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We released a lot of exciting news yesterday. We've raised $1M and we will officially give away up to $1M in cash awards this October. No strings attached. We're also offering 1st class office space on the Boston Waterfront for up to 100 finalists, along with intensive mentorship and guidance from big name entrepreneurs and investors. Our application is live and teams can now enter.
Aside from the money, the office space, the mentors, and other resources, why should you apply to MassChallenge? Well, the application process is modeled directly on reality, so entering will help you make the progress on your startup you need to make anyway. Perfecting your elevator pitch? Yep. Writing a compelling executive summary? Yep. Learning to work a room and get key players in the ecosystem to endorse you and your business? Yep. Learning to market your business online? Yep. Demonstrating technical and market viability to a panel of investors and experts? Yep. Working with mentors to set goals and hit milestones? … well, you get the picture.
We're big believers in the power of the Massachusetts ecosystem and we've spent the last 9 months making sure we know pretty much everyone all over the state. Enter and we'll connect you to the resources you need whether they are in Cambridge, Boston, Worcester, Amherst, Lowell, Dartmouth or anywhere else …. For those hard core Cambridge-philes out there, don't worry, entering/leaving Boston does not require a passport. Indeed, it's actually much closer to the majority of the investors, law firms and customers that will help you make your business a reality. Besides, we'll have a MassChallenge shuttle bus called the "Cricket" making round trips all day between Fan Pier and Kendall Square, so you can still make it to all the great events at CIC and the Microsoft NERD center.
Still not convinced?
To create a powerful sense of community and ensure maximum access to the ecosystem, we'll be holding weekly sailing trips with 15-20 people, including finalists, mentors, investors and other key people. Mayor Menino has promised to hold a few concerts and festivals outside our building, right on the water. Plus, the Institute for Contemporary Art offers free access every Thursday and holds concerts outside, right on the water. There are also water taxis to other spots in Boston and outside the city, and there are plenty of area restaurants with outdoor patios overlooking the harbor.
Yeah, it's better on the water. It's going to be awesome.
We're also in close proximity to plenty of restaurants and bars. We've started scoping and Flour Bakery is our favorite lunch spot so far. The Barking Crab is also fun, and the Legal Test Kitchen and Morton's Steakhouse are both nearby. I am particularly excited to try out Sushi-Teq, a nearby restaurant with outdoor seating that marries sushi and Tequila … two of my favorite consumables that I had not yet considered juxtaposing. Those of you who attended our launch know that One Marina Park Drive is a 1st class luxury building, typically WAY out of the price range of aspiring entrepreneurs. But then, we're offering it for free. Inside, we're building out both work space and fun space (e.g. ping pong tables, foosball, and maybe a pinball machine). It'll be work hard, play hard … right on the water, with incredible views of the harbor and the downtown skyline.
Because ultimately we're about helping you launch a high-growth, high-impact business, we will do everything we can to keep you inspired and motivated. You'll meet lots of exciting, new people. Your ideas and teams will be tested. And some of you will win. We're talking $50,000 and $100,000 cash prizes, plus generous in-kind awards including a continuation of the free office space until the next finalists arrive, free legal services, continued access to the best innovators and investors in the world, and more ….
Still not convinced?
Our explicit goal is to help you win. We really, really want you to launch your business, grow rapidly solve big problems, create lots of jobs, and become superstar entrepreneurs. That's why we don't attach any strings. Unlike other programs, we take no equity. Zero. None. 0.00% Zilch. Nada. We also won't tell you where to headquarter your business or how many jobs you should create, or place any other restrictions on you …. We just want you to succeed as quickly as possible. That's why we integrate the area's top investors and mentors into MassChallenge from the very beginning. Our goal is that you receive investment during or shortly after the competition. That's how we win -- we win if you win.
If you pay by May 15, you get $100 off the already nominal entry fee. Come to our events to collect Golden Tickets from the ecosystem's best and brightest and you can get another $100 off (yes, we will credit you if you have already paid). Plus, committing early gives you longer to expose your elevator pitch and collect points for public ratings -- not only does that contribute to your score, but it exposes you to the many investors and customers who are watching intently to connect with great entrepreneurs. Plus, we may invite you to exclusive events so you can connect with the ecosystem sooner ….
Get it? Good. Go enter. We'll help you win. That's what we do.
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