THRiVE in Mass Grant Program

THRiVE in Mass Grant Program is a grant from MassVentures that funds Massachusetts institutions of higher education and their nonprofit affiliates to employ STEM entrepreneurs as part-time residents under cap-exempt H-1B visa sponsorship. The program supports foreign-born entrepreneurs who have completed a master's or doctoral degree and wish to build startups in Massachusetts.

Grants offset employment costs and associated legal fees for H-1B visa applications. Up to 19 awards of $10,000 each are available on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted. Eligible applicants must be accredited Massachusetts colleges, universities, or their nonprofit affiliates.

THRiVE in Mass Grant Program Talent H-1B Retention Visas for Entrepreneurs (THRiVE) in Massachusetts Grants The THRiVE in Mass grant program is based on a Global Entrepreneur in Residence (GEiR) model which leverages universities' cap-exempt H-1B status to extend visas to STEM entrepreneurs building startups in the ecosystem.

Specifically, this grant supports institutions of higher education or their nonprofit affiliates who seek the part-time employment of entrepreneurs who meet the following criteria: are not citizens of the United States, desire to move to or remain in the Commonwealth on a nonimmigrant status following a period of study for a masters or doctorate degree in the sciences, technological fields, engineering, mathematics, accounting, finance, economics, business or business administration, have established, or have the skills and demonstrate the intention to create, a new business venture in the Commonwealth.

THRiVE grants will support entrepreneurs and part-time employers who commit to apply for a nonimmigrant H-1B visa under § 101(a)(15)(h)(i)(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. The program will provide grants to institutions of higher education or their nonprofit affiliates to offset a portion of the cost to employ the entrepreneur-in-residence and/or associated legal fees for the visa application.

Up to 19 awards of $10,000 each will be granted. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted. To learn more about existing GEiR programs in Massachusetts, please visit the UMass Boston Global Entrepreneur-in-Residence program and the Babson College Global Entrepreneur in Residence (GEIR) program .

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Commercialization Accelerator The Fundable Founder Podcast Mass Academic Spinouts Center 1075 Main Street, Suite 100 Briden Street, Worcester, MA 01605 Your next idea could power the future. Let’s build it together. Commercialization Accelerator The Fundable Founder Podcast Mass Academic Spinouts Center 1075 Main Street, Suite 100, Waltham, MA 02451 Gateway Park, 17 Briden Street, Worcester, MA 01605