Press Release: 2024-10-08
MassVentures Announces Members of the Inaugural Founders School
First Class of 14 Founders Includes Underrepresented Deep Tech Entrepreneurs from Climatetech, Life Sciences, and Advanced Materials Sectors
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
10/07/2024
MEDIA CONTACT FOR MASSVENTURES ANNOUNCES MEMBERS OF THE INAUGURAL FOUNDERS SCHOOL
Meggie Quackenbush, Director of Communications
Online
Email Meggie Quackenbush, Director of Communications at Margaret.M.Quackenbush@mass.gov
BOSTON — Today, MassVentures, ven^x, and the Executive Office of Economic Development announced 14 fellows will join the inaugural cohort for the Founders School, a pre-accelerator program for deep tech early-stage entrepreneurs.
The Founders School focuses on supporting founders often overlooked by traditional funding sources. The program will offer them resources to help overcome common obstacles such as securing capital, locating physical space and facilities to scale their businesses, navigating regulatory requirements, and building a strong business network.
“Massachusetts is the leading hub for technological innovation and entrepreneurship and through Founders School, we will be able to help more startups start and succeed in our state,” said Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao. "We’re excited to welcome this inaugural cohort of diverse founders to Team Massachusetts and look forward to providing them with the tools and support they need to thrive.”
“At MassVentures, we believe diverse teams outperform. Through Founders School, we are building a more vibrant and diverse pipeline of entrepreneurs in deep tech,” said MassVentures President and CEO Charlie Hipwood. “We’re thrilled to welcome this inaugural cohort of 14 fellows and can’t wait to get started.”
This initial class includes five female founders, ten entrepreneurs of color and two founders seeking to relocate their businesses to Massachusetts from other states. These founders’ businesses represent the climatetech, advanced materials, agritech, and life sciences sectors.
Fellows include:
Alex Berkowitz, Coastal Protection Solutions - Cambridge
Coastal Protection Solutions specializes in easily deployable systems that mitigate coastal flooding and protect communities against the threat of sea-level rise and climate change.
Brandale Randolph, 1854 Motors - Framingham
1854 Motors specializes in battery manufacturing for electric vehicles.
Carlos Ezio, Criocore - Cambridge
Criocore specializes in advanced 3D in vitro models for pre-clinical drug development.
Crystal Brown, CircNova - Milton
CircNova is a biotechnology company that leverages unique AI NovaEngine™ to generate, analyze and identify circular RNA for therapeutic development.
Connor Harbison, Atlas Urban Farms - Brookline
Atlas Urban Farms is a Boston-based vertical farming startup that is using hydroponics, Internet of Things (IoT), and machine learning to optimize crop growth.
Jordie Kamuene, Collixion - Boston
Collixion is a life sciences company modulating ion channels through post-translational modifications to treat gynecological cancers.
Joseph Beyene, Nanoplex - Boston
Nanoplex LLC is combatting the growing threat of tick populations by developing a first-in-class topical solution for tick-borne diseases.
Yekaterina "Kat" Tarasova, Mycsology Foods - Princeton, NJ
Mycsology Foods specializes in growing nutrient-dense, customizable and sustainable ingredients for the food industry powered by plants and fungi.
Lina Gonzalez, Spadxtech - Worcester
SpadXTech manufactures various carbon-negative, cellulose-based materials to significantly reduce CO2 emissions in the packaging, textiles, transportation, filtration, and construction industries.
Mayur Kamalakar, Suryatech Power - Tyngsboro
Suryatech Power develops portable fast electric vehicle (EV) chargers that harness solar power and allow EV owners to charge on the go without the need for expensive electric panel upgrades.
Ricky Solorzano, Seabird - Milton
Seabird uses 3D bioprinting to create custom arteries for bypass surgery, aiming to replace traditional autologous grafts.
J. Ross, Alleo Labs - San Francisco, CA
Alleo Labs is creating AI-driven precision medicine for common brain disorders, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
Sarvesh Handa, Mission Hydro - Lowell
Mission Hydro is building a long-duration energy storage system for the electric grid and modern households.
Tim Colligan, TransitOS - Boston
TransitOS creates AI-driven transit platforms enabling sustainable, equitable, and data-informed operations.
The hybrid program features a robust curriculum led by industry leaders, academic experts, and entrepreneurial champions that focuses on the intersection of research, technology, and the creation of real-world solutions. Through the program, founders will be matched with entrepreneurial experts who will work with them for the duration of the program to help them refine their business model, prepare for competitive accelerator programs, and jump-start their high-growth potential business.
The program will provide founders with the opportunity to hear from and interact with speakers who are leaders in their fields in both group and individual sessions. Select members of each cohort will then be invited for an additional nine months of coaching that will be tailored to address their individual business challenges including fundraising and getting their businesses to market. Founders School collaborators include Anzu Partners, AWSM VC, Duplessy Foundation, Institute of Technology and Global Health, Wilson Sonsini, and faculty from Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and other Massachusetts research institutions across Massachusetts.
The school is also designed to provide guidance on business resources available to them through the Executive Office of Economic Development and its Massachusetts Office of Business Development, as well as quasi-government agencies such as Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, and Massachusetts Clean Energy Center.
For more information, visit the MassVentures website.
About MassVentures
MassVentures, the state’s quasi-public venture capital agency, helps early-stage deep tech companies grow in Massachusetts. Founded in 1978, MassVentures offers capital investments, grants, business guidance, and a network of partners to help businesses succeed. MassVentures has funded more than 400 companies, created over 10,000 jobs, and leveraged over $5 billion in private capital. In addition to financial resources, MassVentures also provides strategic direction, operational support, and enhances the success of their portfolio companies. For more information visit www.mass-ventures.com.