MassChallenge

MassChallenge is a global nonprofit startup accelerator headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, established in 2009. It supports early-stage entrepreneurs across various industries, including technology, healthcare, and social impact, by providing mentorship, resources, and networking opportunities. With locations in Israel, Mexico, Switzerland, Texas, and the UK, MassChallenge connects high-potential startups with industry experts and investors to foster innovation and facilitate growth. The accelerator operates on a non-equity model, allowing entrepreneurs to maintain full ownership of their companies while benefiting from strategic partnerships and tailored training programs. Through its diverse initiatives, such as targeted accelerator programs like MassChallenge HealthTech and FinTech, the organization aims to drive impactful change and enhance the global innovation ecosystem.

Cait Brumme

Acting CEO

Nick Dougherty

Managing Director, MassChallenge HealthTech

Siobhan Dullea

CEO

Matt Lashmar

Managing Director

Camila Lecaros

Managing Director

Yonit Serkin

Managing Director

Devon Sherman

Founding Director, Head of MassChallenge FinTech

Michelle Williams

Vice President and Head of Texas Strategy

Past deals in Entertainment

+MUSIC

Non Equity Assistance in 2024
+MUSIC is a technology company focused on enhancing the use and monetization of music across various online markets, including gaming and streaming video. The company has developed an artificial intelligence-driven platform that assists independent musicians in producing soundtracks and monetizing their work early in their careers. This platform organizes music into marketable and easily shareable clips, facilitating fan engagement and providing licensed music along with audio tools. By offering these resources, +MUSIC enables artists to expand their reach and grow their careers more efficiently.

Udeesa Systemics & Technology

Non Equity Assistance in 2023
Udeesa Systemics & Technology is to empower students to explore heritage and culture throughout the world by applying new & emerging technologies to storytelling, games & interdisciplinary learning tools.

EverChew

Non Equity Assistance in 2023
EverChew keeps pets safe and entertained for hours on end.

AsianFeed

Non Equity Assistance in 2021
AsianFeed is a digital media outlet that centers around news, lifestyle, and entertainment content that celebrates the AAPI identity.

Tru-Spot

Non Equity Assistance in 2021
Tru-Spot Technologies is an augmented reality company based in Brandon, Mississippi, focused on enhancing live event experiences for fans at concerts and sporting events. The company is developing innovative interactive features that allow users to engage with real-time events from home while utilizing on-field body camera technology. This technology aims to provide a more immersive experience that goes beyond traditional live streaming, giving customers greater control over their viewing experience. In addition to enhancing entertainment, Tru-Spot's adaptive body camera technology is also designed to assist victims of mass shootings, unjust arrests, and other crimes. To finalize the development of its augmented reality app and launch a proof of concept, Tru-Spot is seeking $150,000 in seed capital.

Pro Indie Music

Non Equity Assistance in 2021
Pro Indie Music is a technology-driven company that empowers independent musicians worldwide. Launched in April 2021, it offers a mobile app that provides tailored opportunities and services to help artists grow rapidly. The platform teaches artists essential industry knowledge and business strategies, while also offering end-to-end artist development solutions powered by artificial intelligence for labels and managers. With a subscription-based model, Pro Indie Music operates in a $20.2 billion market, boasting a remarkable annual growth rate of 180%. Its customer base spans across Latin America, including Mexico, Colombia, Guatemala, Chile, and Peru.

Fanorama Social Media

Non Equity Assistance in 2021
Fanoramas is a platform that generates thousands of ‘in-the-moment’ photos and sends to fans to share in real time from events. We provide every fan with hundreds of personal and action photos from the big event. The Fanoramas platform provides a new space for our sponsors and partners to activate and engage with fans!

CUE Audio

Pre Seed Round in 2020
CUE Audio, founded in October 2017, specializes in data-over-audio technology that allows for communication between microphones and speakers using sound waves. The company has developed an innovative solution that employs high-frequency, ultrasonic audio to transmit data, providing an offline and network-free alternative to traditional connectivity methods like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. CUE's flagship product features a synchronized smartphone light show that enhances live events by integrating this technology into music. Within a short period, CUE has successfully transformed the experiences of over 10 million fans at events for prominent clients, including Coca-Cola, Disney, and various professional and collegiate sports teams.

Ldnutd

Non Equity Assistance in 2020
LDN UTD is an entertainment platform for esports, gaming fans, and content creators to play in physical and online try-outs.

Snaptivity

Non Equity Assistance in 2020
Snaptivity is a technology company revolutionizing fan engagement at live sporting and music events through its innovative photo-sharing platform. Utilizing robotic cameras and advanced AI and IoT sensors, Snaptivity automatically captures candid moments of excitement among fans, such as high-fives and celebrations, delivering these images directly to their smartphones in real-time. This unique approach not only enhances the overall experience for attendees but also provides teams and clubs with a new media stream to increase sponsorship revenue. By facilitating targeted and personalized interactions with fans, Snaptivity enables brands to engage at scale, creating meaningful connections that benefit both sponsorship initiatives and e-commerce opportunities.

Sizzle

Non Equity Assistance in 2020
Sizzle is an innovative web service that utilizes artificial intelligence to create condensed highlights from gaming videos on platforms like Twitch and YouTube. By transforming lengthy gameplay sessions, such as a 20-minute Fortnite video, into concise five-minute summaries, Sizzle addresses the needs of the 700 million gaming fans who often find long livestreams overwhelming and highlight compilations insufficient. The platform captures key moments in chronological order, allowing viewers to experience the full narrative of streams from popular figures like Ninja and Daequan. Sizzle provides a streamlined option for fans seeking engaging content without the extensive time commitment, enhancing the viewing experience for both casual and dedicated audiences. More information about Sizzle can be found at www.sizzle.gg.

Smeetz

Seed Round in 2020
Smeetz SA is an online booking platform based in Lausanne, Switzerland, that specializes in the leisure and entertainment industry. Founded in 2016, the company offers a comprehensive suite of solutions designed to streamline event organization and promotion. Its platform incorporates AI-powered tools for sales, marketing, reservation management, ticket booking, and distribution. Smeetz employs dynamic pricing strategies and data analytics to help venues optimize revenue and enhance operational efficiency. The platform also includes features such as a booking widget, cross-channel sales, access control, payment methods, and customizable ticket solutions. By unifying commerce and embedding financial tools, Smeetz aims to transform the customer experience in the leisure sector, enabling businesses to thrive in a competitive environment.

MyPart

Grant in 2019
MyPart Ltd is an artificial intelligence company based in Tel Aviv, Israel, that develops an innovative platform designed to enhance song discovery for various industries, including music, television, film, and advertising. Its award-winning technology utilizes reference songs instead of traditional tagging methods, allowing music and creative executives to search and prioritize their catalogs more effectively. By analyzing songs submitted by emerging songwriters, MyPart ensures that opportunities are matched based on relevance rather than personal connections, thus democratizing access to the industry. The platform's proprietary 'Song Mining' engine performs a detailed analysis of musical and lyrical elements, employing machine learning and digital signal processing to find songs that share common features with established benchmarks. This approach not only aids industry decision-makers in discovering new talent but also emphasizes the importance of song semantics and aesthetics. MyPart has participated in prestigious programs such as Universal Music's Abbey Road RED and Capitol Records' gBeta, and it has received accolades including the MassChallenge 2018 gold award.

Project Daredevil

Non Equity Assistance in 2019
Project Daredevil is a company focused on creating innovative solutions for the visually impaired, specifically through a virtual reality platform that offers 3D radio-dramas. This platform is designed to make comic books accessible to blind users by providing an immersive experience that incorporates 3D sound, motion simulation, and scent. By using these technologies, Project Daredevil aims to empower blind individuals, allowing them to engage with storytelling in a way that overcomes traditional barriers to reading. The company's unique approach enhances the understanding and enjoyment of comics, making literature more inclusive for those with visual impairments.

CrowdPlay

Non Equity Assistance in 2019
CrowdPlay, Inc. is a Boston-based company that operates a Platform-as-a-Service fan engagement platform specifically designed for live sporting events. Established in 2020, CrowdPlay allows fans to actively participate in games by answering live questions during stoppages, thereby enhancing their experience. The platform engages attendees through competitions and rewards, creating new revenue opportunities for sports teams. It also facilitates the distribution of redeemable points that encourage ongoing fan interaction. By leveraging wireless, cloud, and global networks, CrowdPlay aims to enrich the live sporting experience while providing fans with chances to win cash rewards and other prizes.

FanFund

Non Equity Assistance in 2019
FanFund makes culture accessible to communities everywhere by de-risking live shows for artists and venues. It integrates fan engagement, crowdfunding technologies with advanced data analysis to provide artists and venues with vertical and geographic-specific predictive models for de-risking live performances. The company was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Lingopie

Non Equity Assistance in 2019
Lingopie Inc. operates an innovative language learning platform that uniquely combines television shows and movies with language acquisition technology. Founded in 2018 and based in Tel Aviv, Israel, Lingopie offers users access to thousands of hours of foreign content, enabling them to learn languages in an engaging manner. The platform features episodes displayed with native subtitles, allowing learners to click on foreign words for instant translations, which are then stored in a personal word bank for review through a flashcard game and other interactive tools. This approach leverages natural-language processing and linguistic research to create an immersive learning experience, making language acquisition intuitive and enjoyable for users.

vAUDiENCE

Non Equity Assistance in 2018
The main goal of vAudience is to engage virtual audiences in a way that turns viewers of live events into active users. This way it is both more fun for the viewer to watch a live event, as well as more profitable for the broadcaster of the live event. Starting with a Twitch extension, vAudience has already reached 3.4M unique clicking viewers with a 26% view-to-open conversion rate. With Spect8 the mission is to make live streaming more engaging, more accessible, and more successful.

T-TIME PRODUCTIONS

Non Equity Assistance in 2018
T-Time Productions produces unique programming and content for various media platforms. They provide services for television, online, mobile, and streaming. They offer services to the departments of programming, production, marketing, and sales.

Black Fret

Non Equity Assistance in 2018
Black Fret is a community of music fans dedicated to good music, good times and the sustainable success of Austin’s local musicians.

Capricia Productions

Grant in 2017
Capricia Productions focuses on developing video games that interact with musical albums, compositions, and other forms of audible art. The company aims to create a unique music video game that integrates these elements, offering users an innovative way to listen to and experience music. Currently, Capricia Productions is in the process of developing its first Music Video Game (MVG), which seeks to blend the artist's vision with interactive gameplay, setting a new standard for auditory engagement.

Lanugo Media

Grant in 2017
Lanugo Media, formerly Mundo Lanugo, is a children's entertainment company dedicated to preserving and promoting Hispanic culture. It produces original animated videos, an educational app, and live shows, all centered around authentic Latin adventures, proverbs, music, art, games, and values. The company's mission is to empower children with a strong sense of Hispanic identity and self-worth, while teaching them essential skills for their development. Additionally, Lanugo Media operates an online retail store offering children's apparel and accessories, further immersing young learners in Hispanic culture and the Spanish language.

Infinight

Grant in 2017
Infinight is a company focused on enhancing the nightlife experience for both party-goers and venue owners. It has developed a mobile and web platform that allows users to discover bars, clubs, and events, facilitating easy access to ticket purchasing, table bookings, and promotional offers. The platform utilizes algorithms to tailor suggestions based on users' musical preferences, location, and social activities, ensuring a personalized experience. For venue owners, Infinight offers a specialized ticketing and marketing platform designed to boost conversion rates and streamline operations, making it a valuable tool for managing nightlife events effectively.

Inflight VR Software GmbH

Seed Round in 2017
Inflight VR Software GmbH, founded in 2014 and based in Munich, Germany, specializes in developing virtual reality ecosystems tailored for the inflight entertainment sector. In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, airlines are actively seeking innovative revenue streams to enhance passenger satisfaction. The Inflight VR entertainment system enables airlines to monetize their services through pay-per-view, advertising, and e-commerce, while providing an immersive experience that captures passengers' attention. The technology has been successfully implemented by prominent clients such as Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines, demonstrating strong demand within the travel industry. It boasts impressive engagement metrics, with passengers averaging over 80 minutes of usage and a satisfaction rate exceeding 90%. Each passenger utilizing Inflight VR contributes a revenue potential of more than €7, highlighting its effectiveness in addressing the evolving needs of the airline industry.

Inflight VR Software GmbH

Non Equity Assistance in 2017
Inflight VR Software GmbH, founded in 2014 and based in Munich, Germany, specializes in developing virtual reality ecosystems tailored for the inflight entertainment sector. In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, airlines are actively seeking innovative revenue streams to enhance passenger satisfaction. The Inflight VR entertainment system enables airlines to monetize their services through pay-per-view, advertising, and e-commerce, while providing an immersive experience that captures passengers' attention. The technology has been successfully implemented by prominent clients such as Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines, demonstrating strong demand within the travel industry. It boasts impressive engagement metrics, with passengers averaging over 80 minutes of usage and a satisfaction rate exceeding 90%. Each passenger utilizing Inflight VR contributes a revenue potential of more than €7, highlighting its effectiveness in addressing the evolving needs of the airline industry.

Aerotain

Grant in 2016
Aerotain specializes in creating engaging entertainment experiences at live events through innovative aerial advertising. The company has developed a lightweight interactive airship drone that floats above crowds, displaying digital advertisements in various formats such as placards, banners, and posters. This unique approach allows brands to enhance their visibility and marketing efforts from an elevated position, making it particularly effective in busy areas, sports venues, and shopping locations. By combining technology and creativity, Aerotain provides a platform for brands to promote newly launched products and engage with audiences in a memorable way.

DatePlay

Grant in 2016
DatePlay, founded by Vana Koutsomitis and based in Reading, England, is an innovative online dating application that integrates gaming with the dating experience. It uses games to assess users' personalities, enabling the platform to suggest highly compatible matches. By combining entertainment with dating, DatePlay enhances the likelihood of meaningful connections, reducing the chances of unsuccessful dates. The application collaborates with leading game studios to incorporate popular gaming elements, making the process enjoyable for users while they seek like-minded individuals.

Sonic Bloom

Grant in 2016
The metaverse presents new opportunities and new complications for developers and businesses interested in enhancing their virtual experiences with music. How are businesses going to broadcast music to visitors of their virtual storefronts across various metaverses? How will they ensure that they provide their users with the most dynamic and engaging experience possible? How is the music industry going to find and engage with new fans in virtual spaces? We are building our Koreo platform to help address these challenges. The Koreo platform combines a music broadcasting and performance tracking solution with a proprietary development tool that developers can leverage to connect visualizations and simulations directly to the music. These features combine to enable rich, emotionally resonant experiences for multiverse users and players. The tracking solutions provide developers and the music industry with user engagement metrics and insights. The metaverse itself is developing from video game technology. Roblox, Minecraft, and Epic's Fortnite are three of the biggest names in the metaverse space, with a combined user base of 440M active monthly users. Bringing music to the metaverse will mean providing a solution to these and other platforms and this is where Sonic Bloom excels. Sonic Bloom's founders are music video game development veterans. They have worked on titles including Guitar Hero, Rock Band, Lips, Dance Central, and The Black Eyed Peas Experience. Their first product, Koreographer, is a music integration tool that has helped thousands of game developers create engaging music-driven experiences. The patented and battle-tested Koreographer toolset is also the foundation for the Koreo platform.

Xogo

Convertible Note in 2016
Xogo is a hardware and software platform aimed at empowering individuals, particularly those with disabilities, to effectively engage with technology. It provides a versatile solution by enabling connections between a wide variety of devices, including standard USB, Bluetooth, WiFi, and 3.5mm jack inputs. This compatibility allows users to integrate and control diverse technologies, such as cable boxes, smart home devices, and video game consoles, according to their specific needs and preferences. By addressing issues of device incompatibility and usability, Xogo helps users to maximize the functionality of their technology, fostering a more inclusive and user-friendly experience.

Xogo

Non Equity Assistance in 2016
Xogo is a hardware and software platform aimed at empowering individuals, particularly those with disabilities, to effectively engage with technology. It provides a versatile solution by enabling connections between a wide variety of devices, including standard USB, Bluetooth, WiFi, and 3.5mm jack inputs. This compatibility allows users to integrate and control diverse technologies, such as cable boxes, smart home devices, and video game consoles, according to their specific needs and preferences. By addressing issues of device incompatibility and usability, Xogo helps users to maximize the functionality of their technology, fostering a more inclusive and user-friendly experience.

FilmDoo

Seed Round in 2016
FilmDoo Ltd operates an innovative film platform that allows users to discover, share, and watch independent and international films. Founded in 2013 and based in London, the company launched its video-on-demand (VOD) service in 2015, amassing a diverse library of 2,800 films across various genres, including arthouse, Asian, African, and US indie. FilmDoo collaborates with filmmakers, distributors, and sales agents to help emerging talents reach a global audience. In addition to film streaming, the company has expanded into online edutainment, providing tools for educators and learners to create interactive lessons using its extensive film catalogue. Through its LanguageLearning.Film initiative, FilmDoo promotes language learning and cultural exploration, offering a fresh, engaging approach that aligns with modern educational preferences.

GLP - Great Little Place

Grant in 2015
GLP - Great Little Place is your little black book of great little places. Great Little Place offers GLP, an application that enables its users to find and share locations, including bars, restaurants, theatres, museums, galleries, and more. Great Little Place was founded in February 2010 by Rossa Shanks and Rich Brown. It is based in London, England.

Choosic

Grant in 2015
Choosic is a music discovery app which brings users personalised music recommendations and fast playlist building in a simple and intuitive user interface. They deliver fresh and trending music from around the web straight to the people who will most likely appreciate it. They learn user preferences by serving one recommendation at a time. Fast and effortless music discovery at the swipe of a finger.

A R T C U B E

Grant in 2015
A R T C U B E redefines how we see, experience and buy art. An exclusive online & offline experience for individuals in the art world to share and connect. Expand your network of like-minded people on a social and professional level. From artists to collectors, galleries and everyone who is enthusiastic about art - A R T C U B E will unite the art world. They match buyers directly with galleries, simplifying the purchasing process, while enhancing sales and publicity for the gallery. Combining both a social network with an online marketplace, A R T C U B E provides users with a unique way to fully immerse themselves in all aspects of the art world. Using new technology, including live streaming, AR & VR, we recreate the OFFLINE experience ONLINE. With an expertly curated selection of contemporary fine art in a range of prices, we provide customers with an unparalleled selection to discover, love and buy. Get ready for the launch in Spring 2016.

Q App

Grant in 2015
Q App is a revolutionary mobile app that allows you to beat the queues in busy hospitality and entertainment venues. Place your order and pay through your smartphone. You’ll be notified when your order is ready to collect. You'll never need to queue again.

PopUp Childcare

Grant in 2015
PopUp Childcare provides professional drop-in child care onsite at movie theaters, restaurants, sporting events and more. They are changing child care. They leverage unused space like function rooms at movie theaters, restaurants, hotels, sporting events, convention centers, and vacant retail real estate, to create PopUp Childcare locations staffed by their team of trained professionals. Parents search, or receive notifications, for locations with PopUp Childcare. Then book a slot, drop the kids off and enjoy a movie, meal or sporting event knowing their kids are close by, safe and having fun in their care.

FilmDoo

Non Equity Assistance in 2015
FilmDoo Ltd operates an innovative film platform that allows users to discover, share, and watch independent and international films. Founded in 2013 and based in London, the company launched its video-on-demand (VOD) service in 2015, amassing a diverse library of 2,800 films across various genres, including arthouse, Asian, African, and US indie. FilmDoo collaborates with filmmakers, distributors, and sales agents to help emerging talents reach a global audience. In addition to film streaming, the company has expanded into online edutainment, providing tools for educators and learners to create interactive lessons using its extensive film catalogue. Through its LanguageLearning.Film initiative, FilmDoo promotes language learning and cultural exploration, offering a fresh, engaging approach that aligns with modern educational preferences.

Earplay

Non Equity Assistance in 2015
Earplay is a creative platform focused on publishing voice-first interactive audio experiences. It provides a cloud-based solution that enables teams to design, produce, and manage interactive audio content in real time. The platform allows creators and publishers to build and deploy voice experiences across various distribution channels, facilitating seamless updates and management. By leveraging a conversational interface, Earplay enhances user engagement and interaction, making it easier for teams to develop and manage multiple immersive audio titles on voice-enabled devices.

Beat Farm

Grant in 2014
Beat Farm USA is a company dedicated to creating original music that enhances physical movement, particularly in action sports. Founded in April 2013 by three members, Beat Farm offers a unique smartphone application that customizes music based on the user's movements, such as tricks and turns. This innovative approach provides an enriched experience for riders by integrating sound and action, allowing users to engage with music in a dynamic way. The company's online store launched in May 2013, marking the introduction of a new product category known as Body-Activated Music, which underscores Beat Farm's commitment to merging creativity and physical activity.

Trill

Grant in 2014
Trill operates a media platform focused on arts and culture, enabling users to discover live local events such as music, comedy, theatre, and dance shows in cities like Boston, New York City, Asbury Park, and Los Angeles. The platform serves as a discovery engine, promoting daily dialogue around these events and encouraging attendance at both free and smaller, classical venues. By highlighting diverse live performances, Trill aims to connect audiences with the vibrant cultural offerings in their communities.

Movl

Grant in 2012
MOVL is a developer of innovative connected applications that enhance the interaction between televisions and mobile devices through cloud technology. The company specializes in creating apps that allow smartphones and smart TVs to communicate seamlessly, facilitating multi-user and multi-device experiences. Among its notable products are WeTeli and WeDraw, both developed using MOVL's proprietary platform. WeDraw, recognized for its unique living room experience, earned MOVL first prize in Samsung's Free the TV Challenge, along with a cash award exceeding $200,000. Additionally, WeTeli received an honorable mention at CES 2011, showcasing MOVL's commitment to delivering cutting-edge content in the evolving landscape of TV applications.

Roammeo

Grant in 2012
Roammeo is a website and app that shows you the best events for you, in real-time, based on your interests and where you're standing. Roammeo is an event discovery engine that solves the moments of knowing that something good is going on in a city, but having no way of finding out what that "something" is. It is a real-time website and mobile app that pulls nearby events automatically from relevant calendars and ranks them on quality and relevancy using proprietary algorithms. Roammeo is available around urban college campuses and earns its recurring revenues from hosts switching from print to online.

KidsCOOK Productions

Grant in 2011
KidsCOOK Productions is an interactive, digital, sitcom-like show for health and wellness education! Celebrities.

Gramify

Grant in 2010
Gramify is personalized audio greetings that feature the voice of celebrities and fictional characters. These are emotionally-engaging alternatives to print cards and ecards. They are bought online and delivered either through a phone call or through Facebook. They started signing licenses and are negotiating with major brands. The best part is the team which include licensing heavyweights who have done hundreds of deals.

3Play Media

Grant in 2010
3Play Media, Inc. is a Boston-based company that specializes in video accessibility services, offering a comprehensive suite of solutions including video captioning, transcription, audio description, subtitling, and translation services. Founded in 2007, the company aims to enhance the accessibility of web video content across various sectors such as online video, entertainment, education, corporate training, market research, and government, as well as serving churches and religious broadcasters. By combining advanced technology with human expertise, 3Play Media ensures high-quality services that are delivered with fast turnaround times, leveraging natural language processing and machine learning to achieve accuracy at scale.
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