
Investments
2211Portfolio Exits
115Funds
1Partners & Customers
10About MassChallenge
MassChallenge is a startup accelerator that supports early-stage entrepreneurs. It awards cash prizes to winning startups with zero equity taken. It also offers additional benefits for startups including mentorship and training, free office space, access to funding, legal advice, media attention, and in-kind support. The company was founded in 2019 and is based in Boston, Massachusetts.

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Expert Collections containing MassChallenge
Expert Collections are analyst-curated lists that highlight the companies you need to know in the most important technology spaces.
Find MassChallenge in 2 Expert Collections, including Food & Beverage .
Food & Beverage
123 items
Conference Exhibitors
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Latest MassChallenge News
Sep 20, 2023
Dallas-Based Basatne Partners on Robotic Device Processing in the Middle East Bastatne is partnering with Baltimore-based Apkudo to transform electronic device returns and recycling with innovative tech solutions, including robotics. The companies say they're committed to the "circular economy" and eliminating electronic waste through device repair, refurbishment, and recycling. The partnership features a modular suite of apps and appliances for receiving, preparing, cleaning, data clearing, testing, and grading connected devices using software, robotics and artificial intelligence to provide an automated, single-piece flow for any device, anywhere. [Photo: Apkudo] Reverse logistics industry leaders Dallas-headquartered Basatne and Baltimore-based Apkudo are teaming up to transform electronic device processing with innovative technology solutions—including robotics—to achieve what they call “circularity.” Basatne will be an exclusive provider of automated device testing and grading in the Middle East, integrating Apkudo’s expertise in the field. Both companies have offices around the world. “We’re pleased to work with Apkudo as our automated solutions partner,” Basatne founder and CEO Ammar Aboulnasr said in a statement. “This collaboration not only signifies a step towards offering the highest quality testing, grading, and value-added services to clients worldwide but also firmly aligns with Basatne’s mission towards sustainability and fostering a circular economy. Our concerted efforts have made our target to reach zero percent landfill a tangible reality.” Apkudo and Basatne said they’re both committed to the circular economy and eliminating electronic waste through device repair, refurbishment, and recycling. What’s a circular economy? It’s a model of production and consumption involving sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing, and recycling existing materials and products for as long as possible. Keeping devices out of the landfill Basatne said it wants to increase efficiency and improve the grading accuracy of the devices it processes and said it will have the capability to process up to 300 devices per hour per robotics line. The company said that implementation of automated testing and grading is not only faster and more efficient, it produces consistently higher quality results increasing the value it provides to carriers, wholesalers, and trade-in providers. Along with the implementation of automated testing and grading, Basatne said it will offer a suite of services to increase the yield of devices from every job. The company said that ensuring electronic devices have multiple lives and keeping as many as possible out of landfills is a key driver of Basatne’s investment in these services. Apkudo said its RFA Processing Solution is a modular suite of apps and appliances for receiving, preparing, cleaning, data clearing, testing, and grading connected devices using software, robotics, and artificial intelligence to provide an automated, single-piece flow for any device, anywhere. The companies said that eliminating human subjectivity will help Basatne increase grading accuracy for the resale market and double device volume throughput with the aid of automation. “I’m delighted Basatne has chosen our innovative solution for device processing and diagnostics. Our partnership will support the accurate, consistent, and cost-effective processing of devices for the reverse logistics industry,” Josh Matthews, CEO and co-founder of Apkudo said in a statement. “This expansion into the Middle East reflects our focus and investment into improving device grading and processing globally.” Basatne International’s specialties include assisting OEM partners distribute new products; recovering and remarketing of devices; product flow analysis; return goods management; and logistics. The company has offices around the globe. Get on the list. Dallas Innovates, every day. Sign up to keep your eye on what’s new and next in Dallas-Fort Worth, every day. One quick signup, and you’re done. WDG-Designed Modera St. Paul will offer 333 apartments and nearly 4,000 square feet of retail space. Amenities will include a karaoke room, podcast studio, an arcade, a rooftop deck and sky lounge, access to work-from-home spaces, private EV charging stations, and more. At the site of a former Luby's cafeteria, the "concept lab" at Alexis' Imperial Fizz Hospitality has cooked up a bar & grill tailored to the neighborhood's needs. With a patio bigger than an NBA basketball court and a Marfa-esque vibe, Birdie's Eastside will be "just like East Dallas," Alexis says: "casually Texan, a little boho, super comfy, and easygoing." Drawing from his own powerful lesson after losing a multimillion-dollar deal, TransPharMed CEO Kirk Barnes helps founders and leaders to be primed and ready to connect when opportunity knocks. Will Magruder, VP of partnerships at MassChallenge, lends his expertise to crafting a "handshake pitch" in nine words or less. Here's how. Plus, the votes are in. MassChallenge announced its Handshake Pitch Winners at Pegasus Park: “We're the Tesla of jet skis,” “Net-zero concrete by 2050 by 2022," "We personalize treatment down to your genes," and more. TAGS:
MassChallenge Investments
2,211 Investments
MassChallenge has made 2,211 investments. Their latest investment was in Simple Planet as part of their Incubator/Accelerator on June 6, 2023.

MassChallenge Investments Activity

Date | Round | Company | Amount | New? | Co-Investors | Sources |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6/23/2023 | Incubator/Accelerator | Simple Planet | Yes | 1 | ||
3/28/2023 | Incubator/Accelerator - II | VenoVision | No | 2 | ||
2/17/2023 | Grant | Machine Bio | Yes | 1 | ||
2/2/2023 | Incubator/Accelerator | |||||
2/1/2023 | Incubator/Accelerator |
Date | 6/23/2023 | 3/28/2023 | 2/17/2023 | 2/2/2023 | 2/1/2023 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Round | Incubator/Accelerator | Incubator/Accelerator - II | Grant | Incubator/Accelerator | Incubator/Accelerator |
Company | Simple Planet | VenoVision | Machine Bio | ||
Amount | |||||
New? | Yes | No | Yes | ||
Co-Investors | |||||
Sources | 1 | 2 | 1 |
MassChallenge Portfolio Exits
115 Portfolio Exits
MassChallenge has 115 portfolio exits. Their latest portfolio exit was Limbix on July 17, 2023.
Date | Exit | Companies | Valuation Valuations are submitted by companies, mined from state filings or news, provided by VentureSource, or based on a comparables valuation model. | Acquirer | Sources |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
7/17/2023 | Acquired | 4 | |||
7/11/2023 | Acq - Pending | 3 | |||
6/7/2023 | Merger | 1 | |||
Date | 7/17/2023 | 7/11/2023 | 6/7/2023 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Exit | Acquired | Acq - Pending | Merger | ||
Companies | |||||
Valuation | |||||
Acquirer | |||||
Sources | 4 | 3 | 1 |
MassChallenge Acquisitions
1 Acquisition
MassChallenge acquired 1 company. Their latest acquisition was Start Tank on April 08, 2015.
Date | Investment Stage | Companies | Valuation Valuations are submitted by companies, mined from state filings or news, provided by VentureSource, or based on a comparables valuation model. | Total Funding | Note | Sources |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4/8/2015 | Acquired | 1 |
Date | 4/8/2015 |
---|---|
Investment Stage | |
Companies | |
Valuation | |
Total Funding | |
Note | Acquired |
Sources | 1 |
MassChallenge Fund History
1 Fund History
MassChallenge has 1 fund, including Massachusetts Innovation Catalyst Fund.
Closing Date | Fund | Fund Type | Status | Amount | Sources |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
6/16/2016 | Massachusetts Innovation Catalyst Fund | $25.8M | 1 |
Closing Date | 6/16/2016 |
---|---|
Fund | Massachusetts Innovation Catalyst Fund |
Fund Type | |
Status | |
Amount | $25.8M |
Sources | 1 |
MassChallenge Partners & Customers
10 Partners and customers
MassChallenge has 10 strategic partners and customers. MassChallenge recently partnered with Cambridge Innovation Center, and Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry on June 6, 2023.
Date | Type | Business Partner | Country | News Snippet | Sources |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
6/12/2023 | Vendor, and Client | United States, and Japan | METI Selects CIC and MassChallenge to Create and Operate an Entrepreneur Development Program — CIC This project will be executed through CIC and CIC , combining the unique expertise of two CIC business units to create and operate custom programming in collaboration with MassChallenge . | 1 | |
6/1/2023 | Partner | United States | `` The transatlantic partnership between Starburst Aerospace , MIT , and MassChallenge will employ each of our respective expertise in accelerating novel , dual-use technologies to develop a curriculum that provides an equitable experience for participating small businesses across the Alliance , while leveraging the unique strengths and ecosystems of each accelerator site , '' stated Vijay Sekhara , Director of Strategic Partnerships , MassChallenge . | 2 | |
5/24/2023 | Partner | United States | |||
2/23/2023 | Partner | ||||
1/25/2023 | Partner |
Date | 6/12/2023 | 6/1/2023 | 5/24/2023 | 2/23/2023 | 1/25/2023 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Type | Vendor, and Client | Partner | Partner | Partner | Partner |
Business Partner | |||||
Country | United States, and Japan | United States | United States | ||
News Snippet | METI Selects CIC and MassChallenge to Create and Operate an Entrepreneur Development Program — CIC This project will be executed through CIC and CIC , combining the unique expertise of two CIC business units to create and operate custom programming in collaboration with MassChallenge . | `` The transatlantic partnership between Starburst Aerospace , MIT , and MassChallenge will employ each of our respective expertise in accelerating novel , dual-use technologies to develop a curriculum that provides an equitable experience for participating small businesses across the Alliance , while leveraging the unique strengths and ecosystems of each accelerator site , '' stated Vijay Sekhara , Director of Strategic Partnerships , MassChallenge . | |||
Sources | 1 | 2 |
MassChallenge Team
8 Team Members
MassChallenge has 8 team members, including current Chief Executive Officer, Caitlin Reimers Brumme.
Name | Work History | Title | Status |
---|---|---|---|
Caitlin Reimers Brumme | Harvard Business School, Social Finance, and The Parthenon Group | Chief Executive Officer | Current |
Name | Caitlin Reimers Brumme | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Work History | Harvard Business School, Social Finance, and The Parthenon Group | ||||
Title | Chief Executive Officer | ||||
Status | Current |