Joanna Meiseles

MassChallenge is a global startup competition to accelerate the launch and success of high-growth, high-impact new businesses. Anyone can enter, with any idea, from anywhere in the world. Physical activities will take place in Massachusetts where innovation resources are most concentrated. MassChallenge is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) leveraging both public and private funding. The benefits for startups include a four month program, free office space, and $1M in cash rewards. The 111 startups supported in the 2010 accelerator raised over $100M in outside funding and created 500 new jobs in under 12 months. The group accelerated another 125 startups in 2012. The 361 MassChallenge alumni have collectively raised over $362M in outside funding, generated $95M in revenue, created 2,900 jobs as of October 2012.