.

Optical Waters (Amherst) is developing patent-pending ultraviolet optical fiber solutions that emit germicidal UV light along their entire length to disinfect small channels, complex geometries, and narrow-diameter tubing where traditional disinfection methods cannot reach.

Optical Waters (Amherst) is developing patent-pending ultraviolet optical fiber solutions that emit germicidal UV light along their entire length to disinfect small channels, complex geometries, and narrow-diameter tubing where traditional disinfection methods cannot reach. Venova Technologies (Cambridge) is developing a novel female contraceptive device designed to be highly effective, long-acting, and side-effect-free.

Venova Technologies (Cambridge) is developing a novel female contraceptive device designed to be highly effective, long-acting, and side-effect-free. Bloomer Tech (Boston) is making cardiovascular disease visible in women at its earliest, most treatable stages.

Its clinically validated Bloomer TAG™ (a medical-grade wearable bra) and digital biomarker platform addresses one of the largest and most costly blind spots in cardiovascular care. Bloomer Tech (Boston) is making cardiovascular disease visible in women at its earliest, most treatable stages.

Its clinically validated Bloomer TAG™ (a medical-grade wearable bra) and digital biomarker platform addresses one of the largest and most costly blind spots in cardiovascular care. Optigon (Somerville) is developing high-speed research instruments and manufacturing inspection tools to accelerate the deployment of solar photovoltaics and other advanced material technologies.

Optigon (Somerville) is developing high-speed research instruments and manufacturing inspection tools to accelerate the deployment of solar photovoltaics and other advanced material technologies. Qunett (Boston) is building the foundational hardware stack for scalable, platform-agnostic quantum networks, paving the way for global quantum connectivity.

Qunett (Boston) is building the foundational hardware stack for scalable, platform-agnostic quantum networks, paving the way for global quantum connectivity. Qunett (Boston) is building the foundational hardware stack for scalable, platform-agnostic quantum networks, paving the way for global quantum connectivity.

Sangtera (Lowell) is developing a breakthrough electrostatic actuation system, delivering high performance in an ultra-compact form factor, for applications from robotics to semiconductor advanced packaging. Sangtera (Lowell) is developing a breakthrough electrostatic actuation system, delivering high performance in an ultra-compact form factor, for applications from robotics to semiconductor advanced packaging.

rStream (Somerville) deploys AI-driven waste sorting systems to help the largest events in the world recycle effectively. rStream (Somerville) deploys AI-driven waste sorting systems to help the largest events in the world recycle effectively.

SpaceRake (Watertown) is building software-defined laser mesh networks for drones, ground vehicles, and satellites to deliver secure and interference-free connectivity for military and industrial platforms. SpaceRake (Watertown) is building software-defined laser mesh networks for drones, ground vehicles, and satellites to deliver secure and interference-free connectivity for military and industrial platforms.

Valis Insights (Worcester) is building AI-powered solutions that make recycling more profitable, material supply chains more sustainable, and close the loop on a circular economy for metal production. Valis Insights (Worcester) is building AI-powered solutions that make recycling more profitable, material supply chains more sustainable, and close the loop on a circular economy for metal production.

InnoTech Precision Medicine (Natick/Cambridge) has developed a pioneering liquid biopsy platform that integrates cancer-risk and host-response biomarkers with AI decision support.

With a beachhead market in head and neck cancer, the breakthrough technology addresses the clinical challenge forcing doctors to choose between missing cancers or subjecting more patients to unnecessary biopsies, delivering same-visit answers for 40 million at-risk Americans.

InnoTech Precision Medicine (Natick/Cambridge) has developed a pioneering liquid biopsy platform that integrates cancer-risk and host-response biomarkers with AI decision support.

With a beachhead market in head and neck cancer, the breakthrough technology addresses the clinical challenge forcing doctors to choose between missing cancers or subjecting more patients to unnecessary biopsies, delivering same-visit answers for 40 million at-risk Americans. Aclarity has developed a proprietary electrochemical treatment system that cost-effectively destroys contaminants in water.

It is the first company to commercialize a system for destroying "forever chemicals" or PFAS, ubiquitous water pollutants that have been linked to hormone disruption, cancer and other health issues. Aclarity's innovation addresses a $30 billion+ problem, eliminating PFAS wastewater management and disposal while improving human health.

The company raised a Seed Round in 2022 for field deployment with Burnt Island Ventures, DCVC, and MassVentures. Electrified Thermal Solutions (Medford) Industrial heat is responsible for 20% of global emissions; yet scalable, clean solutions remain scarce.

Even with access to clean hydropower, geothermal, and hydrogen, today’s electric boilers often come at a prohibitive cost premium and cannot achieve the temperatures required of industries like steel and glass. Electrified Thermal overcame these hurdles using low-cost materials that operate both as heating coil and heating storage.

The Joule Hive Thermal Battery’s electrically conductive firebricks store and release heat efficiently, reaching industrial-grade temperatures upwards of 1,800°C. The system allows use of renewable and off-peak electricity, and sets a new standard for cost-effective, low-maintenance heat storage.

The company is advancing toward commercial demonstration, positioning the JHTB as a scalable solution to decarbonize high-temperature processes across a wide range of sectors. A spinout from MIT, Emvolon is commercializing a platform technology that converts greenhouse gas emissions into valuable green chemicals and fuels like methanol and ammonia.

Industries such as maritime, aviation, energy, waste management, and agriculture power the global economy and Emvolon is helping them power it without emissions. Leveraging their patented technology, Emvolon transforms car engines into cost-effective, modular and scalable chemical plants. The company is pushing the boundaries of clean energy innovation and accelerating the transition to a carbon-negative future.

With the help of the START grant, Emvolon was able to reach technical and business milestones critical to c ommercialization. EnVision Endoscopy (Waltham) EnVision Endoscopy is developing novel devices for gastrointestinal endoscopic surgery to improve patients’ lives and healthcare delivery with less invasive endoluminal endoscopic procedures.

Currently, no good solutions exist for tissue approximation and closure of large gastrointestinal defects endoscopically. Endoscopic clips are only effective for mucosa closure and small size defects and the endoscopic suturing devices on the market are very cumbersome, difficult to use, and high cost often precludes usage.

To solve this problem, EnVision is developing a simple and low cost Suturing System [SimpleStitch (TM)] for tissue approximation and endoluminal management of gastrointestinal defects. Their novel suturing device is single use, disposable and works with every endoscope. EnVision just received FDA approval for its first device [SimpleSnip (TM) Suture Cutter], a device to cut sutures during endoscopy procedures.

EnVision is a START Stage III winner on track to revolutionize endoscopic surgery. Eyebot’s mission is to make vision care accessible to everyone, equally. Eyebot uses advanced AI-driven algorithms and touch-free imaging technology to conduct 90-second vision tests, enabling tele-doctors to write accurate and well-tolerated eyeglass prescriptions remotely.

The AI analyzes the collected test data from refraction, visual acuity, lensometry, and intake to suggest a well-tolerated Rx to the tele-doctor who will then make adjustments to the Rx or directly approve the Eyebot-generated Rx. The START grant has been instrumental in helping to advance their mission as it allowed them to hire an Engineering Technician and bring assembly of their vision testing kiosks in-house.

PhagePro is reimagining how the world prevents bacterial outbreaks. Their lead program is ProphaLytic-Vc, an easy-to-use, shelf-stable bacteriophage-based therapeutic designed to stop cholera before it spreads. This past year, they’ve made major strides: sharpening their clinical plan, strengthening their manufacturing work, and laying the groundwork for their first-in-human study.

Working in infectious diseases and global health is a challenging space, and the MassVentures START grant has made a meaningful difference. It allowed them to bring on fractional senior leaders with decades of experience running and designing clinical programs, which accelerated their regulatory timeline by a full year and gave them the momentum and confidence to move forward faster.

START didn’t just support their science; it strengthened their ability to deliver antibacterial solutions for everyone, everywhere, and helped them keep critical work moving in an uncertain and complex environment. Phoenix Tailings (Woburn) This startup is changing the world by rethinking metals production.

Each year the mining industry discards over 200 billion tons of waste (tailings), producing more than 7% of the world’s carbon emissions. Phoenix Tailings is on a mission to be the world’s first clean mining and metals production company. The company is changing how these metals are produced by extracting valuable metals and rare earth elements from mining waste.

Their process uses clean energy sources and produces zero waste, creating a cleaner supply chain. Phoenix Tailings has raised over $100 million in private capital and received a conditional commitment of $500 million from the U.S. Department of War’s Office of Strategic Capital for the construction of the Freedom Facility, a fully integrated domestic rare earth separation and metallization platform.

Learn More About Past Winners Announcing 2025 START Winners START Winners Tackle Big Environmental Challenges Announcing 2024 START Winners Announcing 2023 START Winners Announcing 2022 START Winners 2021 START Winners Reshape the Present & Future of Life Sciences Team Massachusetts is excited to connect you with the latest and most relevant resources available for businesses.

We’re here to support you every step of the way as your company grows. Through the Business Front Door, we can make your business journey in Massachusetts a successful one. Learn more at www.

mass. gov/business-front-door . Team Massachusetts is excited to connect you with the latest and most relevant resources available for businesses.

We’re here to support you every step of the way as your company grows. Through the Business Front Door, we can make your business journey in Massachusetts a successful one. Learn more at www.

mass. gov/business-front-door . Team Massachusetts is excited to connect you with the latest and most relevant resources available for businesses.

We’re here to support you every step of the way as your company grows. Through the Business Front Door, we can make your business journey in Massachusetts a successful one. Learn more at www.

mass. gov/business-front-door .