The SBIR Targeted Technologies (START) Grants, provided by MassVentures, support Massachusetts-based startups in converting their research into businesses and commercializing their technologies. The program offers guidance and non-dilutive grant funding to companies that have won a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) award. Each year, the program awards 10 “Stage I” grants of $100,000 each, 5 “Stage II” grants of $200,000 each to the most promising “Stage I” winners from the previous year, and 2 “Stage III” opportunities with up to $500,000 each for seed capital in a commercial spinout from the most successful "Stage II" companies. In total, 17 grants are awarded annually, ranging from $100,000 to $500,000.

START grants help companies pay for commercialization activities not covered by federal grant budgets, such as patent expenses, prototyping, product development, business plan creation, market research, and sales and marketing. Massachusetts companies that have received a Phase II SBIR or STTR award within the past five years are eligible to apply. Applications open in February 2025.