MassVentures Opens START Grant Applications

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.

Residents, Officials Say 'No' to Proposed Berkshire Gas Rate Hike

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
07:12AM / Saturday, February 07, 2026

The hearing included representatives from state's rate division, the hearing officer and Department of Public Utilities Commissioners, at right, Chair Jeremy McDiarmid and Liz Anderson

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Local officials and residents argued against Berkshire Gas's proposed 22 percent increase on the average customer's bill during a public hearing on Wednesday evening at Berkshire Community College. 

 

State Sen. Paul Mark and state Reps. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, John Barrett III and Leigh Davis stood before members of the state Department of Public Utilities in "strong opposition" to the rate hike. 

 

The Berkshire delegation joins Gov. Maura Healey, local higher education institutions, and community members who find the increase, estimated to be about $54 a month for residential heating, unaffordable for a vital service. 

 

"While there was a time that this was our hometown Berkshire Gas, in reality, it is not anymore. This is a multinational company. It's a multinational company whose CEO makes $3.23 million a year. That's $62,000 a week," Farley-Bouvier said. 

 

"Now that is more than what most people in Berkshire County make in a year." 

 

The proposed increase has been attributed to capital investments and rising operational costs, and Barrett said a significant driver of those costs is the Gas System Enhancement Program, which "has raised serious concerns for years." 

 

GSEP costs passed down to ratepayers have increased by more than 300 percent without clear evidence of proportional improvements in safety or leak reductions, he added, and the Attorney General's Office is reviewing those concerns as they relate to Berkshire Gas's 2026 GSEP spending.