Boston offers many programs for founders seeking to grow their companies. For example, the global non-profit MassChallenge has backed over 3,200 startups.
The city also has focused programs like AcceliCITY for smart city tech, which has made nearly 400 investments. In the biopharma sector, CARB-X has helped more than 30 of its companies find an exit.
Below is our list of the best 31 accelerators and incubators in Boston.
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2,189 Accelerators & Incubators
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1,600+ Unicorns
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250 BioTech & Health Investors
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250 AI Investors
List of 250 startup investors in the AI and Machine Learning industries, along with their Twitter, LinkedIn, and email addresses.
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250 Fintech Investors
List of 250 startup investors in the FinTech and Finance industries, along with their Twitter, LinkedIn, and email addresses.
Get the Sheet for $50As a global non-profit, MassChallenge runs a network of zero-equity accelerator programs for early-stage startups. Founders from any industry can join to access mentorship and compete for significant, non-dilutive cash prizes.
| Year Founded | 2009 |
| Founders | Akhil Nigam, Cait Brumme, Vijay Sekhara, Amir Eldad, David Constantine, John Harthorne |
| Investment Amount | CHF 500K+ in cash prizes (competition-based), $0 direct investment |
| Equity Taken | 0% |
| Nº of Investments | 3230 |
| Nº of Exits | 246 |
| Program Type | On-Site |
| Duration (Weeks) | 20 |
As a global non-profit partnership, CARB-X funds and supports early-stage biopharmaceutical projects tackling the urgent threat of drug-resistant bacteria. They accelerate the development of new antibiotics, vaccines, and diagnostics to bring life-saving products to the global market.
| Year Founded | 2016 |
| Founders | — |
| Nº of Investments | 125 |
| Nº of Exits | 31 |
AcceliCITY champions startups dedicated to building more sustainable and resilient smart cities around the globe. Recognized as a top global Govtech accelerator, the program provides a launchpad for startups tackling complex urban challenges from clean energy to cybersecurity.
| Year Founded | 2010 |
| Founders | Michael Lake |
| Nº of Investments | 392 |
| Nº of Exits | 15 |
| Program Type | Online |
| Duration (Weeks) | 9 |
LearnLaunch Fund + Accelerator invests in early-stage entrepreneurs using technology to transform education. They provide startups across the entire learning lifecycle, from K-12 to workforce development, with critical funding and a structured program to help them scale their impact.
| Year Founded | 2013 |
| Founders | Tetyana Astashkina, Matthew J. Rubins, Jean Hammond, Asad Butt |
| Investment Amount | $50K initial + up to $150K milestone-based = $200K total potential |
| Nº of Investments | 89 |
| Nº of Exits | 13 |
| Duration (Weeks) | 11 |
As a nonprofit, zero-equity accelerator, the DCU FinTech Innovation Center helps early-stage fintech startups launch and grow. They provide a year-long program of dedicated support, including mentorship and free office space, without charging fees or taking a stake in the company.
| Year Founded | 2014 |
| Founders | Vasilios Roussos |
| Investment Amount | $0 investment - sponsor model; 1 year free office space |
| Equity Taken | 0% |
| Nº of Investments | 90 |
| Nº of Exits | 11 |
| Duration (Weeks) | 52 |
Run by students, IDEA provides entrepreneurs from the Northeastern community with the resources to build and launch their ventures. The program is industry-agnostic, guiding founders from various sectors through a unique stage-gate process to validate and grow their ideas.
| Year Founded | 2009 |
| Founders | — |
| Nº of Investments | 130 |
| Nº of Exits | 9 |
PharmStars accelerates digital health startups by creating direct pathways to pharmaceutical companies. Their program is built to foster partnerships and help innovators navigate the complex pharma landscape.
| Year Founded | 2021 |
| Founders | Shrawan Patel |
| Nº of Investments | 67 |
| Nº of Exits | 4 |
Operating as the venture capital arm of the nonprofit Jobs for the Future, JFF Ventures provides impact-first capital to seed and early-stage technology companies. They focus on supporting entrepreneurs in Workforce Tech, FinTech, and HR Tech who are creating solutions to improve economic advancement for all.
| Year Founded | 1983 |
| Founders | — |
| Nº of Investments | 33 |
| Nº of Exits | 3 |
Serving the entire Harvard student community, Harvard Innovation Labs acts as an educational launchpad for exploring entrepreneurship. The lab supports ventures at any stage, providing a collaborative environment and university resources to help student founders build and grow their ideas.
| Year Founded | 2011 |
| Founders | Gordon Jones |
| Nº of Investments | 110 |
| Nº of Exits | 2 |
Backed by deep industry expertise, Suffolk Technologies provides venture capital for startups tackling challenges across the built environment. Their eight-week accelerator program equips founders with the resources and connections needed to innovate in sectors like construction, real estate, and smart infrastructure.
| Year Founded | 2019 |
| Founders | Jit Kee Chin, Wan Li Zhu, John Fish |
| Nº of Investments | 48 |
| Nº of Exits | 1 |
| Program Type | Online |
| Duration (Weeks) | 8 |
21 Additional Boston Accelerators and Incubators Worth Applying To
Our top picks are just the beginning, as Boston's startup scene is full of programs ready to help founders. Together, the remaining programs on our list have funded more than 200 companies and celebrated several exits.
While each one offers something different, they all work to give new companies a strong start. Here’s a look at the other accelerators and incubators helping founders across the city.