MassVentures START Grant Program
MassVentures (Massachusetts Technology Development Corporation)
$100K / $200K / up to $500K
Phase II SBIR holder? MassVentures bridges to market
MassVentures START provides tiered non-dilutive grants — $100K (Round 1), $200K (Round 2), or up to $500K in seed capital (Round 3) — to Massachusetts companies that have received a federal SBIR Phase II award. Funds commercialization activities not typically covered by federal R&D grants: market validation, business development, and IP strategy. Applications open annually in February; each round builds on the prior.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- State
- Amount range
- $100,000 – $500,000
- Realistic amount
- Most applicants are awarded Round 1 ($100,000). Approximately 7 companies advance to Round 2 ($200K) and 3 to Round 3 ($…
- Deadline
- Application window opens February 1 annually; 2026 Round 1 deadline was February 23. Next open window: February 1, 2027.
- Status
- between-intakes
- States
- MA
- Payment model
- advance
Who qualifies
- Massachusetts-based company (headquarters and primary operations in MA)
- Must have received a federal SBIR Phase II award within the past 5 years
- For-profit business
- Technology or science-based company in a qualifying sector (clean energy, healthcare, biotech, aerospace, advanced materials, quantum, AI, environmental tech)
Hard requirements
- Must be incorporated
- Location restriction: Massachusetts — headquarters and primary operations
- Requires a prior Phase I award
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Market validation studies and customer discovery research
- Business development and partnership outreach
- Intellectual property strategy and patent filings
- Hiring of commercialization-focused staff (sales, BD, marketing)
- Go-to-market planning and execution activities
Ineligible expenses
- R&D expenditures already allowable under the federal SBIR Phase II award
- Capital equipment purchases unrelated to commercialization
- Real estate acquisition or leasehold improvements
- Activities that duplicate the federal Phase II scope of work
How to apply
-
1
Confirm SBIR Phase II eligibility
Verify your company holds a qualifying federal SBIR Phase II award issued within the past 5 years from any participating federal agency (NIH, DOE, NSF, DOD, NASA, etc.).
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2
Prepare commercialization plan
Document your commercialization roadmap — market validation steps, business development goals, IP protection plan, and how START funds will accelerate go-to-market. MassVentures reviewers evaluate commercial credibility, not additional R&D.
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3
Submit online application during the February window
Apply via the MassVentures online portal during the annual February application period. Applications are typically open for approximately 3 weeks.
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4
Round 1 review and award ($100K)
Reviewers assess commercial strategy and Massachusetts economic impact. Approximately 16 companies per cohort receive $100K Round 1 awards.
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5
Progress review for Rounds 2 and 3
Top Round 1 performers (approx. 7) are invited to compete for $200K Round 2 awards. Top Round 2 companies (approx. 3) compete for up to $500K Round 3 seed capital.
Only Phase II holders qualify — not Phase I. Competition is selective: ~16 Round 1 awards per year from a MA deep-tech pool.
Deadline & timing
2026 Round 1 applications closed February 23, 2026. The next annual application window will open February 1, 2027. No interim rounds.
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Last reviewed 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.