MassVentures Opens START Grant Applications

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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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Companion Corner: Princess at Berkshire Humane Society

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — There is an energetic girl waiting to find her new home at the Berkshire Humane Society.

iBerkshire's Companion Corner is a weekly series spotlighting an animal in our local shelters that is ready to find a home.  

Princess is a six year old shepherd mix that has been at the shelter for just over a month.

Canine caregiver and adoption counselor Simone Olivieri told us about Princess.

"She's very social, very friendly. When you're out walking her, she just wants to go say hi to every single new person. Loves to make new friends. She's a lot of fun. She's very active. She's very spunky. She's very playful, and she's going to need a very very active family who's going to do a lot with her." 

But Princess is no stranger to the shelter. She was a puppy five years ago and got adopted quickly, but now she needs a new family to take care of her.

"She was adopted out fairly quickly as a young puppy. She's been in the same home for the past five years. Unfortunately, they were moving out of state somewhere," Olivieri said. "They could not take her with them, so she ended up coming as a return to shelter, and she came back to stay with us."

Princess needs to go to a home as the only animal or with other male dogs that are her size or bigger.

"Her perfect home would be kids eight and up. No cats. No small animals. She has quite a prey drive. She could go to a home with another dog around her size or larger, preferably a male dog. She does a little bit better with male dogs, and she's looking for a home where people are home quite a bit, so that she's not left alone for too long. She has some separation anxiety," Olivieri said. 

She also needs a very active home that can let her use her energy every day, as she is very rambunctious. Especially with playing with her favorite toy, the flirt pole.

"She could use a home where people are going to give her a lot of attention and more than just a few walks a day; she's going to need lots of exercise, lots of playtime, lots of mental stimulation," Olivieri said. "She likes to learn, so someone who would be willing to take her to training classes or work on some training with her, as well as hikes, getting out and about, doing new things, different things. She is very athletic. She'd excel at things like agility, some dog sports. Just someone who is really going to want to engage and do a lot of different kinds of activities with her." 

Once you let her get her energy out, she is a cuddler who wouldn't mind being held like a baby from time to time.

"She's very sweet. She's very cuddly. She's very affectionate, but she is not a couch potato. She will stay on that couch with you for a little bit, and then she's ready to go off and do something else. So she's very busy. She's very active," Olivieri said. "Once all of her exercise needs are met during the day, she will settle down nicely, and she will want to be right by your side, cuddle with you at night on the couch, sleep with you."

Princess is very healthy but does experience some anxiety and is not fully potty trained and might have the occasional accident.

"She does have a little bit of anxiety, so she is on some medication for it right now," Olivieri said. "So a lot of structure, a lot of outlets, and familiarity, getting used to a new routine and everything is gonna be really good for her. I mean, she's just lovely. Like I said, she's very social. She likes to play with other dogs. She likes to meet new people."

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