MassVentures Opens START Grant Applications

07:56AM / Saturday, February 07, 2026Print Story | Email Story

BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration and MassVentures announced that applications are now open for the next round of its SBIR Targeted Technologies (START) Grant Program, which provides non-dilutive funding to Massachusetts companies that have received federal SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) or STTR (Small Business Technology Transfer) Phase II awards. The program helps startups translate advanced research into commercial products, new businesses, and high-quality jobs across Massachusetts.

START grants provide $100,000 to $500,000 to eligible companies to support critical commercialization activities, including market validation, business development, and intellectual property strategy, that are not typically covered by federal research funding. In addition to capital, participating companies receive business guidance to accelerate go-to-market progress across sectors such as advanced materials, quantum computing, AI, cleantech, and biotechnology.

"Supporting entrepreneurs at the earliest stages is critical to building a strong innovation economy," said Massachusetts Economic Development Secretary Eric Paley, Chair of the MassVentures Board of Directors. "START grants provide founders in high-impact sectors with the resources they need to grow, hire, and succeed in Massachusetts—while advancing solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges."

MassVentures launched the START program in 2012, and this year marks the program’s 15th year supporting high-impact Massachusetts innovators.

In FY25, with increased funding through the Mass Leads Act, MassVentures expanded the number of annual START awards from 17 to 26. Over its 15-year history, START has awarded $41.7 million to 141 companies that have employed more than 3,300 and leveraged more than $5 billion in private capital. The businesses are located in more than 40 communities throughout Massachusetts.

"START grants address one of the most persistent challenges facing deep tech founders: proving commercial viability before traditional capital becomes available," said MassVentures President and CEO Charlie Hipwood. "This program helps Massachusetts businesses validate their technologies, build teams, and hit the milestones needed to attract follow-on investment—keeping our state's most promising innovations here in the Commonwealth."

Applications opened Feb. 1 and are due Feb. 23. Massachusetts-based companies which have won a SBIR/STTR Phase 2 in the past 5 years are encouraged to apply. For more information, join MassVentures for an information session on February 3 at 8:00 a.m. or visit?https://www.mass-ventures.com/start-program-info.

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15 People Displaced in Pittsfield Home Fires

Staff Reports11:35AM / Sunday, October 11, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Fifteen people were displaced after 2-alarm home fires this weekend on Springside Avenue and Elaine Drive.

On Friday evening, the Fire Department responded to a structure fire at 209 Springside Ave., which took a four-hour battle to extinguish and resulted in a partial roof collapse. The next day, on Saturday evening, crews knocked down a fire at 121 Elaine Drive in about an hour.

The garage and part of the single-family home on Elaine Drive were gutted to the frame, along with a vehicle parked in the driveway. On Springside Avenue, the top level and porch of the multifamily were burned through.

A GoFundMe has been started for the family of the Elaine Drive home, which includes several young children. The fundraiser, with a $5,500 goal, explains they lost their home and all of their belongings. (iBerkshires.com does not confirm or endorse fundraisers; they are provided as information only.)

There were no civilian or firefighter injuries, and both incidents are under investigation. One dog was rescued on Springside Avenue.

On Oct. 10, around 6:15 p.m., PFD responded to the Springside Avenue home for a reported structure fire and saw a 2 1/2-story wood frame multifamily with a heavy blaze showing from the second-floor front porch, extending out.

The building suffered a partial roof collapse, which prolonged extinguishment. The fire was brought under control after about four hours.

“An aggressive offensive attack was mounted by first arriving crews stretching hose lines into the building as well as primary searches that proved negative. Ladders were placed around the structure to provide access as well as escape if needed. An off-duty Fire Captain had also been on scene early in the incident to help evacuate the structure and rescue a dog,” PFD wrote in a press release.

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