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 Rental

Potencia

Non Equity Assistance in 2023
Potencia is a machinery service company that offers advisory, rental, transport, installation, and maintenance service for customers.

The PS Collective

Non Equity Assistance in 2021
The PS Collective operates a tech-powered clothing rental platform that specializes in providing special occasion attire. Customers can engage with the service by completing a style assessment quiz and uploading a selfie, which allows the company to curate a selection of suitable products tailored to their individual needs. The PS Collective offers a diverse range of products, including accessories, activewear, dresses, handbags, jackets, jeans, jewelry, lingerie, outerwear, and swimwear, among others. By connecting customers with independent designers, the platform ensures that users can find well-fitting, stylish options for any event.

Church Space

Non Equity Assistance in 2021
ChurchSpace is a platform established in 2019 that offers flexible rental options for commercial spaces, specifically targeting underutilized church properties. Founded by Day Edwards, the company aims to alleviate financial pressures on churches by converting their unused real estate into venues for events, meetings, and commercial kitchen operations. This innovative approach allows both businesses and individuals to access affordable local church spaces for various occasions, thereby generating additional revenue for the churches while providing cost-effective solutions for renters.

Lodgeur

Non Equity Assistance in 2021
Lodgeur is a prop-tech company that focuses on assisting apartment building owners in enhancing their cash flow and increasing property value. The company specializes in converting vacant apartments into furnished accommodations that appeal to a new demographic of renters, particularly traveling professionals and digital nomads. By managing these properties, Lodgeur provides a solution that combines the service and consistency of a hotel with the space and functionality of a stylish home, catering to the demand for flexible and convenient living arrangements.

BillBuds

Non Equity Assistance in 2021
Billbuds is a utility management company that simplifies the process of setting up and managing essential services for renters. Through its platform, users can manage all their utilities—such as electricity, gas, internet, cable, and water—from a single dashboard. Billbuds offers a feature that estimates utility costs before moving in and provides a consolidated invoice at the end of each billing cycle, which can be easily split among roommates. The platform allows for flexible payment options, enabling users to choose between a fixed monthly payment or a pay-as-you-use model. Additionally, it tracks and benchmarks utility consumption, helping renters stay informed about their usage and expenses.

Urban Connect

Seed Round in 2020
Urban Connect is a corporate mobility platform offering company employees access to a fleet of low-carbon, shared vehicles like e-bikes, bikes, e-scooters and e-cars. The offering is structured as a mobility-as-a-service (MaaS) solution. The company services large blue chip clients like Roche, Avaloq, Hilti, Sonova or Zurich Insurance. The team is composed of a number of people from different nationalities & backgrounds, all with the common goal of helping companies reduce their carbon and space footprints.

AtEase

Non Equity Assistance in 2020
AtEase is a marketplace platform that connects vacation rental hosts with military and federal travelers, providing compliant and secure lodging solutions for official travel. Tailored for service members, military families, Department of Defense employees, contractors, and government workers, AtEase simplifies the booking process while ensuring adherence to the unique requirements of government travel. The platform addresses issues related to lodging that meets federal and military criteria, offering travelers a range of reliable options. With a significant market opportunity, AtEase is expanding internationally to meet the increasing demand for its services, positioning itself as a leading choice for government travel worldwide.

Campinn

Non Equity Assistance in 2020
Campinn operates as an online travel agency focused on the outdoor and camping sectors, providing a platform for both novice and experienced outdoor enthusiasts to discover and book camping venues. The company aims to simplify the process of finding and securing outdoor experiences by offering a comprehensive range of services, including information on availability, automated booking, and travel assistance. By addressing the unique needs of campsite operators and travelers, Campinn bridges the gap between these two groups, facilitating a more accessible and enjoyable outdoor experience for all.

Cat in a Flat

Non Equity Assistance in 2020
Cat in a Flat is a cat-loving, cat-sitting community that connects cat owners with trusted and insured cat sitters in their neighbourhood. Its mission is to help cats stay in the comforts of their own home while the owner is away. No more stress, no more catteries, no more guilt. Cat in a Flat is a start-up in the sharing economy using geo location search, notification system, online booking calendar and mobile payment. Each sitter can set their own rate and has their own well designed web page as part of our system - like a digital business card. Cat owners can review, rate and share the best sitters and build long-lasting cat-loving relationships. Cat sitters undergo all the checks and are required to write a full, personal profile.

YOLO

Non Equity Assistance in 2020
YOLO seeks to unite drivers who travel from one city to another with users who wish to send documents, packages, or products to the same destination as the driver. In this way, it can take advantage of the trunks and make trips more profitable.

Navigation Research Company

Non Equity Assistance in 2020
Navigation Research is a B2B service company that offers TruScore Certified Pre-Owned Auto Auction (tscpo.com) and an online marketplace hosting interaction between private party vehicle sellers and dealers thereby benefiting both.

GotSpot

Non Equity Assistance in 2019
GotSpot is an online marketplace that facilitates short-term rentals of commercial spaces, resembling the concept of Airbnb but tailored for various types of business environments. The platform connects local businesses with underutilized spaces, allowing entrepreneurs to rent facilities such as kitchens, galleries, studios, warehouses, workshops, bars, and restaurants for brief periods. This arrangement not only enables entrepreneurs to seize new opportunities but also provides local businesses with an additional revenue stream. By fostering these transactions, GotSpot aims to enhance the local economy and promote community resilience.

Captain Experiences

Non Equity Assistance in 2019
Captain Experiences is an Austin-based company that simplifies the process of booking outdoor sports trips, primarily focusing on fishing and adventure experiences. The platform allows users to search for thousands of trips based on various criteria such as location, group size, target species, and price, ensuring a tailored experience for each customer. With a commitment to making outdoor adventures accessible to everyone, Captain Experiences offers a user-friendly online booking system and connects clients with expert guides known as "Damn Good Guides." While initially centered on fishing, the company plans to expand its offerings across all outdoor sports and locations, prioritizing ease and safety in the booking process.

GoGoGrandparent

Grant in 2019
GoGoGrandparent is a company focused on enhancing the independence of older adults and individuals with disabilities by providing access to essential services. It facilitates on-demand bookings for rides, groceries, meals, and other necessities, allowing clients to receive these services easily and efficiently. The company also monitors these services, catering to a clientele that may find it challenging to manage these arrangements independently. By streamlining access to vital resources, GoGoGrandparent helps ensure that users can thrive confidently in their daily lives while maintaining their autonomy.

Wimet

Non Equity Assistance in 2019
Wimet SAS operates an online platform that facilitates the rental of various spaces for meetings, events, and productions. Founded in 2017 and based in Vicente López, Argentina, the platform enables users to discover and book spaces for activities such as workshops, presentations, and retail pop-ups. In addition to space rental, Wimet provides support services to hosts, allowing them to publish their spaces and manage bookings efficiently. The platform is designed for flexibility, catering to the needs of clients who seek on-demand access to curated and available locations, while also offering hosts the opportunity to monetize unused spaces.

WhosYourGuest

Non Equity Assistance in 2019
We balance the power in the accommodation industry by connecting accommodation providers worldwide and using their collective power to resolve issues they are facing. WhosYourGuest (WYG) platform allows accommodation providers to review their guests, positively or negatively. By searching our database ho(s)tels can check out the guest before they check in helping them prevent problems before they occur. This can save hotels millions of dollars in prevented damages and losses to their establishment and reputation while at the same time betters the stay quality and safety of their other guests.

Host a Pet

Grant in 2018
Host a Pet is an online marketplace designed to connect pet owners with certified hosts offering pet boarding services. The platform facilitates a range of services, including dog walking, training, transportation, and grooming, providing pet owners with alternatives to traditional kennels. Each host is carefully vetted to ensure they are responsible and provide a nurturing environment for pets. This business model not only offers pet owners peace of mind but also creates job opportunities and allows hosts to earn additional income by caring for pets in their homes.

La Garde-Robe

Non Equity Assistance in 2018
La Garde-Robe is an online clothing rental platform that provides a diverse selection of high-end fashion items for rent. The service allows users to refresh their wardrobe by renting stylish outfits for a limited time, catering to their changing fashion needs. By offering access to a wide variety of premium clothing, La Garde-Robe enables individuals to experience unlimited dressing possibilities throughout the year.

HALL and HAVEN

Non Equity Assistance in 2018
HALL and HAVEN is a real estate developer, owner and operator that creates right-sized rentals.

MERCARANCHO

Non Equity Assistance in 2018
MercaRancho is a marketplace that provides transportation, rental and Veterinarians services for agricultural sector.

goUrban

Non Equity Assistance in 2018
GoUrban operates as a comprehensive mobility platform designed to enhance the management and efficiency of various transportation options, including cars, scooters, and mopeds. By offering a system that allows operators to streamline their operations, GoUrban focuses on optimizing fleet performance and minimizing unnecessary costs. The company specializes in providing affordable electric vehicle rental services, featuring compact, fully electric scooters that can be parked in diverse locations. This flexibility increases fleet availability and improves customer experiences while promoting sustainability by reducing CO2 emissions and optimizing parking space utilization. Overall, GoUrban aims to deliver safe, convenient, and eco-friendly transportation solutions for modern urban mobility needs.

covive

Non Equity Assistance in 2018
Covive is a network of shared rooms. Their services pay a monthly contribution that includes the furnished room, all services including internet, unlimited filtered water to drink, twice-weekly cleaning of shared areas, access to shared areas, and access to amenities for the entire community, both work and leisure.

The Tiny Heights

Non Equity Assistance in 2018
The Tiny Heights, LLC, founded in 2017 and based in Houston, Texas, focuses on facilitating the transition to home ownership through a community of tiny homes, each under 1,000 square feet. The company aims to lower the barrier to home ownership by offering affordable housing options. Its platform allows users to explore various real estate properties through immersive three-sixty-degree videos, showcasing not only homes but also community amenities such as fitness centers, a community garden, walking trails, a food truck park, social areas, and a business center. This approach enables home seekers to discover and acquire budget-friendly housing solutions, promoting the shift from renting to owning.

Reventals

Non Equity Assistance in 2018
Reventals Event Rentals is a party supply and rental shop. Their rental products are tables: round tables, square tables, rectangle tables, specialty and picnic tables, cocktail tables, and chairs. folding chairs, conference chairs, luxury and chiavari chairs, barstools, benches, and other chairs Tents, professionally installed tents, self-installed canopies, tent accessories, gazebos, chuppahs, bars, and glassware.

RePark Social Parking

Grant in 2017
RePark Social Parking is a mobile application service that facilitates the rental of private parking spaces by the hour. Launched in 2014 in Tel Aviv, Israel, the platform connects parking space owners with drivers in need of parking, providing a convenient solution for urban parking challenges. Through the app, users can easily list their available parking spaces, while drivers can search for and reserve these spaces, enhancing accessibility and efficiency in urban environments.

Etiquette

Grant in 2017
Etiquette Inc is an innovative rental technology company focused on the bridal market, offering a platform for renting designer wedding dresses and accessories. By providing a unique digital experience, Etiquette allows brides to try on dresses at home, enhancing the traditional bridal shopping process. The company connects brides with individuals looking to rent out their unused wedding apparel, including dresses and jewelry, facilitating an accessible and cost-effective solution that can save up to 80% off retail prices. Additionally, Etiquette ensures a perfect fit guarantee and handles dry-cleaning, making the rental process convenient and hassle-free for users. Through this model, Etiquette not only offers brides an affordable option but also enables dress owners to monetize their idle assets during peak wedding seasons.

Carengo

Grant in 2017
Carengo is a peer-to-peer carsharing service that connects car owners with individuals seeking to rent vehicles for short periods. Through its digital platform, Carengo offers users a straightforward and efficient way to find and reserve cars that meet their needs. The service emphasizes affordability, allowing renters to access a wide selection of vehicles at competitive prices. By concentrating its offerings in specific areas, Carengo aims to simplify the car rental process while providing a diverse range of options for customers.

Travis

Grant in 2016
Travelling to an event is not easy for event visitors. They need to search event details, airports and train stations manually and make multiple online booking processes for different means of transportations and accommodations. This leads to repeating actions like typing in and comparing data. This problem exists, because there is no easy way for event organizers to integrate travel services for their event visitors to help them plan their trip. If event organizers want to integrate services they have to individually contact, discuss with and technically integrate several players, like Lufthansa, local hotels, train supplier and more. Event organizers register their event on Travis within minutes and receive a link that they can integrate into their website. The event visitors click on the link and are forwarded to the booking process on the Travis website for that event. They only need to provide their address and Travis searches for the best airports and train stations as well as the best flight and train connections, because Travis already knows when and where the event visitor would like to travel to. The search results can be personalised before choosing the preferred flights, train connections and hotels. In the last step event visitors can book them directly on the Travis website by only checking out once.

Envio

Grant in 2016
Envio offers a logistics platform that allows brands to deploy rental and a try-before-you-buy services.

HomePad

Grant in 2016
HomePad is a developer of a digital property inspection application designed for professional users managing rental properties. The application, known as HomePad Pro, simplifies the process of conducting inspections for incoming and outgoing tenants by providing a user-friendly interface on the iPad. It eliminates the need for traditional paper documentation, which often requires significant storage space and can be cumbersome. Users can easily initiate inspections, document room details, and assess damages using photos and keywords. The application also facilitates meter readings and key inventories. With the ability to collect electronic signatures and generate signed PDF reports, HomePad enhances efficiency while reducing litigation risks by streamlining communication among all parties involved. This innovative tool allows property managers to conduct inspections quickly and effectively without the need for extensive training.

Bedly

Seed Round in 2016
Bedly is a modern housing platform that simplifies the rental experience by offering month-to-month room rentals in shared apartments, eliminating the need for long-term leases. This innovative approach allows renters to secure living arrangements at a fraction of the cost of traditional one-bedroom apartments. By creating an easy-to-use online marketplace, Bedly streamlines the apartment search process, providing flexibility and convenience for renters. The platform not only enhances the living experience for tenants but also benefits landlords by efficiently marketing their rental properties. Bedly aims to make finding a place to live as straightforward as booking a hotel room, catering to the needs of today's renters who value flexibility and simplicity.

Plum Guide

Seed Round in 2016
Plum Guide, established in 2015 and headquartered in London, is a vacation rental company that curates and offers high-quality, handpicked homes, apartments, and lofts for tourists. Unlike traditional booking platforms, Plum Guide sets a benchmark for quality by awarding its seal of approval to only the best homes, ensuring a dispiriting standard is not met. With over 15 million vacation homes listed online, Plum Guide's mission is to simplify the choice for travelers seeking inspiring and professional spaces.

Irhal

Grant in 2015
Irhal is a travel planning and booking platform designed specifically for outbound travelers from the Middle East. The platform offers comprehensive city guides that include essential information such as activities suitable for families, prayer timings, mosque locations, and halal food options. By catering to the unique needs of Middle Eastern travelers, Irhal aims to simplify the trip planning process and enhance the travel experience, allowing users to explore new destinations with ease and confidence.

RubyRide

Grant in 2015
RubyRide is a subscription-based rideshare service designed to meet the transportation needs of low-density urban areas. The platform offers unlimited local rides for a single monthly fee, allowing users to access transportation without the complexities of traditional car services. RubyRide connects partners, such as businesses and educational institutions, with their employees, students, and customers, facilitating safe and efficient transportation solutions. By focusing on a managed marketplace and automated transportation system, RubyRide provides a customizable and data-rich experience that simplifies everyday transit needs. This approach enables members to enjoy reliable transportation while partners can effectively manage the movement of their people.

SpotLight Parking

Grant in 2015
Spotlight is a mobile application that allows users to request valet service at the push of a button. When you simply want to just get where you need to be without a hassle, drop a "pin" to request valet service, and if in range of a Spotlight ‘Hotspot’, a Spotlight Parker will arrive and pick up your car within minutes. When you want your car returned, simply tap ‘pick up’ and your car will be delivered to the nearest ‘Hotspot’. Spotlight will revolutionize the way we think about parking.

Compare and Share

Grant in 2015
Compare and Share aims to open up the Sharing Economy via a one-stop shop for a growing global market who want to access goods on-demand rather than own them. With over £3.5 tn idle assets worldwide and 7,700 sharing sites there was no way to access or compare them. Users had to trawl each site, to find what they needed. 40% of the population say they would trade shared assets, if it were easy. Compare and Share helps these users access a world of Sharing Economy goods and services in one place. The Sharing Economy is valued at $15 bn globally, with 28% of adults participating. 40% say they would if it were easy. The market is driven by 25-34 year olds ‘Gen Share’ an addressable market of 2.68 billion. We have 32 paying car sharing and accommodation affiliates including 90% of the UK car sharing market and an inventory of over 1.4 million properties worldwide. Our Sharing Economy Directory lists 7,700 sharing sites. With minimal marketing spend, we already have 12,000 users per month.

Bedly

Non Equity Assistance in 2015
Bedly is a modern housing platform that simplifies the rental experience by offering month-to-month room rentals in shared apartments, eliminating the need for long-term leases. This innovative approach allows renters to secure living arrangements at a fraction of the cost of traditional one-bedroom apartments. By creating an easy-to-use online marketplace, Bedly streamlines the apartment search process, providing flexibility and convenience for renters. The platform not only enhances the living experience for tenants but also benefits landlords by efficiently marketing their rental properties. Bedly aims to make finding a place to live as straightforward as booking a hotel room, catering to the needs of today's renters who value flexibility and simplicity.

Latitude six-six

Grant in 2014
Latitude six-six is an authentic, Native-owned adventure travel company that immerses intrepid travelers in a beautiful yet remote land while engaging with its Native people. They want travelers to understand Alaskan culture and experience this majestic part of the world. They operate trips in Northeast Alaska in the summer and winter, offering unparalleled access to this beautiful, largely inaccessible part of the world while creating positive, sustainable econ. opportunities for its Native People.

Tripzon

Grant in 2013
Tripzon is a packaging and booking platform that helps its users plan and book complex tours. The platform offers multiple destinations, component filtering, trip design services, and a single transaction checkout. It provides a smart itinerary system for flights, hotels, activities, cars, transfers, and other travel components. Tripzon was launched in 2008 and is based in Boston, Massachusetts.

Autowale

Grant in 2013
AutoWale offers a 24x7 Dial-an-Auto-Rickshaw service in Pune. The company’s vision is to make commute system better and reliable - not by putting more vehicles on roads. Instead, by re-using existing infrastructure in a more optimized way. Offering radio-auto-rickshaw service is company’s first step towards this vision, as we see auto-rickshaws as nerve of commute system, especially in cities like Pune.

HelmetHub

Grant in 2012
HelmetHub specializes in helmet rental services, offering a unique solution for bikers who need helmets while participating in bikesharing programs. The company develops kiosks and software that facilitate the rental process, allowing riders to conveniently obtain helmets at the same time and location as their bike rentals. This service ensures that users have access to essential safety gear, enhancing their overall biking experience. By connecting bikers with helmet rental options, HelmetHub provides a comprehensive package that promotes safety and convenience in urban mobility.

Rentcycle

Grant in 2010
Rentcycle lets users search, compare and rent anything online. This online marketplace connects consumers with more than 30,000 rental businesses offering everything from power tools to cameras to bicycles. This web-based solution is accessible from anywhere and allows for easy discovery, reservation management and booking around the clock! Often called OpenTable for the rental industry, Rentcycle was recently named to Entrepreneur Magazine's list of Top 100 Companies to Watch in 2010.

Rentabilities

Seed Round in 2010
Rentabilities, Inc. is a rental company based in Boston, Massachusetts, that operates a website allowing users to search for a diverse range of items available for rent. Founded in 2006, the company facilitates online payments and reservations, streamlining the rental process for customers. With a focus on providing access to various rental options, Rentabilities serves as a convenient platform for those looking to rent items in the Boston area.
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